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Episode 401 - The MDT Diploma Programme: Post Exam Check In

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In episode 401 of the Mechanical Care Forum, we’re continuing with Season 13 highlighting the McKenzie Institute International Diploma Program. Today we’re connecting with four other clinicians who, like me, recently sat for the final exam. We’ll hear how they felt going into the exam, the rollercoaster of confidence and self doubt in the exam itself, their view of the program as a whole looking back, where they hope to head professionally now and plenty more. This week on MCF!

SHOW NOTES

(by Jayla Hall)


(4:05)

Meet Students who Successfully Passed the Final Exam

Continuing her PT career of 21 years, Elizabeth Mauntler works at Central Vermont Medical Center within its physical therapy outpatient clinic. Her MDT journey began in 2018.


Daniel Paggen is located in Durham, NC and works within an outpatient clinic. He primarily sees the orthopedic patient population. Daniel began his MDT journey in 2011.


Micah Sales, located in Athens, GA, works as a clinical director in the outpatient clinic FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers. There he sees primarily orthopedic and neuro patient populations. Gary Dykes, a senior instructor for the McKenzie Institute USA, was strongly influential in Micah’s introduction to the McKenzie Method and pursuit of the MDT Diploma Programme. Micah’s MDT journey began in 2018.


Ray Peralta is located in New York City, NY and serves in an outpatient orthopedic clinic attached to NYU Langone Health Hospital. Ray also owns an online business (Running Pain-Free) which is concerned with injury prevention and sports performance with runners, integrating MDT principles in this endeavor. Noticing the patient care outcomes of his colleagues, Ray decided to pursue the MDT Diploma Programme. Ray began his MDT journey in 2019.


(7:24) 

Final Exam Preparations

Elizabeth maintained communication with her cohort via the online application WhatsApp for ongoing discussion groups and productivity. Consulting Todd Edelson, Elizabeth refined her study strategy with his aid; and she recalls additional advice that she received:

“You need to just think of [the final exam] as another learning opportunity.” –Todd Edelson


Expanding upon Edelson’s counsel, Elizabeth shares that the examiners’ intent is not to present as pedantic nor nitpicky.


Quote:

“[Examiners] are just making sure you’re confident in your decision-making and stand your ground…giving [support to your decision].” –Micah


Micah mentions the sharing of research articles amongst members of his cohort and group study sessions that they completed. Micah also recalls the instructors of his clinical residency and their encouragement to use the MDT Diploma Manual as a preparatory tool (from which Micah created concise notes of the key aspects of MDT).


Ray highlights the mock exams completed within his cohort by which he identified the gaps in his presentation for the final. Jason expands upon this idea of a gap in knowledge, regarding his own education of the “Other” classification as a learning curve for him.


(19:30)

Anticipation vs. Reality
Quotes:

“[The MDT Diploma Programme] was really about sharpening clinical reasoning and [improving the] differential diagnosis…” –Daniel

“Going through the process, take an unbiased approach to evaluation and let the system guide you.” –Micah

“It’s learning how to reason and assess every patient.” –Elizabeth

“The more we hear [from] senior faculty, it really is about that confidence of saying ‘I can put that to rest now’ and ‘I don’t have to keep going back…wondering if I missed [x]. This patient is telling me by [her] history and showing me by [her] response. I can let that be.” –Jason


(23:22)

Aspirations: What’s in the Future? 

Ray envisions himself as a mentor to new clinicians who intend to pursue the McKenzie Method certification. Micah aims to acquire the same confidence presented as senior faculty of the McKenzie Institute USA, concerning the level of confidence they possess in their clinical decision-making and subsequent patient care. He desires to aid following clinicians in their pursuit of the same confidence.


We would like to thank Episode 401’s sponsor, The McKenzie Institute International. The McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy is globally recognized as a leading treatment for back, neck and extremities disorders. The McKenzie Institute International offers the diploma program to those professionals who have achieved prior certification in the method.

 If you’re interested in learning more, go to The McKenzie Institute International.

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