Kate Ninomiya (’14), a born and raised Seattleite, got here to Colorado at eighteen to discover her passions in science. She has now returned to Seattle and is utilizing her well being and train science expertise as a physician of bodily therapist, however that wasn’t all the time her unique plan.
Ninomiya graduated from Colorado State College in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science diploma in well being and train science with a focus in sports activities drugs, in addition to a minor in spanish, however when she enrolled as a freshman, she had her sights set on a chemical engineering diploma. Discovering that her passions for science had been extra about individuals than utilized formulation, Ninomiya shifted, and her profession has taken her to work with individuals immediately, serving to them heal by way of her apply in addition to serving the group at massive.
After finishing her diploma at CSU, she enrolled within the doctoral program at Duke College in North Carolina, hoping to complete her research in therapeutic with a bodily remedy doctorate. After her scientific rotations in New Hampshire and Norway, she returned the way to Seattle to finish her medical residency and fellowship. There, she met her husband and commenced her journey as a licensed bodily therapist. Six years later, with their pitbull-husky combine Kaia and deep roots within the space, they’ve created a life they love close to their households. Ninomiya says that the Pacific Northwest is the place she actually belongs, though Fort Collins will all the time really feel like a second dwelling.
Describe your present place and a few of the obligations that include it.
I’m a bodily therapist at a small, locally-owned non-public apply in Seattle, Washington. I spend my days treating sufferers one-on-one for a full hour every. I’m additionally the director of workforce improvement and group outreach for our group, which entails planning firm occasions and group service, in addition to co-managing our social media.
Why did you determine to pursue your present profession path?
I began at CSU as a chemical engineering main, but it surely didn’t take lengthy to appreciate that the sector didn’t curiosity me almost as a lot as making use of my scientific pursuits to working with human our bodies. After shadowing quite a lot of medical medical doctors, pharmacists, occupational therapists, and bodily therapists, I discovered nice pleasure in working with sufferers by way of the rehabilitation course of. It’s so fulfilling to assist individuals use their our bodies personal pure therapeutic processes to get well from harm, and make them stronger and extra resilient than they had been earlier than.
How have your schooling and experiences at CSU helped you in your profession?
I studied well being and train science at CSU, and I nonetheless use lots of my anatomy and physiology information in my every day apply to deal with my sufferers. Biomechanics and kinesiology are additionally staples for dosing and prescribing train regimens appropriately, and remembering ideas from these courses helped me to take action appropriately each throughout bodily remedy faculty and in the actual world of treating sufferers. I had the possibility to be a pupil mentor for the difficult anatomical kinesiology class at CSU, which allowed me to clarify ideas to different college students, and this has positively carried over into how I clarify issues to my sufferers immediately; individuals who perceive what they’re doing and why they’re doing it are extra motivated and might adapt extra readily if wanted.
I used to be additionally a resident assistant whereas learning at CSU, and I make the most of my event-planning expertise to coordinate our group outreach efforts in addition to firm occasions. One other beneficial ability from this expertise is with the ability to join with individuals and assist them to really feel valued and welcomed, which is vital for affected person care, particularly because the pandemic.
What recommendation do you will have for college students seeking to be a part of your area?
This isn’t very uplifting, but it surely’s essential to make certain you wish to be on this area earlier than making use of to graduate faculty. The schooling is dear, and the pay shouldn’t be nice – I might do it once more as a result of I do love what I do, however I do know many who’re altering fields after simply a few years out within the area. Healthcare suppliers are additionally going by way of huge charges of burnout, also called compassion fatigue, proper now, so studying the way to separate work from private life is a useful ability that begins in undergrad and turns into ever extra essential.
The Division of Well being and Train Science is part of CSU’s School of Well being and Human Sciences.
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