We recently sat down to talk with Spooner physical therapist Torrey Foster, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, FAFS. Torrey has served as an invaluable member of the Spooner team for 18 years and a Clinic Director at multiple locations! Join us as we learn more about Torrey’s journey becoming a physical therapist and where he is today!
Did you always want to be a physical therapist?
Not necessarily… I actually started out majoring in psychology and business in college. I always had physical therapy in the back of my mind, but I knew how competitive it was getting into PT school. Also, I didn’t really want to go through years and years of additional schooling.
After realizing I’d probably be going to graduate school no matter what career path I decided to pursue, I switched majors midway through college to pursue a career in physical therapy. It took some long nights and summer school classes to graduate on time, but I was fortunate enough to make it through my undergrad studies. I was then accepted into the DPT program at Creighton.
Where did your interest in sports medicine originate?
I was a four-sport athlete in high school as well as a two-sport athlete in college. I would say I was a good/average player, but I really enjoyed the competition and being out there with other athletes.
My junior year of college, I tore my ACL and was able to experience the benefits of physical therapy for myself. Being a patient allowed me to better understand how recovering from an injury has on a impact on a patient’s mind, body and spirit. I knew about the physical side of healing, but I kind of realized, “Oh my goodness, there’s a lot more to this journey than I understood.” I was able to become a better therapist by experiencing the recovery process as a patient.
Having gone through injuries myself, I know how much it means to get back to doing the things you love. I’m so blessed to be able to help other people move better and feel better so they can enjoy picking up their grandkids, getting back out on the golf course, or just being able to walk with a friend.
You were in college studying psychology and business and then decided to switch to PT. What was your main motivation for doing that?
I always knew I wanted to work with people and I envisioned working with an active population. I saw physical therapy as the perfect blend of being able to help people and doing it in an active way. Physical therapy was a profession that allowed for a lot of growth, variety, and opportunities. It was just the right fit for me and my interests.
With that being said, I actually didn’t know if I really wanted to continue my journey partway through PT School, and I had thought I had made the wrong professional choice.
Oh really, how come?
I got to PT school and I really liked learning about anatomy and knew the importance of learning the intricacies of the human body.
However, when I got out into the clinics for my rotations, I was exposed to a lot of the old school methods of physical therapy: people staying on a table for their entire treatment receiving modalities and doing exercises in one plane of motion. I remember thinking how boring it all felt. I found myself standing around and not able to engage with patients as much as I would have liked.
And then I entered into my last clinical – that’s how far I was in the journey, my last clinical – thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, what am I going to do with my future?’ Little did I know, the therapist I was assigned to happened to have studied Applied Functional Science (AFS) through the Gray Institute and was incorporating the principles of AFS into his patient’s treatment.
I was seeing patients get off the table and exercise in all three planes in motion. Instead of looking at a flowsheet that said this is what you do for a total knee patient, I was looking at the whole patient thinking how do we develop a program that gets them to the level of function they desire?
That clinical rotation reinvigorated me as a professional. It just blew my mind how much knowledge is out there, and I realized this profession could be so much more than what I was had been exposed to up to that point.
How did you get your start with Spooner?
I came out of PT school and worked at a local hospital here in Phoenix doing a mixture of sports medicine, orthopedics, and neurological work.
About one year after starting with the hospital, Tim Spooner and I happened to be sitting by each other at a continuing education course and we started talking. We decided to head out for lunch together and it was then that he told me about his company. Everything he said resonated with me. A few weeks later, I interviewed and was hired in July of 2002.
What were some of the big hurdles you had to overcome?
Switching my major midway thorough college and still graduating on time, as well as getting the grades necessary to be accepted for interviews and eventually to PT School. That was hurdle number one.
Number two: I would say, just like any new hire, you don’t know what you don’t know. You learn how to make better decisions and how to listen better over the years. You learn how to avoid taking the weight of the work home with you. I think in that first year or so of practice, I’d be driving home and my mind was just racing saying, ‘Gosh, what am I going to do with this person, or that person, tomorrow and the next day?’
