Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
1
>> COMING UP NEXT ON "ALUMNI SUCCESS," MY CONVERSATION
WITH STELLA BOMMARITO.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> I'M DAVID RHEW.
WELCOME TO CPCC TELEVISION, OUR "ALUMNI SUCCESS" PROGRAM.
OUR GUEST TODAY IS STELLA BOMMARITO.
STELLA, WELCOME TO OUR PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU.
FOR OUR VIEWERS, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND
ABOUT YOUR CONNECTION TO CPCC, HOW YOU GOT GOING WITH CPCC.
>> WELL, I GRADUATED FROM CPCC IN 1979 BUT PRIOR
TO THAT I HAVE TAKEN CLASSES AT GASTON COLLEGE AND I WAS TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO GET INTO.
I HAD THOUGHT OF SEVERAL POSSIBILITIES.
I THOUGHT OF A NURSING PROGRAM.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT BEING A MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST.
I WASN'T SURE.
SO IN MY SEARCH, I FINALLY FOUND THE PROGRAM, THE LICENSE LPTA,
OR LICENSED PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANT HERE AT CPCC,
AND I SAID WOW, THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING I WOULD REALLY
LIKE TO DO, AND SO THAT'S HOW IT-- IT SORT OF GOT STARTED,
YOU KNOW, AFTER I MOVED HERE.
WE WERE FROM ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AND WE MOVED HERE
AND I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO.
>> AND WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THE BROAD HEALTHCARE PROFESSION
THAT WAS AT LEAST BEGINNING TO PULL YOU IN THAT DIRECTION?
>> WELL, I THINK FROM HIGH SCHOOL,
I THOUGHT I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO SOMETHING IN THE 2 MEDICAL ARENA
AND I WASN'T SURE WHAT.
I ALWAYS HAD A DRAW TO THAT.
I JUST THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL, YOU KNOW,
CAREER TO WORK WITH PEOPLE AND TO HELP PEOPLE EVERY DAY
AND DO SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT.
>> AS WE THINK ABOUT PHYSICAL THERAPY,
HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND SORT OF WHAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT,
THE TRAINING INVOLVED IN THAT.
BECAUSE YOU'RE REALLY, REALLY WORKING WITH FOLKS TO GET THEM
WITH THEIR STRENGTH BACK UP AND ROLL
INTO AGAIN A PRODUCTIVE LIFE.
>> WELL, I THINK THE TRAINING HERE IN THE SCHOOL,
ITSELF, WAS EXCELLENT.
IT REALLY GAVE YOU-- IT STARTED YOU OFF--
YOU DID DO A LOT OF BOOK WORK, A LOT OF LEARNING UP FRONT,
BUT THEN YOU REALLY GOT A LOT OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCE.
I THINK BECAUSE CHARLOTTE IS SO WIDE BASED WITH THE HOSPITALS
AND THE DOCTORS AND ALL THE MEDICAL PLACES HERE,
IT JUST REALLY GOT YOU GOING, IT GOT YOU EXCITED, AND THERE WAS
SO MANY VARIED THINGS THAT YOU COULD GO INTO.
I MEAN, PHYSICAL THERAPY IS A GREAT FIELD
BECAUSE YOU'RE HELPING PEOPLE TO GET BACK
TO THEIR INDEPENDENCE TO, YOU KNOW,
GET BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE DEPENDING ON WHAT HAS HAPPENED
TO THEM, BUT IT JUST-- YOU COULD GO IN SPORTS MEDICINE.
YOU COULD GO IN THE HOSPITAL.
YOU COULD GO WORK WITH CHILDREN, WHICH I DO NOW.
