When Kelly DeBeltz first discovered physical therapy, it was from the patient’s perspective. After experiencing her own injuries, PT became something she looked forward to each week.
“It showed me how much of a difference movement can make both physically and mentally,” Kelly said.
That interest deepened when she watched her grandfather undergo physical therapy for Parkinson’s disease.
“It made such a difference on his quality of life and he really regained a lot of confidence and independence, which just furthered my decision to be a PT,” she said.
Today, Kelly is pursuing her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Jamestown in Fargo, North Dakota. As part of her training, she completed a 12-week clinical rotation at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals, where she gained hands-on experience in an intensive, evidence-based rehabilitation setting.
Kelly first learned about Madonna while working as a therapy aide at her local hospital, when a physical therapist recommended Madonna to one of their patients. When she found out her school had an affiliation with Madonna, she knew it was an opportunity she needed to pursue.
Once she arrived, she quickly discovered what sets Madonna apart.
“Everyone is so supportive and genuinely interested in helping students learn,” Kelly said. “I’ve also really appreciated the intensity and evidence-based approach of therapy here. It pushes me to think critically every day, It has been so rewarding to see concepts that I’ve learned in school actually applied in real life with real patients.”
During her rotation, Kelly worked closely with physical therapist Hannah Lutz, PT, DPT, who quickly recognized her strong commitment to patients.
“Something that stood out about Kelly was her passion for patient care and helping them achieve their goals,” Hannah said. “She was also holding herself to a high standard of excellence.”
For Hannah, serving as Kelly’s clinical instructor was a learning experience as well.
“Kelly was my first student,” Hannah said. “At first, it was honestly challenging for me to figure out the teacher role and understand if I was pushing Kelly enough and challenging her clinical reasoning enough.”
Through daily and weekly reflection meetings, the two developed an open line of communication that helped both of them grow.
“We were able to have open and honest conversations about what kind of feedback we needed and how we could benefit from each other,” Hannah said.
One of the biggest areas of growth for Kelly was learning to communicate within Madonna’s highly collaborative care environment.
“With a new setting, she was a little timid about the expectation for interdisciplinary communication with therapists, nursing and physicians,” Hannah said. “But it was great to see her emerge during her time here, and she met and exceeded all of our expectations.”
Kelly says the experience has shaped the way she will practice as a future physical therapist.
“This experience has really shaped how I view effective rehabilitation, especially in terms of intensity and evidence-based practice,” Kelly said. “I plan to carry that mindset into my future career, regardless of the setting that I end up in.”
Kelly describes Madonna as a unique learning environment, especially for students interested in neurological rehabilitation. With its intensive, evidence-based approach and supportive team culture, she says students are encouraged to be hands-on and fully involved in patient care.
“It’s a place where you’ll be challenged, but in the best way.”
Beyond technical skills, Kelly says she leaves Madonna with greater confidence and a new perspective.
“Overall, it’s just helped me to start thinking more as a clinician rather than just as a student.”