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CHP PT grad commits to US Air Force duty by Heather Woolwine Public Relations Many people join the military for a variety of reasons, but most often when they do, it is during a time of peace. It’s no secret that recruiting numbers are down for some of the armed forces as the various conflicts reveal stories of heroism and horror.   David Poole   For College of Health Professions Physical Therapy Program graduate David Poole, there is no better time than now to serve in the U.S. Air Force.   Poole was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force May 16 as one of only seven physical therapists selected nationwide. No stranger to a life affected by the military, both of Poole’s parents served in the Navy while he grew up in South Carolina and other areas around the country.   “My dad was a physician’s assistant and my mother worked in women’s auxiliary services,” he said. “In addition to the military, health care was also always a part of our lives and our dinner table conversations. He’d come home and tell us patient stories, so I guess we were always kind of medically-focused.”   Poole’s destiny only seemed to point him more toward a military career when he met and married his wife, Karen, whose father was also a decorated military man. Growing up in an Air Force home and also working in the health care field as a speech pathologist, Karen would prove to be the perfect support system for Poole’s dream of entering the military and serving as a physical therapist.     “I suppose I had other aspirations at other times. At one point I wanted to go into business or marketing, and I’m sure there was a professional baseball dream in there somewhere, too,” Poole said with a laugh. “But a part of me always wanted to be in the military. I had a great respect for what my parents did; I just didn’t know my part in it until the last few years. There are a lot of people who knock the administration and the military, especially now, and for me to join at this time is my way of saying that I support what our nation is doing. I want to be a part of making positive changes in the world, and to do that I feel like I have to be able to do it from the inside.”   A deciding moment came for Poole three years ago after working as a physical therapy assistant for 11 years. He had spent time working in a closely knit group in Summerville when the therapist and administrator at the center of his group exited the practice. Faced with a rapidly changing situation and some unfavorable indicators, Poole realized that the time had come to make the next step in his professional development.       “My wife and I prayed about it a lot, and it wasn’t easy to make the decision, because that meant that my wife would have to go back to work full-time; I would be in school full-time, and we had Jacob (a 9-year-old son) to think about,” he said.     Poole’s first move was to gain acceptance to MUSC. Once admitted, he set about becoming the best physical therapist he could be. Poole admitted that working as an assistant for years was an advantage in the beginning, but he also experienced a bit of shell shock during his first semester. “Things made sense because I had some experience, but it was so much more detail. The biggest challenge was not relying too heavily on my previous experience to get me through. It was helpful, but PT school is very rigorous and demanding, and I really had to make myself buckle down and study,” he said.    “I cannot think of anyone more qualified than David for the armed services,” said Kathy Cegles, Physical Therapy Program director. “On first meeting him you can immediately detect his sense of responsibility and maturity with all things academic. He is truly the ultimate professional in all aspects of his daily life. I deal with students on a daily basis, and it is quite refreshing to have David as part of the cohort of the Class of 2007.”   “Prior to 9/11, the possibility of being deployed to a dangerous environment was a real, albeit remote, possibility,” said Capt. Jon Ehrenfried, physical therpay chief at the Charelston Air Force base. “When David took his commissioning oath... it will be with the knowledge that at some point, he will likely have to put his life at risk... Men and women entering the military now are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to keep their families safe at home and protect the American way of life, up to and including laying their lives on the line. They represent the best that American society has to offer.”     Despite a demanding workload, Poole was often the one with the more flexible schedule to care for his son. Both parents would go to work and school, and once the daily routines were finished, Poole would hit the books until about midnight each night. “Time management is really a must, and it also helps to have a very understanding and supportive wife,” he added.   “From early in the curriculum it was apparent to David that he had found his calling,” said David Morrisette, Ph.D., Physical Therapy Program associate professor. “He was constantly looking for opportunities to learn. David has a wife and a young son, and while dedicated to his professional preparation, he work diligently to maintain as close as normal a family life. He worked very hard at developing the skills and knowledge base to be a wonderful clinician.”   Part of what enabled Poole to make it through was his combined desire to serve patients and his country. “We spend a lot of time with our patients and things are very hands-on. You see results faster than other disciplines because of that relationship,” he said. “It also helped that the faculty here is fantastic. Drs. (Kathy) Cegles, (David) Morrisette, and (Holly) Wise really pushed me to achieve the most I could. Once Dr. Cegles found about my experience, she really kept me on my toes by relying on me to spur on conversations, and in a way it forced me to be more responsible and do that little bit extra. Dr. Morrisette was always very encouraging and taught me so much about ortho manual therapy, which I’m very interested in. Dr. Wise is like the physical therapy cheerleader who would get us all involved in national associations and other constructive work. They were all wonderful in writing recommendations to help me gain one of seven spots nationwide for physical therapy in the Air Force.”   Dedicated to spending the rest of his career in the Air Force, Poole's first four weeks will be in commissioned officers’ training school at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala. Beyond that, his first station may be at the same base and could involve caring for injuries pertaining to recruit training as the base serves as a training ground for many of the occupations within the Air Force. Part of the draw to the military involves the opportunities for physical therapists and the leadership roles they are permitted in caring for their patients.   “Physical therapists in the military are able to order X-rays, MRIs, bone scans, and a limited number of medications if they have proper training,” Poole said. “During Vietnam, the Army had to employ the skills of PTs when ortho surgeons were in short supply. The result was a lot more efficiency in treating patients so the practice remains today. The Air Force is following that example. PTs see the patient right up front and can often get a diagnosis with further confirmation from a doctor at a later time; thus, the patient can get treatment faster. It has been shown not to affect patient outcomes in a negative way, so I think it will be exciting to practice in a more direct access kind of way than private practice. In the military, the doctors often come to the PTs, so you’d better know your stuff.”   Wise, Ph.D., Physical Therapy Program associate professor said, “David’s educational background, work experience, core values and leadership/interpersonal skills ensure his ability to excel as an officer. …He volunteered at a pro bono clinic staffed by MUSC faculty and students, advocated for his profession with state legislators, and assisted with a run that raised more than $30,000 for research to assist individuals diagnosed with ALS. David personifies professionalism and is equally respected by faculty and students.”   Poole sees his future  clearly. “We have a responsibility to stand up for the things that we believe, to be proactive, and to fight for those just principles,” Poole said. David couldn’t have made it without: 1. Prayer 2. My family 3. My classmates 4. Caffeine and the Kickin' Chicken 5. Being involved in intramural sports     Friday, May 18, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.