WORK IN NURSING HOMES AND THERE WAS A LOT TO LEARN AND A LOT
OF EXPERIENCES THAT I HAD WHEN I WAS HERE AND EXCELLENT,
EXCELLENT TEACHERS WHO WERE VERY 3 PATIENT AND VERY GIVING
OF THEMSELVES, BUT KIND OF STRICT, I THOUGHT,
AT THE TIME WHICH I LIKED BECAUSE I CAME
FROM A STRICT SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT,
AND I ENJOYED THAT, BUT ALSO IT WAS FUN.
IT WAS FUN TO LEARN ALL THOSE THINGS.
IT WAS GREAT.
>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CLINICALS, YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE HANDS-ON PART OF THE WORK.
>>THE HANDS-ON PART OF IT, YES.
YOU'RE GIVEN EXPERIENCES DURING YOUR LAST YEAR OF SCHOOL
IN A VARIETY OF CLINICAL SETTINGS, AND THOSE SETTINGS,
THEY TRY AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN REQUEST TO GO INTO PEDIATRICS
OR YOU CAN REQUEST LIKE, WELL, I REALLY HAVE AN INTEREST
IN SOMETHING AND THEY'LL TRY AND ACCOMMODATE THOSE REQUESTS.
SOMETIMES YOU GET THEM.
SOMETIMES YOU DON'T.
BUT THEY GIVE YOU A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES IN THE COMMUNITY
SO YOU CAN KIND OF DECIDE WHERE YOU WANT TO HEAD, WHAT YOU WANT
TO DO AND YOU KNOW, WHAT JOB OPPORTUNITIES ARE OUT THERE
AND YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WHEN YOU GRADUATE.
>> YEARS AGO, MY DAD HAD A SIGNIFICANT FALL.
ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL AND THEN WAS
OVER FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY AND JUST THE CARE AND THE CONCERN
AND ALSO THEIR ABILITY TO PUSH HIM IN A POSITIVE KIND OF WAY.
>> UH-HUH.
>> BECAUSE MANY TIMES THE FAMILY'S LIKE OH,
I'M NOT SURE HE'S READY TO QUITE DO THAT YET.
BUT THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST REALLY KNEW HOW MUCH CAPACITY HE
HAD AND WHAT HE COULD REALLY ACCOMPLISH.
4 BECAUSE IF IT WAS UP TO THE FAMILY,
WE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH FARTHER BACK IN TERMS OF PROGRESS
WITH HIS THERAPY SESSION.
IS THAT A PRETTY COMMON STORY?
>> I THINK THAT'S VERY TRUE.
IN FACT, I TEACH A CLASS NOW FOR OUR NEW EMPLOYEES
AND I TALK ABOUT MOTIVATION.
I SAID WHEN YOU WORK IN PHYSICAL THERAPY, YOU REALLY HAVE
TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S NOT FUN MANY TIMES
IF YOU'VE JUST BEEN INJURED OR YOU'RE RECOVERING
AND YOU'RE HURTING TO DO EXERCISES AND STRENGTHENING
AND ALL THOSE THINGS, YOU KNOW, AND YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE IT FUN
AND MAKE THEM, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND THE GOAL
THAT WE HAVE, WHAT WE'RE AIMING FOR,
BUT YOU CAN'T BE BLAWS STAY ABOUT IT.
YOU HAVE TO GET THEM GOING, GET THEM EXCITED
ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
IT'S THE SAME THING WE DO AT HOLY GAINING GELS
WITH OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS.
IT MAY LOOK LIKE WE'RE PLAYING BUT WE'RE REALLY WORKING.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO MAKE A BIG PRODUCTION
OUT OF IT AND MAKE IT FUN.
>> I WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOUR WORK WITH HOLY ANGELS.
IT'S A VERY WELL-KNOWN, WELL DB ESTABLISHED FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY A LONG TIME, BUT FOR THOSE
WHO MAY BE NEW TO CHARLOTTE, TELL THEM WHAT HOLY ANGELS IS
AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING OVER THERE.
