PTA Focus - April 2021

Doug Slick, PTA

I was born during the Eisenhower administration. My dad served in the Navy during WWII; he used the GI Bill to build our house and get the first college degree in his family. My mom stayed home with me until I started school when she got a couple of graduate degrees and worked as a school librarian. We had a rotary phone and were on a party line. That meant you could pick up the phone and there might be a conversation already going on; it was considered impolite to listen in before hanging up. Our black & white TV reliably received two channels through the antennae on the roof. At 11:00 p.m. they played the National Anthem and shut down until the next morning.

I learned to play the trombone in high school and received a scholarship to attend a military academy on the wealthy Main Line outside of Philadelphia. A real culture shock for a kid from rural PA.

I parlayed that opportunity into acceptance at a music performance college in center city Philadelphia. Yet another culture shock! I took full advantage of the education I got and, through the networking I was able to access there, created a 30-year career in music performance. It began with freelancing a wide range of musical styles and evolved into co-leading a private-party band along with a brother from another mother.

During this process, I met my wife, Sandy. We bought our first house in South Philly. Yet another culture shock! We started a family that would include our daughter Marcy and our son Jake. We moved from South Philly to Pottstown so our children could attend a high-quality and racially-diverse public school district. Yup, culture shock!

I willingly relinquished my music private-teaching job to become a stay-at-home dad during the week and continue my music performance career on the weekends. My wife returned to her full-time career. Herding two grade school/middle school children through a daily schedule of homework, soccer, scouts and dog walks remains the most challenging job I’ve ever had!

Throughout my music career, I had numerous part-time jobs to bolster our income. During this period I was officiating soccer and basketball and I became more serious about my own fitness. I witnessed many athletes get injured and recover from injury. A harbinger of my next career.

The Great Recession of 2008 forced a serious re-evaluation of my career choice. Live music is a luxury and frequently one of the first expenses cut by companies and individuals during economic hard times. One day—no more gigs!

A good friend of mine was in the process of getting his DPT and we talked about a possible career path for me to become a therapy aide and pursue the goal of becoming a PTA. During a stint driving a school bus, I contacted a PTA degree program. I was told that I couldn’t work while attending the program, that was a deal breaker for me. I decided to become an instructor for the school bus company, teaching new drivers. The day I took the job I accidentally backed a school bus into a brand-new Mustang at a stop sign, crunching its hood like in a cartoon (no injuries). The bus company decided they would rescind the job offer…

I called the PTA program again, since it seemed like the perfect career for me and when I asked about working during schooling, I was told this time that I could work until the last semester. I figured that was doable and the career choice was made.

Obtaining the PTA degree and passing the licensure exam was the most difficult intellectual pursuit of my life, but I’m so glad I did it. I am now an integral member of the cardiothoracic team at our hospital and I feel very valued, challenged and fulfilled. My children are on their own, pursuing their own careers and living exciting lives. Our family is still growing with our two-year old granddaughter, Mila, and one expected in June. I still think about the moment I threw that school bus into reverse and how dramatically it changed my life path.

Being a member of APTA was always a no-brainer for me. I was taught, “Be part of the solution.” Membership is clearly in line with that adage. Without the association serving as a national voice, individual therapists would never have a seat at the table where decisions are made that affect our patients and our profession. Serving on various APTA committees and the PTA Caucus has filled my contacts file with therapists from across the country and they form a marvelous network.

I always feel good about the work I do as I drive home each day. Helping others regain their life through restoring movement is a wonderful way to spend your time!