Julie Macy, MPT – Adult Neurological Rehabilitation
My hometown is Gallatin, MO, a rural town along the Grand River in northwest Missouri. My grandfather, father, and older sister are MU graduates, so I followed their footsteps to Columbia to attend the University of Missouri. In 2006, I graduated from the School of Health-Related Professions with a master’s degree in physical therapy.
Why did you get into the health care field?
While I was in college, my grandmother unfortunately had a pontine stroke. During her rehabilitation course, I observed her outpatient therapy sessions. The rehabilitation addressed her vertigo, sensory loss, and paralysis. I would have to say my interest started here. She was quite a dramatic woman, so that made the rehab interactions even more interesting. Many (very patient) therapists helped her make a remarkable recovery. She was very fortunate to live an independent and full life after the stroke occurred. I admired every healthcare member that gave my grandmother hope and the ability to live an independent life.
What interested you in your particular specialty?
Brain injury, whether it is traumatic or non-traumatic, often changes a person’s ability to process sensory information and to learn. As a physical therapist, I am concerned with restoring functional mobility. It seems simple, but impairments impacting vision, sensation, motor-planning, neuro-muscular control, and executive functions can create incredible barriers in learning to mobilize independently. Every person has a unique presentation with unique challenges. Treating this population requires assessment of how the individual learns, then tailoring interventions to address their specific impairments. I love the challenge of understanding how a person operates and then finding solutions to assist them with recovery. It often involves a lot of creativity.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
It is always rewarding when I see a former patient out in the wild, living life independently.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
Health literacy is an enormous challenge. Recovery and prevention of recurrence often require significant lifestyle changes. Healthcare providers must explain why these changes are so important in a manner that resonates with the individual.
What has changed in your field since you started practicing?
When I first started practicing in 2006, the general population was not as familiar with the signs of an acute stroke. Folks wouldn’t get to the hospital timely, and we would routinely treat people with profound deficits in multiple domains. The degree of disability resulting from a stroke was frequently devastating. Also, at that time, our code stroke protocols were in their infancy stages. The door to treatment time was not as impressive as it is now. Today more people recognize the signs of acute stroke, hospitals have refined code stroke protocols, intervention is initiated much sooner, and disability is significantly reduced.
What do you see changing in the next 5 to 10 years?
Hopefully, we will see individuals taking a more active role in their preventative care.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I’m a native plant enthusiast. I also love canoeing Missouri’s beautiful streams, cave exploration and conservation efforts, bird watching, biking the great trails we have in the Columbia area, and adoring my two cats and goldfish (Nacho cat, Tweet, and Ping Pong).
What advice would you give someone looking to become a physical therapist?
Physical therapy is a great field with many different specialties and settings for practice. As a PT, you really do have the ability to make meaningful changes in the lives of others. A desire to learn, a love for people, and a well-developed skillset can bring you a fulfilling career.