>> OKAY. HOLY ANGELS IS A PRIVATE NONPROFIT RESIDENTIAL
FACILITY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HANDICAPS
AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
THERE CURRENTLY ARE 77 RESIDENTS 5 THERE.
THEY LIVE THERE, AND THEY'RE OF VARYING ABILITIES,
AND WE HAVE GROWN SO MUCH SINCE I STARTED WORKING THERE.
I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ALMOST 29 YEARS NOW, BUT WE HAVE A CAMPUS
AND WE HAVE A MAIN CENTER,
AND THEN WE HAVE FIVE GROUP HOMES ON CAMPUS.
THEN WE HAVE TWO GROUP HOMES OFF CAMPUS
AND EVERYBODY'S INVOLVED IN A PROGRAM THERE.
NO MATTER WHAT THEIR AGE OR THEIR ABILITY,
AND WE ALSO HAVE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS THERE.
AND WE HAVE A SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR THOSE THAT ARE SCHOOL AGE.
SO IN THE PHYSICAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT WORK IN THE TEAM
WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS THAT ARE THERE.
WE WORK WITH NURSING AND SOCIAL WORK
AND THE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND EVERYBODY,
WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE PROGRAM AND WHAT PROGRAM
THAT PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL IS IN IS THE BEST FOR THEM.
SO EVERYTHING IS VERY INDIVIDUALIZED,
AND WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON DECIDING MAKING DECISIONS
AND WORKING WITH THE FAMILIES AS TO WHAT THE BEST PROGRAM IS
FOR THAT PARTICULAR CHILD OR ADULT.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING THERE,
IT WAS A CHILDREN'S FACILITY, AND THEN WE EXPANDED
AND BECAUSE THE CHILDREN WERE THRIVING AND THEY GOT TO BE 18,
BUT THERE WAS NOWHERE FOR THEM TO GO,
AND SO THE GROUP HOMES WERE ADDED TO THE CAMPUS
AND THEN PEOPLE COULD STAY AS ADULTS,
AND SO THAT WAS ADDED THEN.
SO NO TWO DAYS ARE THE SAME 6 THERE.
I CAN REALLY ATTEST TO THAT.
BUT WE REALLY WORK TOGETHER.
OUR MOTTO IS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES.
SO WE WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL
FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL THAT'S THERE, YOU KNOW,
AND SO IT IS INTERESTING AND FUN.
IT'S ALSO CHALLENGING.
BUT THE PHYSICAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT, THERE'S JUST THREE
OF US IN THE DEPARTMENT,
BUT IT PROVIDES US CHALLENGES EVERY DAY,
BUT WE REALLY ENJOY OUR WORK AND WE REALLY ENJOY THE CHALLENGE
AND WORKING WITH THE RESIDENTS.
THAT'S THE BEST PART.
THAT'S THE BEST PART OF THE WHOLE THING IS WORKING WITH THEM
AND HELPING THEM TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL.
>> AND IS THE CHALLENGING PART
BECAUSE NO TWO DAYS ARE THE SAME OR IS IT--
>> WHAT.
>> OR THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES CAN CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME?
>> I THINK IT'S BECAUSE THE POPULATION WE SERVE IS
SO VARIED.
SO WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THREE-YEAR-OLDS
AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE 62 YEARS OLD.
SO WE HAVE, YOU KNOW HAVE, TO KIND OF GET THE WHOLE SPECTRUM
OF REHABILITATION IN THAT, AND WE HAVE A VARIETY OF DIAGNOSES,
AND WE ALSO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD POPULATION
OF MEDICALLY FRAGILE INDIVIDUALS SO WE HAVE TO TAKE
THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, YOU KNOW WHEN WE'RE THERE AS WELL.
SO EVERYBODY HAS TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
>> I'M ASSUMING EVEN YOUR BEST PLAN ON WHATEVER THE DAY HAS
TO ADJUST BASED ON WHAT KIND OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ROOM.
7
>> MANY TIMES.
>> OR THE SETTING.
