Meet the faces of our staff PTs who dedicate their lives to treating CORA patients right every day. These are their stories!
If you haven’t already heard it, the CORA story is unique. If you haven’t already experienced it, the CORA experience is different. Each employee, at every level of the organization, has an important role to play in upholding our core values.
Every October we celebrate National Physical Therapy Month, an annual opportunity to raise awareness about the benefits of physical therapy; but, rarely do we showcase the personalities of those responsible for keeping our patients healthy. Those faces responsible for keeping our wheels in motion. And those voices responsible for telling the CORA story with a certain authenticity and conviction in everything they do, every single day.
The Faces of CORA you will meet throughout this month have dedicated their careers to helping others through physical therapy. Of course, we know what they do, but their “why” tells the full story and is what helps write ours!
Meet Jim Bould from Apex, North Carolina
Why Did You Become a PT or PTA? What/Who Inspired You?
Let me start this story by saying that I have had more injuries than most people. Playing ten years of football, BMX racing/jumping, skateboarding and thirteen years of rugby will lead to a variety of injuries—countless broken bones, stitches and staples, and years on crutches or a scooter. And…I wouldn’t change any of it. Each injury and experience gives me a unique perspective that helps me relate to my patients. Many of my injuries landed me in physical therapy, which helps me better appreciate what my patients are feeling. However, there is one injury that cemented my drive to become a physical therapist.
It was a cold and rainy day in Melbourne, Australia during 2004. I was playing rugby and about halfway through the game I was tackled from behind. I heard a loud pop from the backside of my left leg and immediately had trouble walking. By the time the game was over, my leg was a dark blue—almost black. It turned out I had a 20cm/4.5cm/6.5cm tear in the hamstring that would likely require surgery to repair. I was 20 years old, living on the other side of the planet, away from my family and only my teammates there for support….yeah, I was a little scared. I thought I’d never play rugby again or walk normally, and I didn’t want surgery! I was told I really couldn’t make things worse, so I opted for PT instead of surgery. After a couple of days, my leg was feeling a bit better. After several months of PT and training, I was back playing on the pitch. I was so incredibly thankful for those who were there to help, encourage and lift me up when I feeling down and out.
My initial career intention was to pursue medical school and become a doctor. But, after spending time shadowing physicians, going through the PT experience as a patient, and making the connections and friendships I still have today, I decided to become a physical therapist instead. I love being a PT and continuously look forward to being a better clinician, a better person, and being able to help those scared, worried or wondering how they are ever going to recover. Because I know it can be done!
Who’s Next? More Faces of CORA Physical Therapy Coming Soon!
Thank you for following along with our blog as we share insights, personal narratives, pictures, and inspirational anecdotes about why CORA teammates pursued the PT profession.
Are you a patient that has your own personal experience to share? We’d love to hear how Faces of CORA across different regions have positively impacted your life, how our PTs have helped write your story. And the PT or staff personnel responsible for treating your aches and pains would love to hear it too!
