Alumni spotlight: Ryan Perry
It has been eight years since I graduated from Bradley University, and I have to say I love life as a physical therapist. I started off working for Professional Therapy Services as an acute physical therapist at Methodist Hospital and stayed for one year. Knowing outpatient physical therapy was my desired career path, I moved to Chicago to work for HealthSouth in 2002. Due to an acquisition, I am now working for NovaCare, and they have been very supportive. I work in a small clinic inside a large health club in Lincoln Park, thus I have the joy of working with many young athletes mixed in with a variety of other patient ages and activity levels. I love the fact that I can assist others in achieving their active goals and lead a healthy life.
Bradley University prepared me extremely well for work as an outpatient physical therapist, however, there is always more to learn. Thus, I have continued to work hard to improve my knowledge and clinical skill set. I started off with being distinguished as a Certified Sports and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) in 2002. In 2004, I started with the Ola Grimsby Institute (OGI) and completed a manual therapy certification (MTC). Enjoying the manual therapy field, I continued to go back for more, with the outstanding support of my wife. In 2005, I completed an orthopedic manual therapy residency through the OGI, earning me a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT).
As I was frequently face deep in my PT books in 2005-2006 studying with OGI, I decided it would be an excellent time to take the exam to be a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS). After successfully passing the exam, I achieved this certification by the American Physical Therapy Association. I then completed a manual therapy fellowship through OGI in 2006, becoming the first fully practicing clinician in Chicago distinguished as a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT). All in all, I have well over a thousand hours of continuing education. Unfortunately, I realized the more you know, the more you realize you don't know.
After spending several years advancing my own knowledge, it was time to give back to others. I started by taking in many student PTs, and 14 of them have had to put up with me as a clinical instructor. In 2004, I started teaching continuing education courses for HealthSouth in the Chicagoland area. NovaCare then enticed me to take the show on the road by offering me a January course in 2006 to teach in Phoenix. Ever since that time, I have been teaching four to five courses around the country for them. I also have taught for a local Chicagoland company called Creative Therapy Resources Inc. The courses I have taught have primarily been in the fields of the shoulder, temporomandibular joint and hip.
I balance work with a wonderful marriage to my wife, Stacy Biermann ’01. Hobbies that keep my busy include running marathons and enjoying the many things Chicago has to offer. I am running my third consecutive fall marathon, but switching from Chicago to New York this year.
I also would like to take a moment to send a hello to all my classmates and professors of 2001, as all of you have made a lasting impression!
Ryan Perry ’01 |