>> AND THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY TELL INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY COME
TO WORK FOR US, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE
BECAUSE YOU MIGHT THINK THAT YOU ARE GOING TO COME IN
AND DO THIS, THIS AND THIS ON THAT DAY AND THEN YOU GET IN
AND THEN THE WHOLE DAY TURNS AROUND
AND YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE THIS HAS HAPPENED
OR WE HAVE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM OR WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION
TO THIS PARTICULAR CLIENT, YOU KNOW,
FOR SOME PARTICULAR REASON.
>> IS IT WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE 29 YEARS AGO?
>> NO. NOT EXACTLY.
ACTUALLY, WHEN I WAS HIRED THERE,
THEY WERE REALLY CHANGING THEIR PROGRAM
TO BE A DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM AT THE TIME.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE REALLY PHYSICAL THERAPY.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE SPEECH.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE OT.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF THOSE PROGRAMS.
>> OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY.
>> YES, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF THOSE PROGRAMS AT THE TIME,
AND THEY WERE JUST SORT OF MOVING IN THAT DIRECT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNEW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY
WHERE MARIA, WHO WAS OUR FIRST RESIDENT, SHE ARRIVED THERE.
A MOTHER THAT LIVED IN THE BELMONT AREA WAS PRESENTED
WITH MARIA WHO HAD A LOT OF HANDICAPPING CONDITIONS,
AND THE DOCTOR GAVE HER LITTLE HOPE.
AND SHE ENDED UP TAKING HER TO A NURSERY ON HOLY ANGELS' CAMPUS
THAT WAS REALLY A DAY CARE.
8 THAT'S WHAT IT WAS, AND SHE SAID,
WILL YOU TAKE CARE OF MY DAUGHTER?
I CAN'T DO IT.
AND SISTER MARIE PATRICE, WHO WAS THERE AT THE TIME,
DIDN'T TAKE HER TOO LONG, SHE SAID, WELL, YES, WE WILL,
AND THAT'S HOW IT GOT STARTED AND THEN THE WHOLE THING GREW
IN GROWTH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH CASE GARY.
HE WAS A COLUMNIST HERE IN CHARLOTTE.
>> AND A GREAT CHAMPION OF THAT.
>> YES, HE WAS.
HE WAS ONE OF OUR CHAMPIONS AND STARTED WRITING ABOUT IT.
WELL, OTHER CHILDREN STARTED ARRIVING AND IT JUST GREW
AND GREW AND GREW, AND IT WAS IN A LITTLE NURSERY AREA AND THEN
AFTER THAT, IT WAS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
AND THEN WE ENDED UP IN OUR MAIN CENTER BUILDING, BUT OF COURSE,
AFTER THAT, EVERYTHING CHANGED BECAUSE IF YOU WERE GOING
TO GET FUNDING OR YOU WERE GOING TO GET
INTO THE DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPIES AND THE EDUCATION ASPECT OF IT,
YOU HAD TO MEET A LOT OF CRITERIA AND DO LOTS OF THINGS.
SO IT WAS A DEVELOPMENT OVER TIME AND WHEN I GOT THERE,
THE ONLY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT I HAD WAS A BLOWUP EASTER EGG.
SHE GOES, WELL, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY EQUIPMENT,
BUT YOU COULD PROBABLY USE THIS AND SO WE DIDN'T HAVE EQUIPMENT.
WE REALLY WE HAD 50 RESIDENTS, AND HARDLY ANY
OF THEM HAD WHEELCHAIRS AT THE TIME.
SO WE HAD TO START DOING ALL THAT AND THEN WE HAD
TO DEVELOP OUR PROGRAMS TOGETHER.
>> SO YOU REALLY KIND OF GOT IT FROM SCRATCH.
9
>> YEAH, I GOT IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THAT PROGRAM
AND THEN WE MOVED TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
>> YEAH. HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR EXPERIENCE AT CPCC HAS HELPED
IN THAT WHOLE PROCESS?
