Education
 

• BSc 2007, Dalhousie
• MScPT 2009, Dalhousie

Dalhousie’s School of Physiotherapy fosters many skills in its students and for some it can teach how to build a home. Alumnus Matthew Stanwood shares his experience working as a physiotherapist in rural Nova Scotia and the essential skills he developed during the physiotherapy program.

Stanwood is a physiotherapist with the Outpatient Physiotherapy Department at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. During a recent interview we discovered how he conquered building his own home and his experiences working in a rural community.

For many, the thought of building a home is daunting. This spring Stanwood took on this challenge and began building a home using skills he developed in the program.

“First off, I had zero carpentry skills. I started out by building my own acoustic guitar and other instruments. Self directed learning is one of many skills I learned in the physiotherapy program and it really helped in the process of building a home,” said Stanwood, who is now living in his home in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

“I compared pieces of literature, gained a wide range of views from others and learned from their experiences. Like school, we learn through doing. It was similar to when students go out on placement. Students develop their skills through repetition and practice and I did the same. I did my research then put it into practice. Making sure my material was prepared is another skill that helped me overcome many obstacles,” explained Stanwood.

Conducting research and being self directed is applicable to other areas as well.

“ Yes, the process is the same. I’m a self taught musician, there’s always a certain aspect of research, reading in particular, to all areas of my life,” said Stanwood.

Beyond building a home, Stanwood recommends being a physiotherapist in a rural community, however it does have its challenges.

“The advantages of doing a physiotherapy placement or working in a rural community is of course the diversity of your patients but also the personal connections you make with other health care professionals. You’re working as part of a team and you can better communicate with your players. There are more opportunities to ask questions. Rural communities do lack resources within. We don’t have the specialists like in larger cities or people may not have a family doctor to get simple tests or medications filled,” said Stanwood.

Stanwood provides future physiotherapy graduates a few words of advice, “Don’t let others limit you. You need to stay motivated and driven. Even if you think you have weaknesses try and overcome them.”