Sydney Willits

Responsibilities

Throughout my internship, I was responsible for supporting both patient care and daily clinic operations. My role included shadowing chiropractors during evaluations and follow-up visits, assisting with treatment modalities such as cold laser, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation, and helping patients with corrective exercises and mobility routines. I also assisted with kinesio taping, treatment room setup, and equipment organization to keep the clinic running efficiently. In addition, I supported administrative tasks such as scheduling, updating patient records, filing paperwork, and managing the waitlist. Overall, my responsibilities focused on enhancing patient care, maintaining organization within the clinic, and learning how a healthcare practice functions on a day-to-day basis.

Accomplishments

During my internship, I accomplished meaningful growth in both clinical and professional skills. I developed and progressed individualized exercise programs for patients, including modifying routines to be completed at home, and became increasingly confident using treatment modalities such as cold laser, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation. I contributed to improving the patient experience by creating interactive boards, blog content, and helping plan and lead a wellness workshop. I also supported patient recovery by assisting with taping techniques and observing positive progress through follow-up care. Overall, my accomplishments reflect increased independence, stronger communication with patients and staff, and a deeper understanding of effective, patient-centered care.

Learning experience

Throughout my internship, I learned several important lessons that shaped my understanding of patient care and professional practice. I learned that effective treatment requires patience and flexibility, as progress looks different for every patient and plans often need to be adjusted. I also learned the importance of clear communication and building trust, especially when patients are frustrated, in pain, or nervous about treatment. Observing different providers taught me that there are multiple effective approaches to care, and understanding the reasoning behind each technique is just as important as performing it. Finally, I learned that organization, teamwork, and small efforts to improve the patient experience play a major role in creating a supportive and successful healthcare environment.

What advice would you give?

For future students majoring in kinesiology, my advice is to take advantage of every hands-on learning opportunity you are given and fully engage in your coursework. Learning the material in your classes seriously matters—the anatomy, biomechanics, and exercise science concepts show up constantly in real clinical settings and make everything you observe and do make sense. Ask questions, observe different professionals, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone when appropriate, because real understanding comes from applying what you learn in class to real people. Be patient with yourself throughout the process, focus on building strong communication and trust with patients and staff, and stay organized and reliable. The effort you put into both the classroom and your experiences will directly shape how prepared and confident you feel moving forward.