>> CPCC WAS A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
I WAS NOT A TEENAGER AT THE TIME,
BUT I WAS COMING BACK TO SCHOOL.
I HAD CHILDREN OF MY OWN.
IT WAS A CHALLENGE, BUT I FOUND THAT EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW,
WAS SO HELPFUL IN AND SO EAGER TO TEACH AND IT JUST WAS
SUCH A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE
AND I WAS EXCITED ALMOST EVERY DAY I CAM HERE.
>> YOU ARE STILL NOT LIKE MOST FOLKS WHO COME TO ONE
OF OUR SIX CAMPUSES WHO MAY BE WORKING WITH CHILDREN,
BALANCING LOTS OF DEMANDS.
AS YOU WERE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS AS YOU RECALL,
YOU HAD TO MAKE SOME CHOICES AND DECISIONS TO TRY
TO BALANCE ALL THAT OUT?
>> DEFINITELY.
I DEFINITELY DID.
IN THE MIDST OF IT, MY HUSBAND WAS TRANSFERRED TO WISCONSIN
AND HE SAID AFTER MY FIRST YEAR HERE,
HE AND GOES WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
I SAID, I GOT TO FINISH MY SCHOOL.
SO THEN WE HAD TO GO WITH THAT CHALLENGE.
I HAD TWO SMALL CHILDREN.
HE WAS AWAY, AND I WAS IN SCHOOL.
BUT YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DO IT.
YOU CAN DO IT IF YOU GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND YOU GET A LOT
OF HELP FROM PEOPLE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO HELP YOU.
THEY REALLY ARE.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY OF 10 SOMEBODY
THAT MIGHT BE WATCHING THIS PROGRAM AND CONTEMPLATING,
PAY HAVE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR A WHILE, MAYBE THINKING
ABOUT COMING BACK FOR A SECOND YEAR?
>> OH, I WOULD SAY DON'T HESITATE.
I MEAN, IT IS VERY, YOU KNOW,
EVEN IF YOU HAVE THOSE CHALLENGES AND ARE WORKING
AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT LATER IN LIFE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DO IT
IF YOU JUST WORK OUT THE KINKS WITHIN YOUR OWN FAMILY SYSTEM.
YOU CAN ACCOMMODATE THIS.
YOU REALLY CAN, AND IT WAS SUCH AN INSPIRATION FOR ME TO BE ABLE
TO DO THAT EVEN WITH THE CHALLENGES
THAT WE WERE FACING AT THAT TIME.
>> IT WAS VERY EMPOWERING FOR YOU?
>> IT WAS VERY EMPOWERING.
IT WAS VERY EMPOWERING.
BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT ME NOT GOING BACK TO WORK
BECAUSE WE DID HAVE THE TWO CHILDREN AND I'M LIKE,
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO THAT.
I JUST REALLY THINK I NEED SOMETHING, YOU KNOW TO DO
AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF.
AND THIS PROGRAM WAS THE KEY.
I MEAN, I HAD SEARCHED A LITTLE BIT OTHER AREAS,
BUT I FOUND THAT THIS PROGRAM WAS THE BEST FOR ME
AT THE TIME AND THEN IT WAS.
AT THAT TIME, THERE WERE JOBS AVAILABLE AND IT JUST, YOU KNOW,
ALL KIND OF FELL INTO PLACE FOR ME,
AND I HAD BEEN THERE A LONG TIME,
AND I CAN'T SEE MYSELF DOING ANYTHING ELSE.
>> AND WERE YOU ABLE TO SORT
OF SHARE YOUR EDUCATION 58 EXPERIENCE AND THE IMPORTANCE
AND VALUE THAT WITH THE CHILDREN THAT SORT OF KEPT
AND ELEVATED 11 YOUR INTEREST AND THEIR INTEREST?
>> DEFINITELY.
