Patrick Voigt '20Sub-Title

Name: Patrick Voigt

Graduation Year: 2020

Major: Biology

Your Story: I grew up in Richfield, Minnesota, which is a medically underserved community just outside of Minneapolis. Much of the population relied on emergency care instead of primary care. I found this inefficient as diseases and illnesses often progressed further than necessary. Fortunately, primary care helped save my hometown by becoming more available to all. I saw the impact that the medical field has on a community. I grew up thinking I wanted to be a medical doctor, but I was also interested in physical therapy. Through high school, I was a three-sport athlete (football, baseball, and wrestling), so I had plenty of experiences with physical therapy. 

My sophomore year, I took part in the pre-health career exploration J-term with an open mind. I shadowed a variety of healthcare professionals at River’s Edge Hospital in St. Peter. Physical therapy stood out to me because they interacted and formed relationships with patients more so than other professions. This positive experience prompted me to shadow more physical therapists. 

I observed physical therapists at TRIA orthopedics (Bloomington), Orthopedic & Fracture Clinic (Mankato), Edenbrook Edina, and the Mankato School District. I had great conversations with physical therapists while witnessing so many inspiring moments. I loved everything about the physical therapy career from the type of work to the work-life balance. These shadowing experiences confirmed my desire to pursue a career in physical therapy. 

Top Five Activities/Experiences:

1: Pre-Health Career Exploration J-term 

2: Tau Psi Omega Fraternity 

3: Working as a Zamboni Driver

4: Gustavus Football

5: Meeting some of my best friends!

Advice: 

1: Find balance in your life between academics, extracurriculars, work, and your social life. There’s more to the application cycle than your GPA! 

2: Join clubs, programs, or jobs that involve some sort of patient interaction. A huge part of a career in healthcare is patient care, so these will be valuable experiences to refer to during the application cycle!

3: Shadow! This is a great way to not only observe the daily routine associated with a career but also to just have a conversation with a healthcare professional. 

Future Plans: Attending the University of Minnesota’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, starting Summer 2021.