Clinical Education
Rehab Hospital of the Pacific at Aiea
My initial clinical rotation at RHOP provided a foundational understanding of patient communication and the management of diverse diagnoses, solidifying my grasp of the multifaceted role of a physical therapist. This experience offered a comprehensive view of daily clinical operations, including documentation, interdisciplinary coordination with administrative staff, and the development of individualized care plans. The clinic primarily treated post-surgical cases, such as total knee replacements, chronic low back pain, and stroke rehabilitation, while also affording me the invaluable opportunity to assist patients adapting to prosthetic limbs. Exposure to such a wide array of complex orthopedic cases, combined with mentorship from multiple clinicians with varying expertise, allowed me to refine my skills significantly. These early lessons not only prepared me for subsequent rotations but also laid a strong professional foundation for my future career in physical therapy.
Molokai General Hospital
My second clinical rotation on the remote island of Molokai broadened my perspective on rural healthcare, exposing me to the unique challenges of delivering medical services in an isolated setting with limited resources. This experience deepened my understanding of geriatric care, wound management, and acute rehabilitation within a high-demand facility that served as a critical healthcare hub for the community. Each day presented dynamic challenges, from coordinating patient transfers to urban medical centers to designing innovative, hybrid treatment plans incorporating both land- and aquatic-based therapies. The unwavering support and mentorship from the physical therapy team not only strengthened my clinical decision-making and adaptability but also instilled in me a profound appreciation for the resilience required to provide care in underserved regions. This rotation fortified my confidence in hospital-based practice while highlighting the systemic barriers faced in rural healthcare—an insight that continues to shape my professional outlook
Wellness and Neuro SCI
In my final rotation, I was assigned to join the wonderful team of Wellness Neuro & SCI. This rotation helped to further improve my knowledge of neuro-based PT. The rotation was filled with new experiences ranging from understanding private-pay payment model to utilization of different assistive devices pairings with orthotic usage. The depth of different patient diagnoses provided a unique set of cases that tested my intervention creativity and clinical decision-making. I was also given a newfound appreciation for patient resiliency and the gift of movement in an individual's life; hearing every patient's unique stories and perspectives helped to reaffirm my commitment to continually providing a level of service to the community that conventional medicine cannot. This rotation has been a good learning opportunity and one that I will remember throughout my career as a PT.
Each moment is a leap forwards from the brink of an invisible cliff, where time’s keen edges are constantly renewed."
-From Han Kangs “The White Book”