Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are advanced healthcare practitioners with similar responsibilities, such as diagnosing illnesses and prescribing medications. However, their training and paths toward certification differ in significant ways. This blog post unpacks the key differences between NPs and PAs to help you determine which career path best aligns with your goals. What Is a Nurse Practitioner? A nurse practitioner (NP) is a licensed clinician who provides comprehensive healthcare to patients of all ages. An NP can work in virtually any healthcare setting, diagnosing patient conditions and prescribing medications. As of October 2022, nurse practitioners have full practice authority in 27 states, meaning that they can practice Read more
Allan Besselink, PT, DPT, Dip. MDT, is a physical therapist and assistant professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in Austin.
Dr. Besselink is a graduate of Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada. He has been in Austin, Texas, since 1990. During that time, he has developed a unique perspective on sport- and fitness-related injuries and primary prevention for both the recreational and elite athlete. He has coached a wide variety of athletes in events ranging from the 800 meters to 100-mile ultraruns and Ironman triathlons. He is the author of RunSmart: A Comprehensive Approach to Injury-Free Running.
Dr. Besselink is one of 400 practitioners internationally that have attained the Diploma in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy from the McKenzie Institute International in New Zealand, the highest level of training and achievement in the McKenzie Method. His clinical practice is one of the few in the world that specifically focuses on the application of MDT to a sports population.
Dr. Besselink has also had an active role as a consumer advocate. He has been actively involved in promoting legislation regarding Consumer Direct Access to Physical Therapy in the state of Texas, speaking to legislators and providing testimony in this role.
