February 2021 PTA Focus



Irina Chudnovskaya, PTA

Greetings and thank you to the PTA SIG for allowing me to share my story! My journey started like many others who wanted to be in the physical therapy field. I began volunteering in different settings including an inpatient rehab and an outpatient clinic. One patient that stood out was a young man with cerebral palsy. I did not know much about the condition at the time so I decided to learn more and do some research on cerebral palsy. 

This led me to volunteer and eventually get hired as a research assistant in the Virtual Environment Postural Orientation (VEPO) lab at Temple University, where I was earning my degree in Kinesiology. I worked on studies involving balance and posture in adults with cerebral palsy in a virtual environment. This was a great experience, as I learned about the research side of physical therapy, specifically with regard to neurological diseases. I stayed another year at Temple to earn my certification in American Sign Language.

From there I attended the PTA program at Harcum College and joined the APTA and APTA Pennsylvania early for the great student rates! I had many experiences in and out of the classroom such as attending my first APTA CSM in New Orleans as well as on clinical rotation: one with Good Shepherd Penn Partners (GSPP) at Penn Presbyterian and one at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

I was the first PTA student that CHOP had in a long time. During this rotation I worked in the Center for Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome (AMPs), where I worked with pediatric patients who had amplified abdominal, head, chest, arm, etc., pain that was not related to musculoskeletal pain. I learned various coping strategies, and challenged patients while implementing creative exercises/therapeutic activities. During my clinical rotation at GSPP, I worked in the subacute unit progressing patients after orthopedic surgeries, falls, and amputations for a safe discharge home. I had a great relationship with my clinical instructor (CI), Jenn Novik (current PTA SIG and Southeast District Secretary). Jenn kept in touch with me after graduation, offering help with my resume and interview preparation, and even sent in my resume when she heard a PTA position was open at Presby. That's right! CI and student are back together again but now as co-workers! “Big Sarge and Little Sarge” in action! (a patient nicknamed us that when I was her student).

As a new grad working in familiar territory I was excited and grateful to have the opportunity to work alongside my CI, now mentor, as well as get the chance to explore the acute care side of the hospital. Little did I know that I would be experiencing acute care a lot quicker than intended. Once COVID-19 became more prevalent in the city last spring, the hospital started seeing an influx of patients. Our manager asked for any volunteers to treat COVID-19 patients, and without hesitation I jumped on this opportunity to be a team player and lessen the burden on my co-workers.

Before I treated COVID-19 patients on my own, I had the opportunity to co-treat with the rest of my COVID-19 team members. They each helped guide me on the proper way of donning and doffing PPE, preparing for the patients’ rooms, chart reviewing important lab values, doctors progress notes, social workers’ notes, and improving my approach to patient care. In the beginning stages a majority of COVID-19 patients had to be rehabbed in the hospital. As a PTA I was comfortable treating patients to progress their strength, endurance, activity tolerance, wean them off oxygen, meet their goals for discharge, and even decrease their need for therapy depending on their stability. Overall, my time treating COVID-19 patients feels like a big and long blur in time.

While treating COVID-19 patients I also had to try and survive the pandemic myself. As a new professional I did what any other millennial did, and moved back in with my parents! Some days were better than others but I was fortunate to have the support of my parents, sister, friends and coworkers. We would check in with one another, recommend new shows or books to read, share memes, recipes, and do virtual workouts together. Even though we are still abiding by COVID-19 restrictions, I get to do what I love and that is treat people and progress them to their next step in recovery. I am also leading by example and have gotten vaccinated against COVID-19. I hope that my efforts will decrease infections, hospitalizations and deaths.

So what’s next for this new clinician? Well, I am living on my own, continuing to better my health, and supporting local restaurants when I can. I plan on becoming a CI and continuing to grow my skills on various service lines. I’ll continue to attend APTA and APTA Pennsylvania webinars, SIG meetings, and advocating for our profession by writing and calling legislators.