Nypta Ssig Candidate Essays

NYPTA SSIG CANDIDATE ESSAYS

Candidates for President

Bronté Miller

Stony Brook University Class of 2019

I am running for President of the Student Special Interest Group (SSIG) because it has the potential to become an extremely valuable resource for students that will further our profession, and I am best equipped to lead it to success. With help from many dedicated students, I began to form the SSIG in fall 2016. After a year of hard work and dedication, we were approved as an organization, wrote our bylaws, and are now nominating our first officers. This incredibly rewarding experience has granted me substantial leadership experience, a solid PT network, and new friends. I look forward to offering countless other students the same benefits.

My vision is that by the end of the SSIG’s first year,

1. All students in New York’s 35 PT and PTA programs will be informed and able to take advantage of opportunities offered by the SSIG;

2. Each SSIG officer will set and achieve three self-identified goals for professional growth;

3. The SSIG officers will develop and maintain at least five mentors in the New York physical therapy community to promote SSIG continuity for years to come.

Other than my experience with the SSIG, I have grown as a leader in multiple positions: as manager of a store for two years, APTASA Membership Project Committee Chair, social coordinator of my undergraduate residence hall, officer of various positions in my sorority, and academic mentor in WISER. I am a strong communicator and effective listener, two qualities that are essential to lead a team well. I have learned that being a leader means putting others first, and that is what I intend to do as SSIG President. I am dedicated to making the SSIG my primary responsibility outside of class and empowering SSIG officers to learn and grow while serving the student community.

Candidates for Vice President

Emily Rubin

Hunter College Class of 2019

There is so much potential for connection and collaboration within the PT student community in NY. I am interested in facilitating opportunities for students to learn from each other and work together. I want to help students play a more active role in creating an educational and professional experience of their own making. I hope to help the SSIG become an accessible resource for NY students to expand and refine their interests and strengthen their professional relationships.

My prior experiences make me very qualified for this undertaking. I was co-organizer of the NYC Student Conclave; I was a Director’s Intern at the 2016 NYPTA Board of Directors Meeting; I am the APTA Student Liaison for the Hunter College class of 2019; and I have been intimately involved in the creation of the NYPTA SSIG over the past year. Most recently, I was awarded the 2018 San Diego Pain Summit scholarship, and I was asked to join the planning committee for the 3rd annual Women in PT Summit.

As Vice President of the NYPTA SSIG, I will strive to create an environment of student interest and involvement, and to advocate for the DPT/PTA student experience. I strongly believe that a higher level of student involvement outside of the classroom is essential to advance our profession. I intend to improve student access to updated information by creating and promoting educational events and exploring other avenues for communication. This will be a process that requires the voices of students themselves, so that we may all come to understand our common interests and aspirations. I also intend to help create a continuity plan so that NY students can have more opportunities to learn, grow, and collaborate for many years to come.

Megan Sliski

Utica College Class of 2020

I am interested in the position of SSIG Vice President because of my passion for both physical therapy and leadership. I have served many executive boards and possess the skills and qualities necessary to excel in this position. During my undergraduate career, I served as the Honors Association President, Health Studies Society Vice President/Treasurer, and the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) President/Secretary. As President of NSLS, I organized, communicated, and mediated with an executive board that consisted of eleven members as well as current and incoming members of the organization that totaled over seven hundred students. Overall, I guided over one hundred and fifty students through the induction steps to become members of the society. In my role in the Health Studies Society, I founded and led the first annual Health Studies Society Conference, which allowed students to research and present their findings to a professional audience.

My goals for the SSIG include increasing awareness throughout the state of the various roles physical therapists/assistants hold, expansion of educational opportunities for current SPT and SPTA students, and an increase in opportunity for SPT and SPTA students around the state to network with one another as well as with established professionals from a variety of medical careers. I aim to show members of the medical community and the rest of the community how physical therapists/assistants drive the essence of teamwork and helping hands to create a safe, healthy, and overall “well” environment inside and outside of the clinic. I believe this will be done when current students and practicing professionals come together to combine ideas that will create a better world. I would serve as a great president for the SSIG because of my unique spunk that, combined with my determination and persistence, allows me to get any job done.

Candidates for Secretary

Megan Sliski

Utica Class of 2020

I am interested in the position of SSIG Secretary because of my passion for both physical therapy and leadership. I have served many executive boards and possess the skills and qualities necessary to excel in this position. During my undergraduate career, I served as the Honors Association President, Health Studies Society Vice President/Treasurer, and the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) President/Secretary. As President of NSLS, I organized, communicated, and mediated with an executive board that consisted of eleven members as well as current and incoming members of the organization that totaled over seven hundred students. Overall, I guided over one hundred and fifty students through the induction steps to become members of the society. In my role in the Health Studies Society, I founded and led the first annual Health Studies Society Conference, which allowed students to research and present their findings to a professional audience.