I'M SURE ANYBODY WILL TELL YOU IN ANY PROGRAM YOU'RE
IN YOU DO HAVE TO BUILD ON IT AND THAT'S WHAT CPCC DOES.
I FOUND IN THAT PROGRAM IS YOU DID HAVE YOUR BOOK WORK.
YOU DID HAVE YOUR LEARNING.
YOU WORKED ON EACH OTHER, WHICH WE DID IN CLINIC,
AND THEN WE WORKED WITH THE REAL POPULATION.
SO THEY BUILD YOU UP TO THAT,
AND I THINK THE CLINICAL EXPERIENCES THAT THEY GIVE
AND YOU THE SUPERVISION THEY GIVE YOU
IN THAT REALLY WAS WONDERFUL.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED.
I DID LEARN WITH THE BOOK WORK.
YOU DO. YOU HAVE TO BUILD ON THAT, BUT ONCE YOU HAVE
THAT BASIC, YOU KNOW, KNOWLEDGE
AND THEN YOU ACTUALLY WORK WITH PEOPLE.
>> LEARN BY DOING.
>> YOU LEARN BY DOING, AND I HAVE TO SAY MY EXPERIENCES
IN MY WORK, I'VE HAD THREE DIFFERENT JOBS.
I LEARNED SOMETHING FROM EACH OF THOSE EXPERIENCES,
AND CPCC GIVES YOU A WIDE VARIETY OF GENERAL EXPERIENCES
AND THEN YOU BUILD ON THAT IN YOUR WORK CAREER AS WELL.
BUT BECAUSE REALLY AT THE TIME, CPCC DIDN'T HAVE A LOT
OF PEDIATRIC CLINICAL EXPERIENCES.
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET ONE,
WHICH WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
SO I LEARNED A LOT FROM THAT EXPERIENCE
AND THAT SPARKED MY INTEREST IN THAT FIELD.
>> IF YOU JUST JOINED OUR CONVERSATION
WITH STELLA BOMMARITO, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES
AT CPCC 12 AND OVER AT HOLY ANGELS.
AND WHEN YOU WERE HERE, IT WAS PROBABLY A SMALLER PROGRAM,
SMALLER BUILDING, SMALLER SPACE AND NOW THEY'RE
IN A MUCH LARGER SPACE, NEW HEALTH CAREER BUILDING.
>> DEFINITELY.
>> HAS REALLY ALOUD FOR ADDITIONAL HANDS-ON LEARNING.
WAS IT DIFFICULT FOR YOU-- I TALKED TO SOMEBODY A COUPLE
OF WEEKS AGO, AND THEY MENTIONED
WITH THE STUDENTS DOING THE BOOKWORK AND THEN MOVING
INTO KIND OF WORKING ON THE OTHER STUDENTS
AND THAT WAS SORT OF, OH, MY GOSH,
I'M GOING TO WORK WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.
WAS THAT THE SAME WAY FOR YOU ONCE YOU GET STARTED WITH IT?
>> THAT IS A PART OF THE PROGRAM I THINK,
YOU KNOW ARE YOU HAVE TO GET USED TO.
I THINK IF YOU GO INTO THIS PROGRAM,
ONE THING YOU WOULD HAVE TO SAY YOU HAVE TO BE A PEOPLE PERSON.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TOUCH PEOPLE AND INTERACT
WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
YOU START OUT WITH THE STUDENTS THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH.
>> SURE.
>> BUT WE WERE LIKE A FAMILY.
I REALLY THOUGHT THAT WE WERE LIKE A FAMILY
BY THE TIME I GRADUATED.
BECAUSE IT IS A SMALL CLASS, AND WE WORKED REALLY WELL TOGETHER
AND THEY MAKE-- YOU'RE AT EASE WITH IT.
I MEAN, THEY EASE YOU INTO IT WORKING WITH OTHERS
AND TOUCHING OTHERS AND DOING THINGS WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
>> SURE.
