Get to Know: Sophia Phillips

Story by Abigail Castro

Sophia is a second-year DPT student at the University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program. Sophia decided to pursue a career in physical therapy because it combines her interests of wellness, anatomy, neuroscience, and her personal passion of building relationships and supporting others. Sophia loves how the nature of one-on-one physical therapy allows her to connect with patients on deeper and more personal level.

Sophia recalls how her decision to pursue Pelvic Health PT began: “after recognizing how societal stigma around pelvic health led to personal knowledge gaps about my body, my passion for educating myself and others on their bodies ignited. This interest was further emphasized after learning about postpartum depression during my neuroscience undergraduate education. While writing a research paper on global stigmas and treatment options for postpartum depression, I recognized how the lack of education, resource availability, and social support for new moms largely contributed to developing the condition.” During her time in the CUPT program, Sophia continued to explore Pelvic Floor PT and was able to confirm that this specialty is where she belonged. Sophia says, “being raised by a single mom, I’ve always felt called to help women feel empowered, and after further pursuing this specialty through continuing education and treating pelvic patients during my past rotation, I am confident that this specialty is how I can best use my skills to achieve this goal.”

Sophia appreciates that CUPT has a supportive faculty that encourage her to pursue her goals. Sophia shares, “I’ve met with a couple professors that have supported me in finding ways to manage burn out, mental health, and have balance while still doing well academically and adjusting to a clinic schedule!” Sophia will be joining N2 PT for her final clinical rotation that focuses on women’s health, “I’m so excited to help individuals feel empowered to take charge of their health, educated on their bodies, and comforted while discussing topics that aren’t normally talked about!”

Get to Know: Dr. Adedayo Balogun

What made you want to pursue a career in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation? 
As a medical student, I had a wide and varied interest in all of my different clinical rotations. I had a strong interest in the musculoskeletal system, and the neurological and neuroanatomy courses. When I was exposed to a PM&R rotation, it was the first rotation that I felt completely in tune with the physicians that were present. It helped address all of the most important aspects of a person’s healthcare, and took into account all aspects of a person’s experience when taking part in their care.  

How has the CU PM&R residency program allowed you to pursue your goals? 
This residency program has so far allowed me to cultivate my experience and independence in different rehabilitation settings and learn how to navigate the different barriers and challenges that patients face routinely. I've been exposed to many different versions of being a PM&R physician, and I have had the ability to explore these different areas in a way that I can prepare myself for life after residency.

What is your “why”? 
My “why” is always to bring the best care to as many people that I can first and foremost. I want to be able to deliver that same care to people that have historically been overlooked, and taken advantage of as well. I aspire to provide patients that may not always feel seen or heard to understand that I’m taking their concerns to heart, and I understand the perspective that many of their other care providers may not. I also strive to be a positive example for others who may look like me or identify with me. I want to be more than an example, but a support system for those coming after me.  

February is a month to honor and celebrate Black leaders. What does this mean for you? 
Black History Month is an opportunity to take a step back and reflect on the ways that black people have contributed to the world. We have been leaders for change and equity, leaders in science, health care, ingenuity and all aspects of life. Being a leader, to me is about being accountable. I think that having priorities, morals, and standards, and holding strong to those values is all that it takes to be a leader.  

What leadership role(s) have you taken up and what impact have they had on you and your time in medical school or residency? As a medical student I took part in my school's Student National Medical Association (SNMA) chapter. As president of this chapter, we had a hand in reaching out to the community for other people to understand that becoming a physician was attainable, finishing school and going to the college opened plenty of doors, and providing support and guidance for undergraduate students that had an interest in going to medical school.  

Being a physician inherently occupies a leadership role. As a physiatrist, we regularly take part in team meetings, where we discuss patients with PT’s, OT’s, RN’s, social workers, case managers, and speech therapists. Sometimes, being a leader is understanding how the team functions most effectively, other times it’s trusting your teammates to their expertise and simply providing an overall team goal for everyone to strive towards.  

What words of encouragement do you have to share with future students of color pursuing careers in healthcare?
The words of encouragement that I have for those students would be to always show up and be yourself. You have a unique experience and perspective that matters, and never let fear of failure keep you from trying something that you are passionate about. Do your best to surround yourself with people that you admire and have similar goals as yourself. Not competitors, but people who will lift you up with them. These are the people that you’ll grow the closest to both professionally and personally.