Taylor Swartzentruber is from Odon, Indiana, and a 2024 graduate of the Physical Therapy Program at the University of Evansville. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from UE in 2021.
A three-sport athlete, she says her interest in healthcare and physical therapy began when she sought care for chronic ankle sprains and knee pain. "A current PT and family friend assessed my knees and ankles, and through his evaluation and in-depth explanation of anatomy and kinesiology, I fell in love with the PT profession," she says. "I fell in love with the intricacies of the human body and the empowerment evoked through obtaining knowledge about my own body."
Taylor's specialty area is pelvic floor physical therapy. "The educational, empowering and attentive patient interactions in pelvic floor practice beautifully captures my desire to develop trusting relationships that can aid in restoring normalcy to patients’ lives," she says.
Q&A with Taylor
What was your first experience with AHEC Scholars?
My first experience with AHEC was with ECHO Midwife in Evansville. I spent three hours shadowing a Nurse Practitioner who also has her midwifery degree. I observed three visits: one birth control consultation and two third trimester OB visits. The birth control consultation was very informative and a great opportunity to learn and gain experience on how to go about educating future patients and changing medical terminology into patient-friendly dialogue. The two OB visits were a great opportunity to observe how a provider can use a translator effectively during their practice. I really enjoyed this experience as it gave me a little insight into a provider’s view of OB/Gyn appointments, which will be beneficial to me in the future as I want to practice as a Pelvic Health Physical Therapist.
Describe your experience with AHEC Scholars. What have you learned?
I gained valuable experience working in different healthcare environments. These experiences have been impactful by broadening my knowledge of the different roles within the healthcare team. This will be important in my future so that I may better serve my patients in the future when knowing where best to refer patients for various reasons/needs.
Anything else you want to add?
Fun Fact: My full name is the same length as the alphabet!