On the latest episode of FOX Rehabilitation’s The FOX Five, we chat with physical therapist and Senior Director of Quality Assurance and Professional Development, Rosie Sheehan, PT, DPT, GCS, CSCS, who explains the different ways a clinician can grow professionally with FOX and how they will be supported along the way.

Rosie explains that being a mentor and sponsor is the first step when thinking about taking on a leadership role, and how it’s also a great way to give back to students and newly hired clinicians.

Rosie discusses how getting involved with academics is a great way to grow professionally. Being an instructor also helps hone your presentation skills, which Rosie knows a thing or two about, as she was a presenter at APTA’s 2022 Combined Sections Meeting in San Antonio last year.

We also get a peek inside FOX Rehabilitation’s PACE (Professional, Academic, and Clinical Excellence) program, which awards FOX clinicians at the end of the year for going above and beyond.

Rosie then explains how FOX Rehabilitation is instrumental in supporting colleagues who want to earn advanced degrees. It is as simple as reaching out to a member of your leadership team to get the ball rolling on a successful career path with FOX Rehabilitation.

Jim: Welcome to The FOX Five, the series that explores the world of FOX Rehabilitation through an original list created by a FOX colleague. Today, I am joined by FOX physical therapist and our Senior Director of Quality Assurance and Professional Development—that’s a mouthful—Rosie Sheehan.

Rosie: Thank you.

Jim: But it's important—quality assurance and professional development!

Rosie: It's true, it is quite important. Thank you so much for having me here.

Jim: Thank you for coming on, I appreciate it.

Rosie: Speaking of how important professional development is, my list is: 5 Ways to Grow Professionally with FOX Rehabilitation.

Jim: Alright, so what’s Number One on your FOX Five?

Rosie: Number one is—becoming a mentor and sponsor. This is an amazing opportunity to kind of give back and help new hires and new graduates learn how to be great clinicians and FOX clinicians.

Jim: Do people usually become mentors when they're thinking about leadership?

Rosie: Yeah, if you want to become a leader the first step is to be a mentor and sponsor, but it's also for those who just kind of enjoy those interactions with clinicians. Sometimes being a mentor and a sponsor is where they want to be and where they thrive. It's a good start.

Jim: Yeah, and that's that's a great start to your FOX Five. So, what is number two on your FOX Five?

Rosie: Number two is—getting involved in academics. So, this would be being a clinical instructor, bringing out a student for an affiliation, or also being involved in universities, so ICE presentations, virtual ICE presentations, and going to speak at a university.

Jim: I'm sensing a theme here: doing more than what it what's expected, going that extra mile?

Rosie: Yeah.

Jim: But that's what you do in order to advance professionally, right?

Rosie: Absolutely.

Jim: What is number three on your FOX Five?

Rosie: Number three is being a part of the PACE program. [FOX Rehabilitation’s] PACE program is amazing because you get points for everything that you're already doing, whether it's presenting at a [Senior Living Community], going to a journal club, making social media posts, anything like that. And those PACE points turn into cash bonuses at the end of the year.

Jim: So, for those that don't know, PACE is an acronym for Professional, Academic, and Clinical Excellence. If you do a podcast, if you write a blog article, even if you do a video like this, if you're enrolled in the PACE program you get so many points, and then it pays out at the end of the year. It's a great incentive at FOX Rehabilitation.

Rosie: Absolutely, be involved in the Media Team.

Jim: Yes.

Rosie: All of these things are worth PACE points.

Jim: I was so excited about PACE I've lost track. Are we at number four?

Rosie: Yeah, Number Four is—Getting an Advanced Degree Through FOX's Support. So, something like the GCS or NCS, which I highly recommend. I went through the program myself. I don't know how I would have done it without the support of my FOX colleagues. It was just really a great way to do it.

Jim: Because you're not going in there blindly.

Rosie: That's true, yeah, I mean I think this year we have 60 clinicians that are joining the cohort, trying to get advanced degrees. I think this is absolutely amazing and it just shows how well the program is and how motivated all of you are. I think it'll keep growing every year and it's just a great supportive way to become better clinicians Also, know that you're not doing it alone and there is a great structure for that.

Jim: And that brings us to number five, how do we grow professionally at FOX Rehabilitation?

Rosie: Number five I would say is—talk to your local leadership. So, number five is all-encompassing. If you want to grow, if you have a passion, if you have a drive, talk to the people on your team. Talk to local leadership and they will invest in whatever you want for your career.

Jim: They get excited when people want to be leaders. It's not like, “Oh, we’ll talk about it next week.” It's like, “Oh, you want to be a leader? Yeah, absolutely.”

Rosie: Exactly. Tell us what you want, tell us where you see yourself, and we will find a place for you. That's what I've always been like at FOX.

Jim: This was a cool FOX Five because at my time here, I've seen you grow professionally.

Rosie: For sure.

Jim: Full circle, and you're not done growing.

Rosie: I hope not. Well, maybe height-wise, but professionally I will keep growing!