This episode of The FOX Five features Steph Walker, PT, DPT, FOX Rehabilitation’s Clinical Practice Leader of University Relations. She shares her FOX Five—5 Ways a Student Can Prepare to Be a FOX Clinician. Steph discusses the importance of Virtual ICE (Integrated Clinical Experience), applying for a clinical rotation, shadowing different therapy professionals, attending team events, and connecting with a clinical career specialist. She highlights how these steps help students determine if FOX is the right fit for them.

Jim: Welcome to The FOX Five, the show that explores FOX Rehabilitation through an original list created by a FOX colleague. We welcome back to The FOX Five, FOX Rehabilitation physical therapist, Clinical Practice Leader of University Relations, and Site Coordinator of Clinical Education—the one, the only, Steph Walker!

Steph: Thank you, Jim! I'm also impressed with how you're able to say all of the titles.

It's definitely a tongue twister!

Jim: No, I think you and Joe, who has also been on The FOX Five, have the longest titles with FOX Rehabilitation.

Steph: Yeah, we do! It's definitely, uh, it's a lot, but you—you nailed it, so we're all good.

Jim: It's like one of those titles where you have to turn around the business card. Alright, so Steph, what is your FOX Five?

Steph: My FOX Five is going to be Five Ways a Student Can Prepare to Be a FOX Clinician.

Jim: And I would imagine you see this a lot because you work in University Relations, so you work with the students, and a lot of those students end up working with FOX.

Steph: Yep, yep! So, I am in charge of basically placing all of our students with the clinical instructors on the teams. I kind of work with them throughout the student program and throughout their clinical, and then talk to them about how they can become a FOX clinician. So yeah, I feel pretty confident with my tips here.

Jim: Alright, you ready to dive into it?

Steph: Yes!

Jim: What is Number One on your FOX Five?

Steph: My first one would be to watch a Virtual ICE. We offer universities a thing called the Virtual ICE, and basically, it's when a class will watch a live treatment session through Teams. We will get connected with a clinician, and they will watch a live treatment session. A lot of our university partners set this up with us. However, if your specific university does not have one set up, you could always reach out to FOX, and we could either have you individually, as a student, sit in on any of the ones that we already have scheduled with other universities, or we could get connected with one of your professors and set up a Virtual ICE with the university.

Jim: And before we get to the next one on your FOX Five, can you break down the acronym ICE?

Steph: Yes, our Virtual ICE—the ICE stands for Integrated Clinical Experience. It's just a different clinical experience that you can have outside of actually coming to us for an in-person clinical.

Jim: And saying "ICE" sounds a lot cooler than the long form.

Steph: Yeah, and easier!

Jim: Steph, that brings us to Number Two on your FOX Five.

Steph: Number Two would be to actually apply for a clinical with us. We do have an application process. It's very short. We ask about two questions: "What got you interested in FOX?" and "Why do you want to have a clinical with us?" Then, once we review your application, we place you with a clinical instructor.

Jim: So, to become a student, you have to apply.

Steph: Yes, that is a major step.

Jim: Steph, we're Team FOX—I want you to add an extra question: "Why wouldn't you do a clinical with FOX Rehabilitation?"

Steph: Exactly!

Jim: Come on now! Steph, that brings us to Number Three on your FOX Five.

Steph: Number Three would be, if you do apply for a clinical, then to actually shadow other therapists on the team. Let's say you're a PT student, and you come on, and your CI is a PT. I think it's really important to also shadow our counterparts. Shadow an occupational therapist, shadow a speech-language pathologist. You want to see and know the team that you're going to be working with if you were to come on as a FOX clinician. We offer those opportunities, so all you have to do is ask.

Jim: And then that brings us to Number Four on your FOX Five.

Steph: Number Four would be to attend team events or team happy hours. It's a great way to connect with other clinicians on the team. It's a great way to meet the Regional Director, who would probably be interviewing you, and the Regional Quality Assurance Liaison. I think really attending those events and putting your name out there is a great way to make those connections.

Jim: I don't know if there's any FOX Five superfans out there, but your FOX Fives always build up a little bit of a story.

Steph: Yeah, this is definitely a step to a story.

Jim: Because what you're crafting is, by the time you're done with your clinical rotation, you should know if you want to work with FOX or not, because there's so much that you see throughout that clinical rotation and being a FOX student.

Steph: Yeah, you're really learning if you actually like this setting, if you actually like the FOX model, and if it's somewhere that you could see yourself working.

Jim: I think if you do a lot of the steps that I've already mentioned, you'll have a good understanding of, like, "Okay, this is where I belong." That bring us to Number Five on your FOX Five?

Steph: Yes! Number Five would be—again, kind of adding to the story—after your student clinical you can ask—or I will ask you, so it can be a vice-versa thing—if you want to be connected to a Clinical Career Specialist. When you get connected to a Clinical Career Specialist, they basically speak to you about what’s available in the area or territory in which you’re interested to work. They can speak to you more about the benefits that FOX offers, the different mentorships that FOX offers. They're able to just give you even more information about what it means to become a FOX clinician, and they also help guide you through the application process and setting up an interview with the Regional Director.

We really like to put emphasis on our students who come through the clinicals because we know that you have a really good understanding of what we have to offer with FOX. If you're interested, we really want to try to find an opportunity for you.

Jim: So, you're saying if you go from student to FOX clinician, at some point, that person is going to cross paths with you?

Steph: Yes. me, or my colleague Joe, or my colleague Nicole, who works with all the occupational therapy students.

Jim: You will come in contact with one of the three. You're lucky to talk to any of them because they're all great.

Steph: Yes, I agree with that!

Jim: Steph, thank you for an excellent FOX Five! You spoke of team gatherings.

Steph: Yes.

Jim: There's one in New York City in a couple of weeks. I might not be able to attend because it's on the same day as my 20th wedding anniversary.

Step: Okay, priorities! You know, maybe you could stop by with your wife, celebrate with the team, and then celebrate together?

Jim: That's an option, but I'm letting you know—if that option does not work out, that's why I won't be there.

Steph: I understand.