I just had the great opportunity to attend the Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) in Las Vegas, NV. It was 3 full days of lectures, research presentations, vendors in the exhibit hall, meetings, award ceremonies, and reuniting with old colleagues, professors, and friends. The Krannert School of Physical Therapy was very well represented with a majority of our faculty attending (some were presenting and/or were award recepients), about 7 of our student's research projects were presented, and over 25 students from all three year's of graduate classes were there!
As a student, these experiences are very important to me. Not only am I catching up on the most recent evidence-based practice, learning about specific treatment techniques, and hearing about topics not addressed in our classes, I also get to network with vendors, other professionals, and even meet some of the therapists that wrote our textbooks! The most important thing to me this year was having the opportunity to present my research at such a big convention and watching my classmates do the same. No telling the next time that opportunity will present itself again.
The only bad thing I have to say about CSM was that there were a record-number of PTs in attendence so that I didn't get to attend all the lectures I wanted to. The fire marshalls actually ordered the doors to be shut for many lectures, and they weren't letting another single person enter the room! I am thankful for events like CSM that allow me to advance myself professionally and still have fun doing it! I can't wait to attend CSM in San Diego next year (this time as a PT and not a student!)
-Barb Davies, SPT
University of Indianapolis
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