Jo Galloway

What are your past/current experiences working in the field of disabilities, allied health, education, or school?  

Service and community involvement has always been something I have heavily prioritized in my life because I have just felt called to it. In my eyes, service is the most virtuous gift an individual has to offer because it provides the opportunity to not only better the community, but also to better the individuals who comprise a community. Service is not a form of work; rather, it provides people opportunities, room for growth, and ultimately leadership. I value community service because it gives individuals the opportunity to not only better their own community, but to also better the individuals who comprise a community. It is for this reason that every year I have made it one of my biggest goals to give back to the communities I am involved in to the best of my abilities. One of the most fulfilling volunteer experiences I have ever been a part of was Spina Bifida of Greater New Orleans (SBGNO), a camp for children with Spina Bifida and other motor or neuromuscular disorders. I participated in this experience as a camp counselor for 6 consecutive years prior to Covid-19 because of the insurmountable impact it made on my life. Furthermore, last year I attended the National Autism Conference here in New Orleans last June. Currently, I am my class Service Representative within the department of physical therapy. My job is to organize and host fundraising events to raise money for Split Second Fitness, which is Louisiana’s first facility specializing in helping people who have experienced paralysis, stroke, or amputation. Through the numerous volunteer organizations and programs I have been involved with, I have come to love the virtue of giving.  

What are your goals for your Interprofessional Preparation experience?  

My biggest goal in life is to be a kind, good person; if there is one thing I want people to remember me by, it would be my heart. My biggest goals for my future and career are to provide quality, holistic patient-centered care while establishing a safe and welcoming environment with my patients. I believe in inclusivity and justice among individuals from all religious, political, ethnic, or geographical backgrounds. Respecting the dignity of all individuals is necessary for any health care field, however respect alone does not necessarily promote inclusivity which I believe is an even greater necessity. Personal and professional integrity are of the utmost importance for an individual’s character, and both are characteristics I intend to implement in my practice as a physical therapist. I believe that promoting inclusivity and justice among all individuals with any sort of unique background would, in and of itself, exemplify outstanding stewardship of our resources as health care providers. By implementing justice to the quality care we provide in our patient-clinician interactions, we are unknowingly promoting inclusivity as well, which are two qualities that I feel are non-negotiable when it comes to successful and opportunistic health care. The children I will be working with through IPP are children who need to be treated justly, and who likely struggle with inclusivity in the daily activities of their lives. I look forward to bettering my clinical practice and role as a health care provider who promotes justice and inclusivity in a holistic, patient-centered approach through being a part of this program. 

What do you wish to contribute as a future Related Service Provider &/or Special Education Teacher?  

My goal for successful teaching as a physical therapist would be to approach the care I provide from an integrative biopsychosocial lens. This model of care provides an alternative approach that combines the medical and social models of healthcare, and recognizes the complex interactions of biological, psychological, and social factors of an individual. This integrative model does well in addressing the limitations of solely following the medical model or solely following the social model and includes aspects such as activity participation as well as contextual factors when looking at disabilities. With this perspective on healthcare one can better view society as individuals with disabilities or limitations rather than viewing individuals of society by their disability or limitations. Furthermore, it promotes greater community participation and engagement for individuals with disabilities or limitations. I have a passion for helping others and giving them the best opportunity for a happy, healthy, and safe life. My desire for influential relationships with every individual I have the honor of working with and teaching stems from my innate calling to leave a positive impact on all the lives I encounter. Although I will face trials during my time as a physical therapist, I wish to never stop striving to holistically give back to the community of patients around me.