>> BUT YOU DO HAVE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
13 I TELL PEOPLE THAT.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO INTO IT, REMEMBER, YOU'RE GOING TO BE
WITH A VARIETY OF PEOPLE.
I THINK EVERY PERSON IS A CHALLENGE TO ME
AND EVERY PERSON, YOU KNOW,
I FIND THAT INTERESTING JUST BEING--
WORKING WITH PEOPLE NOT OTHER THINGS IN ANOTHER FIELD MAYBE.
>> BUT YOU'RE REALLY DEALING WITH THEM,
SOME ARE AT THEIR MOST VULNERABLE POINTS.
>> DEFINITELY.
>> THEY ARE ANXIOUS TO MOVE
TO THE NEXT PHASE OR ANXIOUS TO GET.
THEY WANT TO GO HOME.
I'M NOT IN YOUR FIELD.
I'M JUST GUESSING FROM THE STORIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
>> YEAH.
>> THEY'VE GOT TO BE PATIENT.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE PATIENT.
>> YES. I GUESS ONE OF MY--
I WORKED AT CHARLOTTE REHABILITATION HOSPITAL WAS MY
SECOND JOB.
THAT, TO ME, WAS VERY, UM-- AS FAR AS BEING A PEOPLE PERSON
AND WORKING WITH PEOPLE, YOU REALLY DID HAVE TO GET
INTO AN EMPATHY THERE WITH WHAT THEY WERE GOING
THROUGH BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE DON'T ACTUALLY GET BACK
TO THEIR NORM SOMETIMES.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS GETTING WHEN WE WORK,
WE WORK TOWARD SOMEONE'S INDEPENDENCE
AND GETTING BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE.
BUT MANY TIMES THOSE INDIVIDUALS DON'T GET BACK TO THEIR NORM
BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THEM, AND THEY HAVE
TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT--
NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME PERSON THEY WERE BEFORE.
>> AND YOU HAVE TO FIND A NEW NORM FOR THEM.
>> RIGHT. 14
>> AND KIND OF HELP WORK WITH THEM.
>> HELP THEM GET THROUGH THAT, BUT BE AS INDEPENDENT
AS THEY CAN WHERE THEY'RE AT.
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE, PERSONS AND SO FORTH.
WHO MAKES A GOOD CANDIDATE TO GO INTO PHYSICAL THERAPY?
BECAUSE MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN, THEY'RE BRIGHT
AND THEY'RE PHYSICALLY FIT, GENERALLY SPEAKING,
AND THEY'RE MOVING FOLKS THAT CAN'T MOVE.
>> DEFINITELY.
I THINK DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THOSE CERTAIN KEY THINGS.
YOU HAVE TO BE ENTHUSIASTIC.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RELATE TO PEOPLE AND TALK TO PEOPLE,
YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T HELP TO BE SHY.
YOU HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT OUTGOING, ENERGETIC,
AND I THINK YOU, TOO, HAVE TO HAVE A THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE
BECAUSE NOW WE'RE HAVING OUR CONTINUING EDUCATION
AND ALWAYS LEARNING, ALWAYS LEARNING NEW THINGS,
ALWAYS TRYING TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN IN WHAT YOU DO,
AND HAVE THAT INTEREST IN THE MEDICAL FIELD AND YOU KNOW,
BE EXCITED ABOUT IT, WHICH I THINK MANY OF THE PEOPLE
THAT I'VE WORKED WITH IN THIS FIELD ARE VERY EXCITED
ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING,
AND I THINK THEY ALWAYS ARE UP TO A CHALLENGE.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK.
YOU HAVE TO BE UP TO A CHALLENGE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO THINK.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT JUST DOING THINGS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING EVERY DAY.
YOU HAVE TO PLAN THAT DAY.
