PT Path
Authentic stories from physical therapists navigating challenges, making pivotal decisions, and discovering their purpose. Whether you're a student, recent graduate, or considering a career change, these conversations will inspire you to explore possibilities within our PT community. Join us as we explore the diverse paths of physical therapy – one story at a time.
PT Path
Laura Keyser: A Career in Capacity-Building
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A fascination with movement first drew UCSF/SFSU Graduate Program in Physical Therapy Alum Laura Keyser, DPT, MPH, from the ballet studio to physical therapy. Her career has since taken her from building rehabilitation programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to earning an MPH at Johns Hopkins, advancing women’s health, conducting research, and developing a device to address pelvic health challenges in women.
In this episode of PT Path, Laura talks with Amber Fitzsimmons about the unexpected opportunities that shaped her career and the thread connecting it all: capacity building. She reflects on how physical therapists can use their skills as problem solvers to improve care not only for individual patients, but for communities and populations.
Laura also shares what she has learned about mentorship, taking risks, finding a seat at the table, and building a career that doesn’t necessarily follow a traditional PT path.
00:00 Welcome to PT Path
01:06 Finding physical therapy
02:29 Dance and movement
03:16 Global health in Congo
05:59 Building rehab systems
07:35 Women’s health mentorship
10:44 Back to the US and MPH
13:00 Research for advocacy
16:18 Consulting and new tech
20:43 Startup life and Axena Health
26:55 Policy and leadership
33:41 Capacity building thread
35:26 Advice and closing