Jenna Zajac

Nazareth College Class of 2019

I am interested in the position of secretary of the SSIG because I believe that there is a lot of potential for this organization and its future benefit for students in the PT/PTA programs. I would like to contribute to making this goal possible, and believe that I have the organizational skills, reliability, and coordination to serve well in the position of secretary. I have had prior experience in organizational rolls such as a PT student worker at Nazareth College, completing special projects for faculty, serving as a graduate assistant, as well as a student representative for my class. My hope is that the SSIG will grow and be recognized by all students in PT/PTA programs. Just as the NYPTA, the SSIG can serve as a fundamental resource for students, and I have the vision of increased student involvement throughout their graduate career. I will be dedicated to this position and believe my prior experience and vision for this organization will allow me to make valuable contributions to the SSIG as secretary.

Candidates for Treasurer

Brittany Wilbur

Stony Brook University Class of 2020

The SSIG is something that is near and dear to my heart as I have been an advocate for student involvement for many years. I have been a director's intern for the NYPTA Board of Directors which excited my passion for student involvement and advocation for the PT profession. It is there that I made important connections with my peers, professors, and board members. As treasurer, I will advocate for student involvement through fun interactive activities which will not only allow us to be a cohesive professional organization, but it will allow us to gain respect among licensed PT/PTAs within our state. Furthermore, through networking/podcasts/ interactive activities connecting SSIG groups from other states, we can promote student advocacy and also help to form SSIG in states that do not have a SSIG in place. My number one goal is to educate students within our state as to who we are, what we are doing, and how they can get involved with the SSIG. I am in awe that all students are members and with that membership, it gives us the opportunity to make sure our voice is heard within our profession. As treasurer, I will work closely with the board members and the NYPTA to develop a budget that will afford opportunites for our continued success in promoting student advocacy and involvement across the state. I am organized, diligent, and have been a great treasurer in the past for other organizations and I I believe that my goals as treasurer align flawlessly with the goals set forth by the SSIG. Thank you.

Kelsey Zuch

Clarkson University Class of 2020

Involvement with SSIG would allow me become more integrated into the field of physical therapy as well as facilitate networking and professional growth opportunities. I have prior experience with monitoring the logistics and funds for a collegiate rowing team, including tracking income/funds spent, organizing fundraising events and openly communicating this information with other team members. During my time in this position I hope to maintain a level of organization with our funding as well as establish an open line of communication so that all are on the same page when it comes to our financial status.

Candidates for Communications Chair

Allie Cartier

Utica College Class of 2019

The vision statement of the American Physical Therapy Association is “transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience.” As a student physical therapist, we have to embrace this vision statement because we are the future of physical therapy. Our field is expanding and growing, and we need to be ready to expand and grow with the profession. Serving as an NYPTA SSIG officer, it would be my goal and my commitment to make this vision statement known to all physical therapy students. Our profession is a profession of life time learning. We need to be keeping up with best practice, attending conferences, advocating for not only our patients but our profession, dedicating our time to the community, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals. We need students to start embracing the profession and start doing these things now so we continue to do these as we become licensed physical therapists. I want to make physical therapy students excited about their commitment to their profession, professional organization, community, and patients. I have developed a strong love and commitment, and it only continues to grow. I truly believe this will benefit the field of physical therapy and our patients. I would like to encourage every single student that graduates to experience this commitment and excitement so we can continue to be better in the future together.

Giuseppe Demera

Long Island University Class of 2019

I would love to be a the communications chair for the SSIG, as it would be a great opportunity to be the arbiter for the work that the SSIG does with the students that are a part of the NYPTA. To communicate the networking events, development opportunities and more importantly information on how students can advocate and grow PT would be a great experience for me. I have prior experience working for a non-profit company called the ACE and worked as the Collegiate Adviser for various Capoeria clubs that were formed by undergraduate students. By becoming the communications chair I would also like to increase the amount of students involved in student organized events and promote the growth of SSIG

Candidates for Nominating Committee Chair

Wren Serafini

Long Island University Class of 2019

I am a second year DPT student who takes great pride in my future profession. Since May of 2017, I have been a member of the SSIG Development Team and have been involved in the creation of the first SSIG Strategic Plan as well as currently serving on the Nominations Committee. I strongly believe in the SSIG as an organization that can provide students with unique opportunities for professional development, advocacy, networking, and service. My primary goal as Nominations Chair would be to ensure the future success of the SSIG, which begins with the statewide promotion of officer positions during annual elections to recruit qualified, motivated candidates for future leadership. As a previous student leader in many activities including the creation and coordination of a childhood cancer research fundraiser sponsored by Long Island University Department of Physical Therapy, serving as President and Treasurer of my undergraduate Anthropology Club, and attending the NYPTA 2017 Delegate Assembly and Leadership Development Workshop, I believe I possess the characteristics and experience necessary to recruit and slate the most qualified nominees who will provide the students of New York with the best events and opportunities to empower themselves as active and competent participants in their future profession.