By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

He knew he wanted to help others; he just didn’t know how.

Now, 19-year-old Noah Fields is working toward a career in Physical Therapy.

Fields, a native of Manchester, is a sophomore Human Health Sciences major, pre-Physical Therapy. In celebration of National Physical Therapy Month, we sat down with Fields to ask him about his interest in PT, and why it’s important to celebrate the profession over the course of the month.

The American Physical Therapy Association and participating components began to celebrate Physical Therapy Week in the early 1980s. The week was initially observed in conjunction with APTA’s annual conference in June and was later moved to October. The week evolved and the first NPTM was celebrated October 1992.

Now, every October National Physical Therapy Month is celebrated to raise awareness with consumers about the many benefits of physical therapy. It’s also a great opportunity to appreciate what PTs and students do to transform lives.

Here’s five questions with … HHS major Noah Fields:

1. Why do you want to be a PT?

I want to be a PT because growing up, I’ve always had a heart for helping people; I always knew that I wanted to do something in the medical field, but never really knew what exactly. I worked at a PT clinic the summer before my freshman year at UK and absolutely loved it! That's when I knew that I wanted to be a PT.

2. What led you to UK?

I went to this program the summer before my senior year of high school called the Governor's Scholars Program, also known as GSP. Going to this program gave me the Presidential Scholarship, which gave me the opportunity to go to UK because all my tuition was paid for!

3. What makes CHS the best place to learn pre-PT?

The College of Health Sciences is the ideal place for learning about PT because this College gives you first-hand experience in dealing with the healthcare system. There is a class called Human Health Sciences (HHS) 102 that allows students to shadow different hospital settings. I am in a class right now called HHS 262 that allows me to observe what the hospital setting is like to help me integrate how to work in the healthcare system. So basically, CHS is the best because it gives you that first-hand experience of working in a healthcare career.

4. What does the future look like? UK for PT school? 

Currently, I am a sophomore in school. I plan on graduating in the spring after my junior year, so I’ve got three semesters left. After graduating undergrad, I have to choose a PT school. As of right now, UK is my top choice for PT school, but I am going to apply to other places and weigh out my options. Right now, I don’t have a definite answer as to where I am going.

5. Why is it good to have a month like this to celebrate?

It’s good to have a month like this to celebrate because it gives future healthcare workers the chance to look at other people’s experiences! Posts like this could possibly help influence someone to follow the same path as me. Celebrating gives future healthcare workers hope and aspiration to strive toward their goals!
 

BONUS: What would you tell an incoming freshman who wanted to go down the same path as you? What advice would you give?

I would say as an incoming freshman, enjoy college and make friends! I personally do a lot of work, as does every other healthcare major, but it is important to not always be working. This can cause people to go insane and just be burnt out. Enjoy college and make friends to hang out with! Another piece of advice I would give is to not let grades get in the way of you becoming a healthcare professional. Grades are important, but there not the only thing; people who have their heart in the right place will make awesome healthcare workers!

Look Monday, Oct. 30, for Noah’s takeover of the CHS Instagram page: @ukhealthsciences