January 29, 2019

Physical therapy doctoral candidate chosen for national mentorship program

2020 update: Kristen Robertson stepped up to serve on the front lines of the pandemic after graduation — read more about her coronavirus experience. 

Doctoral student Kristen Robertson was selected for the 2019 Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (AOPT) Mentorship Program. She is one of just 15 students across the country – and the only one from Michigan – chosen for the experience. Robertson is expected to earn her doctorate in physical therapy from the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences this year.

This is the inaugural year for the AOPT program, which pairs physical therapy students with mentors for six months of formal mentorship, which the organization hopes will extend into long-term professional relationships and expanded networks.

Robertson’s mentor is Laura Iglar, PT, DPT, who is currently completing her orthopedic fellowship at Ohio State University. They met for the first time at AOPT’s Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) held Jan. 23-36 in Washington D.C.

Her career goal is to work with dance studios across the country on injury prevention, screening tools, exercise protocols, kinesiology and anatomy.

“Being matched with Dr. Iglar will prove invaluable in fashioning my career goals as a physical therapist,” Robertson said.

Robertson is the student coordinator for Wayne State’s SAY Detroit pro bono physical therapy clinic and the CHIP (Community Homeless Interprofessional Program) clinic, an active member of the Michigan Physical Therapy Association, as well as a student assistant in the WSU Applebaum Department of Physical Therapy.

“Becoming a physical therapist is a second career for me, and I want to make sure I take advantage of every possible opportunity. I believe in this profession and am dedicated to lifelong learning and being a constant advocate for my patients,” she said.

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