Professors Denise Abrams and Julianne Klepfer from the Physical Therapist Assistant Program participated in the Binghamton City School District’s Career Day for eighth-graders on March 22.
The program gave students from East and West Middle Schools the opportunity to explore a variety of career options.
The two professors chatted with enthusiastic and interested teens, showing them models and a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (known as a TENS unit). They also provided pedometers to every student.
“They thought it was cool when I could make my hand move just by turning up the intensity of the TENS unit,” said Professor Abrams, the program chair. “We suggested that students interested in any of the health sciences should take science and math classes. We also discussed our program and explained what PT was and how a typical day in the life of a PTA might look like. We also suggested they volunteer at the hospital to gain insight into the many careers available in medicine.”
Other tables touched on everything from baking to television news, pharmacy, and the trades.
“We were the only table from the community college perspective, so we gave our college elevator speech a few times as well. Overall, it was a really successful career fair,” Professor Abrams said.