Early on in my career, I wasn’t willing to ask for as much help. Now, I think there’s so much value in asking your colleagues, ‘What are your thoughts? Can you help me? What’s another way I could look at this?’
So what was the driving force behind that shift in mindset for you?
Because I had this sense of, ‘I need take care of things myself or I will look less capable,’ it was simply a journey of recognizing that I will be better and a stronger therapist if I ask for help.
When involved in the interview process, I really respect therapists, most of whom are extremely intelligent people, that express their desire for continuous learning. You want them to have some degree of confidence and competence, obviously, but I think being able to open yourself up to the people that you trust and respect to say, ‘Hey, can you help me out with this?’ Having that humility takes some the weight and pressure off of you and allows you to learn and grow personally and professionally.
I would also say that having kids opens your eyes a little bit more and brought out at a better part of me, which has hands down helped me personally and professionally.
What has been one of your favorite memories with Spooner so far?
I had a football player who was in the late stages of ACL Rehab. He was feeling really good, but he just wasn’t sure how his knee would hold up when competing against another athlete.
I took a couple colleagues, grabbed a few footballs, put on some cleats, and we set out to Mountain View Park. We went through an hour or so of live reps, allowing our patient to practice running routes and defending against live competition.
My goal with every patient is to maximize their comfort, their capability, and their confidence in achieving their goals. Not only was it so fulfilling to see his success, but I also love playing football, so it was a true culmination of my favorite things!
What would you say is your favorite thing about being a physical therapist?
I am blessed every day to be able to help people move better, feel better and improve their quality of life. It is that simple.
I love to be able to problem solve and appreciate that physical therapy is not a cookie cutter process. I may have several patients on my schedule that all have knee pain or low back pain, but they have their own unique bodies, their own unique activities, and their own unique goals. I’m never bored at work.
I also love being surrounded by high functioning professionals. This not only applies to the therapists in our team, but I’ve also been very blessed to work with a high functioning administrative team. They do an outstanding job of hiring people that help support what we do as a company and I enjoy seeing our people succeed in their personal professional journeys.
I just really like being challenged every day to do my best for the people that I have the opportunity to serve, and the opportunity to support my family doing it!
When I think about what I would do if I wasn’t a physical therapist, it is scary. I really enjoy what I do.
What advice would you give to either your former-self or current aspiring PTs?
Listen to your patients. A lot of the time, they are going to be the ones to give you the answers on how to best help them.
Take a moment and ask your patients, ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ It is surprising how often patients have questions or concerns, but don’t voice them until you empower them or give them that opportunity.
As a therapist, continue to ask questions, and don’t be afraid to do so. Ask a question to whoever you think is the busiest, the most successful, and/or most knowledgeable therapist in your clinic. People like to help, and both of you will be rewarded by that experience. I enjoy when people ask me questions because then we both get to look at a problem and learn how to solve it together.
Continue to learn. I think that’s very, very helpful for people. Looking back on it, I wish I had done that a little bit more often.
So who has been your biggest influence or mentor?
My work ethic comes through my father.
I also have to give credit to Dr. Gary Gray PT, FAFS and Dr. David Tiberio, Ph.D., PT, FAFS, FMR, NG360-GPS of the Gray Institute. They showed me that PT can be so much more than what I was seeing early on in my career. They really reinvigorated my passion for physical therapy.
From a leadership perspective, I’d have to say Tim Spooner. He’s always been somebody that has successfully challenged me to do better. He’s challenged me to find a better part of me and I really appreciate what he does.
Each one of these individuals have had such an important part of my journey. Leaving one of these people or groups out would just not do justice to my overall journey.
What are you most looking forward to?
Seeing my kids grow and supporting them in their journey along the way. I’m excited to see what amazing things they do.
Professionally, I’d love to continue to learn and help people. I get enjoyment out of going to work every day. I love being in front of a patient or colleague and helping them. I’m excited to find more ways to challenge myself, educate and serve others, and expand my leadership role.
Shout out to Torrey for lending us his time and sharing his journey with us! If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment with Torrey, click here to get on the road to moving better and feeling better!
Are you interested in joining the team at Spooner Physical Therapy? Check out our open physical therapist positions here.