Women's History Month 2024 Student Spotlight - March 8, 2024
Get to know: Sophia Phillips
CU Physical Therapy Mar 8, 2024
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!”
Sophia provides words of encouragement to students as they pursue a career in healthcare that focuses on women’s health, “Start with learning about your own body and feeling empowered through education and understanding. If you have any interest in pelvic health, lean into it, and consider shadowing or talking to people more involved in the field! Also, don’t be afraid to talk about topics most people avoid discussing (bowel, bladder, sexual habits). So many patients dealing with these problems don’t have anyone to talk to because there can be a lot of shame surrounding these topics, so carve out time to just listen and support when needed and spend a good chunk of time educating yourself and those around you! It can go a long way.”