Healthcare Informational Interview

Informational interviews are a really great tool for current students and graduated students alike. They allow you to really understand a job, industry, or organization on a level that would not be possible without talking to someone with first hand experience. It is also important for students to have a good understanding of what path they want to go down in their career, and an informational interview is a great way to do that.

The Contact

Questions about the Contact

I have already know Troy for years, as he provided myself and my family with massage, chiropractic, and physical therapy services in the past. So my questions were mainly about skills needed in his work, as well as the industry of physical therapy (as I might apply for physical therapy school in the future) and healthcare.

Troy told me that the main skills that have allowed him to succeed as a practitioner and a business owner are strong interpersonal relationship (and communication) skills, organization skills, and learning skills. He emphasized learning skills, as the healthcare industry is constantly changing and he also needs to be up to date on what chiropractic standards are. He told me that there is never a day where he doesn’t learn something useful, and that the key to his personal success has been his ability to learn and adapt.

When I asked him about the industry, he laughed. He said that things change so fast and there is so much complication in delivering healthcare services that it makes his head spin sometimes. He did indicate that the future of the physical therapy profession is strong, however.

Questions about Communications Practices and Writing

Could you please describe the typical kinds of writing you do and tell me a bit about each?

What do you find most challenging about your day-to-day writing? What challenges do recent graduates face as they move from “academic writing” to “workplace writing”?

How would you describe the balance between written and oral communication in your workplace?

Questions seeking Advice for you

Troy was very helpful in giving me some tips for success. He re-stressed the importance of never stopping to learn. Then he made a really awesome point that he is where he is today due to how he was able to empathize with and understand people. He says that as a clinician, understanding people and conditions is what he does best. Not only does he have to diagnose something, but he has to understand the person’s motives, attitudes, and beliefs if he wants to be effective.

As far as a resume and interviewing are concerned, Troy suggested getting as much leadership experience as possible as he always hires someone who has proven to be a leader at some capacity. He also said to build a team first mentality and market that.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Troy was very generous with his time, as he has always been with me. The interview taught me a lot about the nature of the industry and the skills that one needs to do well in it. Overall, I got a really good taste of what it is like to be an owner of a practice as well as a clinician, and that is valuable to me. I would like to thank Dr. Troy for his time, and I hope he’s reading this to see that I pulled a thing or two out of our chat. As far as my future is concerned, I will absolutely adopt a learners mentality and work to be better at understanding people on a deep level. I will also work to improve my oral communication. Thanks Troy!

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