YOU HAVE TO BE EXCITED ABOUT IT,
AND IF SOMEBODY THROWS YOU A CURVE BALL, THEN YOU START OVER
AND YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, JUST 15 KEEP AT IT.
>> BASED ON YOUR 29 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE,
DO YOU EVER TAKE HOME THE PATIENT WITH YOU
WHEN YOU GO HOME AT NIGHT?
I DON'T MEAN LITERALLY TAKING THEM HOME,
BUT MENTALLY TAKING THEM HOME.
>> YES, YOU DO, AND I THINK IT--
PROBABLY AT HOLY ANGELS YOU MAY DO THAT MORE
THAN SOME OTHER FIELDS WHERE YOU WORK IN THE GENERAL HOSPITAL
AND PEOPLE COME IN & GO.
BUT I HAVE WORKED WITH SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS AT HOLY ANGELS
SINCE THEY WERE TINY, AND NOW THEY'RE ADULTS.
>> YEAH.
>> AND YOU CAN'T JUST SEPARATE THAT, YOU KNOW.
>> YOU BUILT A RELATIONSHIP.
>> YOU'VE BUILT A RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE PEOPLE.
YOU'VE SEEN THEM GROW.
YOU'VE SEEN THEIR CHALLENGES.
YOU'VE SEEN HOW THEY PROGRESSED, AND YOU'VE KNOWN THEM
FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
THERE ARE SAD MOMENTS, BUT THERE ARE MANY MORE HAPPY MOMENTS
THAN SAD MOMENTS.
>> WHAT A FULFILLING CAREER FOR YOU.
>> IT HAS BEEN.
IT HAS BEEN.
>> HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?
>> UM, I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.
I THINK THAT SUCCESS IN YOUR WORK IS BEING HAPPY
IN WHAT YOU DO AND ALSO HAVING CHALLENGES EACH DAY
AND BEING PROUD OF WHAT YOU DO.
I THINK YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE THAT FEELING.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS BEFORE,
HE AND SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T SEE TOO MANY PEOPLE
THAT REALLY JUST 16 LOVE THEIR JOB LIKE YOU DO.
AND I SAID, WELL, THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE.
BUT YOU ARE JUST ENJOYING THE JOB.
YOU'RE NOT GETTING PAID A MILLION DOLLARS,,
BUT YOU'RE ENJOYING THE JOB AND EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW,
IS SOMETHING YOU LOOK FORWARD TO DOING AND ENJOY THAT CHALLENGE.
IT'S BEEN A GROWTH FOR ME.
IT REALLY HAS.
>> HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN A GREAT DAY?
>> IT'S BEEN A GREAT DAY AT HOLY ANGELS--
WELL, EVERY DAY IS A PRETTY GREAT DAY.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT DAY WHEN SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED--
WE CALL THEM MERCY MOMENTS.
WE HAVE THIS PHILOSOPHY THERE, AND IT CAN BE A LITTLE THING
OR A BIG THING, AND WE ALWAYS SHARE OUR MOMENTS.
WHENEVER WE HAVE A MEETING WHERE WE HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON,
WE HAVE A MEALTIME, WE SHARE OUR MOMENTS,
AND IT COULD BE SOMETHING THE RESIDENT DID OR SOMETHING
THAT HAPPENED GREAT FOR HOLY ANGELS, OR LITTLE SUCCESSES,
REALLY, OR TOUCHING THINGS, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF MERCY MOMENTS
WHERE SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED THAT HAS TOUCHED OUR LIVES
OR TOUCHED THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
>> GREAT. THANKS FOR TAKING A FEW MOMENTS WITH US
TO SHARE OUR STORY AND CONTINUED GOOD LUCK WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING
AND THANKS FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO CPCC
AND TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED OUR CONVERSATION WITH STELLA.
FOR THE CREW HERE AT CPCC TELEVISION, I'M DAVID RHEW.
17 THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
GOOD NIGHT.
[ THEME MUSIC ]