Whitney Hamilton, PT, DPT – Becomes OCS Board Certified

"I have always had a true passion for orthopedics and felt this specialty would allow patients and physicians to clearly understand where my expertise and interests lay." - Whitney Hamilton, PT, DPT, OCS, Cert. DN


Congratulations to Whitney Hamilton, PT, DPT, Cert. DN who can now add the title of Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) to her list of credentials!

Allhealthcare.com says it best, “when it comes to opening doors and opening eyes, specialty certification lets employers, colleagues and patients know that a physical therapist possesses advanced clinical skills in a particular area. Board-certified therapists truly stand out from their peers, considering fewer than 10 percent of the roughly 66,000 members of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) have obtained this voluntary advanced credential.”

Whitney is now part of the 10 percent by becoming a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. In 2011, Whitney graduated from UT Southwestern Medical Center - Dallas with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. After graduation, Whitney began working in the outpatient orthopedic setting. Six years later, she has worked with a wide variety of orthopedic conditions and has continued to improve her knowledge and skills as an orthopedic specialist.

As Clinic Director of both the Weatherford and Aledo locations, Whitney has worked with fellow members to pursue their own goals. She has encouraged each team member in goal setting and personal development within their career related interests. Recently, Whitney led her team by example when she reached her own personal goal.

In 2017, administration discussed with Whitney goals for her career. That was the moment when the orthopedic clinical specialist certification was brought up. When asked why she wanted to pursue the specialist certification, Whitney stated, "I have always had a true passion for orthopedics and felt this specialty would allow patients and physicians to clearly understand where my expertise and interests lay." From that point forward, the CEO and fellow staff members of Sports Rehab & Physical Therapy were ready to support Whitney in her endeavor.

To be eligible to sit for the examination, a physical therapist is required to submit evidence of 2,000 hours of direct patient care in the orthopedic setting within the last 10 years, with 25 percent of the hours occurring within the last 3 years.

Whitney possessed these qualifications and decided to sit for the impending exam. "Six years of experience in an outpatient orthopedic setting gave me the context to better understand the material, and the different perspectives of my online course through Evidence in Motion (EIM) helped me look at things differently. The biggest benefit I received was the year of studying and advancing my knowledge.”

By having her OCS, Whitney is also obliged to participate in ongoing professional development in the orthopedic setting, to maintain the standards set by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. The team at Sports Rehab & Physical Therapy could not be prouder of her huge accomplishment!

Written by, Janell Bierman
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