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View from the Valley
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
AUTHOR: MAGGEE BLEYER
Kinsey Whitaker is the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education for the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program at WVC. She teaches Health, Psychological Aspects of Aging, Pharmacology for the Allied Health Professional, Medical Terminology, Kinesiology & Sport, PTA Clinical Processes, Field Experience for the PTA, Multiple System Rehabilitation, Clinical I, Clinical II, and Clinical III. Kinsey’s journey began in her hometown--Mt. Carmel, IL. Growing up, she was active in sports and community activities. After high school, she enrolled in WVC and then transferred to Northern Illinois University where she graduated with a Master’s Degree in Physical therapy. She later returned back to school to graduate with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Kinsey worked in an outpatient hospital setting with the occasional acute care and inpatient rehab rotation. Through this experience, she found that she enjoyed working with the geriatric population. She was then offered a position working full-time in home health care, where she stayed for nearly a decade (during this time, she completed her Doctorate in Physical Therapy and gained a Board Certified Specialty as a Geriatric Clinical Specialist). She continued to work in the field as a Physical Therapist--but began teaching Physical Therapy continuing education courses and CPR Certification Courses. Kinsey’s teaching style consists of the saying “practice makes perfect!” “I like to make sure that the basics are understood well in knowledge and application, and then apply those foundational skills to more complex patient scenarios by adding additional details,” Kinsey stated, “Throughout the educational process, my students participate in many group discussions, practice skills many
Always ask questions. Never stop learning.
times, and will both receive and deliver constructive feedback. My students practice, practice, and practice more until their skills are perfected!" Kinsey encourages her students to take on opportunities and keep learning. “I hope that my students gain the skills to become excellent clinicians with the ability to display extraordinary compassion with their patients and coworkers while continually seeking out educational opportunities,” Kinsey expressed. Outside of teaching, Kinsey enjoys spending time with her husband and sons. As a family, they like to travel and visit aquariums, zoos, and museums.
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