I'm a problem solver by nature. I think I share that trait with a lot of my physical therapist (PT) colleagues. We want to fix things. We want to make things better. That's one reason we're drawn to physical therapy. That's ultimately why I was attracted to PT education.

I've also always been a bit of a perfectionist. I think it came from my mother, whose motto seemed to be "Anything worth doing is worth doing right." I've carried that little voice with me all my life. Even though I often feel that I don't quite live up to that advice, pursuing it has produced in me a competitive streak and a need to strive for excellence. Whatever situation I encounter, my brain immediately jumps to "How can we do this better?"

This drive has influenced everything in my life, including my defining moment in physical therapy: the moment I knew that I wanted to direct a PT education program.