“PCOM Georgia is where I finally made my dreams become reality.”
Such is the sentiment of Kelly Whetham, DPT ’23, a PCOM Georgia Doctor of Physical Therapy student, a United States Army Reserve service member, and the mother of a nine-month old.
She noted that PCOM Georgia has helped her “accomplish more goals than I thought I’d ever have.” She credits the Class of 2023 and faculty members with helping her straddle the responsibilities of becoming a first-time mom, while not falling behind in her course work. “Without my family, cohort and professors, I don’t know if I would have made it,” she said. “They showed me what family and teamwork truly mean.”
Whetham chose to earn her doctorate degree at PCOM Georgia because “it seemed like home.” She first toured the campus in August of 2019 and felt a sense of community with faculty. “The professors demonstrated how they truly cared about our success and, throughout my time in the program, they continued to mentor us as their future co-workers. I felt a sense of home at PCOM Georgia,” she said.
Along with her studies, Whetham was selected to be a Student Ambassador for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, providing tours of the school, answering prospective students’ questions, and assisting with the interview process. She was a member of the Ethics Committee, ensuring all students’ needs were addressed and the rules were enforced, and participated in a community day for individuals with limb loss, assisting in fall prevention and recovery.
Whetham was drawn to health care at a young age. “Growing up, caring for and helping others felt like second nature to me,” she said. “I have enjoyed showing others that they are not invisible, that they matter. I enjoy putting smiles on people’s faces and making them feel better,” she said.
She felt a strong pull to physical therapy as a young athlete. During her undergraduate years, she learned about the wide variety of options open to physical therapists aside from the sports medicine field. While working in a children’s hospital, she developed a passion to work in pediatrics. She has also developed a love for patients who have experienced limb loss, and enjoys the acute care setting. “I’m looking forward to finding a way to immerse myself in all of it,” she said.
She foresees becoming a mentor for future Doctor of Physical Therapy students in her future, but, in the meantime, advises them to “ask questions, be open to new ideas and learn to manage your time,” in addition to working together and learning from each other’s strengths.
“When receiving feedback,” she said, soak it in and recognize that the person providing feedback cares enough to want you to succeed.”
“PT school is hard,” she added, “but not following your dreams is harder.”
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