Hannah Wofford, an Ed.D. in KIN student, and current VP of the North Carolina Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Association (NCCRA), was asked by the American Association for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitaiton (AACVPR) to write about the field through the perspective of both a professional and a student for their recent web based newsletter.
This article was intended to remind those in the field of the investments and rewards that come with educating emerging professionals. As I continue to evolve as a professional and as a student, my experience in the Ed.D. program has been a rewarding addition to my career.
In my eight years in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (CPR), I have had the unique perspectives of CPR as a student, a professional and now as a professional student. I enjoy learning and applying new knowledge, and I feel great satisfaction when I can enhance a patient’s quality of life through the services and expertise we provide. I recognized early in my career that the multi-disciplinary professionals who make up the CPR team are educators at heart, which makes incorporating students and young professionals into your program a synergistic relationship.
My first exposure to CPR was during my master’s program as a graduate assistant. My mentor was a professor within the university and the director of the CPR program, so I was challenged academically both in the classroom and in the clinical setting. It was this translation of scholarly study to professional practice coupled with the support from my mentor to always keep progressing that laid the foundation of my enthusiasm for the field.
After working in CPR for a few years, I began training student interns. Students and young professionals bring new perspectives and energy to programs. Their presence provides leadership experience to your current employees, which challenges us to think progressively, and their eagerness to learn is refreshing. Each semester I am reminded of those who have invested in me, just as I dedicate time to our students and new professionals.
Getting involved with AACVPR and my state affiliate has been an excellent means of networking and professional growth. As an emerging professional, I recognize the impact of fostering relationships and the effect that it has had on my career. It is easy to get tangled in the task-oriented focus of our daily job demands; however, I challenge you to stop and invest a few moments of your day into those around you. My advice is to never stop learning, never stop challenging yourself and never stop pushing the environment around you to be better. Have a vision for yourself, but always take time to invest in others along the way. Now, more than ever, developing the next generation of healthcare professionals and demonstrating our value not only in CPR but also in the ever-changing arenas of healthcare is paramount.
By Hannah Wofford – M.S., ACSM-RCEP & CEP, ACSM/ACS – CET, EIM3
Cross posted from aacvpr.org