Jon Rovan first became interested in physical therapy when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing soccer in high school. The severe knee injury was followed by six months of physical therapy, and the experience piqued his interest in the profession.

Rovan, a fourth-year student in the six-and-a-half-year physical therapy program, says he has always enjoyed interacting with people and has a keen interest in sports, so physical therapy seemed like a good career choice.

PT students often practice on one another for class assignments; one student simulates pain or injuries that another student must diagnose. But this summer Rovan has had the opportunity to closely examine a patient with actual knee pain. He's working with physical therapy professor Denise Cameron through a summer research grant program offered by the School of Health Sciences.

Their project involves evaluating volunteer subjects to determine if orthotics (foot-supporting device or insole) would help alleviate their knee pain. Cameron specializes in orthopedics in her research. It was also an area that Rovan was interested in, but didn't know much about. "In the beginning, my confidence with the material presented in our study was low. However, Professor Cameron has taught me how to effectively use new techniques, as well as practice the ones which I have learned in the classroom," Rovan said.

When a subject comes in for an evaluation exam, Rovan and Cameron take pictures of the subject's foot and ankle, and perform various tests and measurements of the pelvis and lower extremities, including muscle strength and joint motion testing. They also videotape the subject walking on a treadmill. Rovan records notes from the exam in a spreadsheet on his laptop. "So, what do you see?" Cameron asks Rovan during the exam, and the two discuss their observations and possible causes for the subject's pain.

"When we work together I am no longer a student in the classroom. Instead, I am a peer examiner collecting data for our research project," Rovan said. "Professor Cameron is very open to my ideas and often asks my input, inviting me to think critically, and it allows me to be much more engaged in my learning experience than in a classroom setting."

In addition to his interaction with Cameron, Rovan has had the chance to consult with other professionals in the field, such as an orthotics specialist. He says it's especially rewarding when a highly trained professional agrees with a diagnosis he has helped to determine.