Meet Stephanie Oscilowski, SPT

As an introverted, first year student from University of Maryland Baltimore, with a broken phone, I made the trip to Portland to attend my first APTA conference, the National Student Conclave (NSC), in search of other passionate students.

I made my first conference friend – Robin, who was running for Student Assembly BOD – she sparked my interest in getting involved. The ignite speeches got me excited for the conference, the sessions I attended helped me learn networking skills which I have used at subsequent conferences, interested me in Residency and Travel PT opportunities, I took my selfie with Dr. Dunn, and grew my #PTFAM.

Attending NSC launched my involvement with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)! I attended the Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) in New Orleans in my first year, organized an Advocacy Dinner at my school, and was selected to attend the House of Delegates as MD Student Delegate in my second year. I met up with my conference friends at NEXT and made more friends. I am now the Chair of the MD APTA Student Special Interest group and I am helping to organize the MD Student Conclave in November along with the D.C. Student SIG.

Including my APTA volunteering, I have completed over 100 hours of volunteering since starting my program in June 2017, this includes an after-school program in West Baltimore and several arts organizations.

I have been aware of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy when my mum was a patient, but it wasn’t until we had a my second year unit on Pelvic Health Physical Therapy this summer that I really wanted to learn more.