It is reluctantly that we share that Aimee Klein, PT, DPT, DSc has decided to retire, after four decades of service to the profession and over eleven years with the USF School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences. Aimee has an extensive career ranging from working with professional athletes in the clinic, educating future generations of physical therapists, and even mentoring junior faculty and residents.
Her impact on various PT programs, residency education, and the physical therapy profession will be long lasting.
Below is a short interview with Aimee as she looks towards starting her retirement.
How did you become interested in physical therapy?
I had a relative who was a physical therapist living in California. Although I didn't spend much time with her before my 16th birthday, I visited her and my cousins then. During that visit, I spent a day with her at an Orthopedic Hospital in LA, and the experience resonated with me. Following that, I volunteered in the physical therapy department at Leominster Hospital to confirm my interest. I realized that I could apply my science knowledge in a unique way, distinct from traditional medicine or nursing.
Dr. Klein with Dr. Samantha (Klotz) Rodriquez, class of 2014 alumni, in CPS MSK class.
An area you spent much time with is residency education, can you share some about that?
I have been deeply involved in residency education since the mid-1990s, serving as a Program Director for an Orthopaedic Residency in Boston and contributing through my roles on the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education’s (ABPTRFE) Accreditation Council and as an Accreditation Site Visit Team member. I believe residency education is crucial for training our DPT graduates, enabling them to pursue advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities to become experts in specific areas of physical therapy. Achieving Board Certification further enhances a clinician’s role as a clinical expert, educator, and researcher. Our profession needs individuals who seek to go beyond entry-level education to ensure the highest level of evidence informed care, educate future clinicians, and translate clinical research into practice. Residency education is the pathway to achieving these goals.
The creation of the USF Health SPT&RS Orthopaedic Residency Program was a collaborative effort involving PT Center clinicians and faculty from the school. Our program aims to graduate expert clinicians who specialize in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, meeting the profession's goals and ensuring the advancement of our field. I am proud of the 13 residents we have graduated, who are all Board-Certified Specialists in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy.
What sparked your interest in teaching?
After having been a clinical instructor and earning my master’s degree from Boston University, which involved teaching, it felt like a natural progression to continue teaching in the PT profession. Shortly after that I was hired as an instructor in a PT program.
Dr. Klein with the 2018 Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Board of Directors.
What unique experience have you had?
Over 46 years there are many… I have had the opportunity to manage patients through their most critical recovery to those who are professional athletes. Each patient experience is a unique experience. Similarly in my academic role I have had the privilege of participating in the education of thousands of students who I have watched mature as professionals. Through my service in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (AOPT), I had the chance to represent our profession on a panel that 1st Lady Michelle Obama chaired, as well as to advocate for our patients and the profession on Capitol Hill. Each experience enriched me as a physical therapist and person.
What did you enjoy teaching future generations?
The challenge of their questions, the students' diverse perspectives, and witnessing the moment they grasp a difficult concept and realize they've learned something new. What advice would you give future generations of physical therapists?
A colleague once told me “Your patients are your practice”. I have truly kept this to heart in everything I do as a physical therapist. Whether I was in the clinic, teaching DPT students or residents, or advocating for access to our care. It all comes down to the patient/client. Our role is to assist them in achieving their goals, at whatever level they are, to listen to their story and understand their perspective, and to bring our best to each session.
Dr. Klein collecting data as a member of Dr. Connie Visovsky’s research study on the impact of long term COVID.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Attaining my Board Certification in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and Defending my Doctor of Science.
What will you miss the most?
I will miss my colleagues and the day-to-day interactions. I have learned so much from them, more than they realize.
Last words?
I am proud to say that I am a member of the PT faculty and Professor in the School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences. Our program is ever evolving, meeting the needs of society, and keeping the faculty and the curriculum contemporary.
As Aimee begins her retirement, she added one more achievement to her resume, Professor Emerita with USF. It is given to individuals whose careers within the university have been exemplary and thus merit recognition and remembrance. This means she will still have a connection with USF, SPTRS, and the Physical Therapy profession, and her legacy will live on in the many residents and students’ lives she has impacted.