Is a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree Worth It? If you’re dreaming about helping patients restore their mobility and quality of life, and you’re exploring what it would take to become a physical therapist, you may be wondering, “Is a degree in physical therapy worth it?” The answer to this question depends, of course, on your personal career goals. Some people choose to become physical therapist assistants because only a two-year associate degree is required. It’s true that pursuing a doctorate takes time and effort; however, there are countless advantages to earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. To that end, let’s look at some of the factors that make a Doctor in Physical Therapy (DPT) degree the best first step on an exceptional career Read more
Dr. Maureen Fischer graduated from East Carolina University with her Bachelor of Science in occupational therapy in 1997. She has a variety of clinical experience and started her career at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, MD, where she worked in acute care, NICU, outpatient, acute and subacute rehabilitation settings. She also has experience working in a Level 1 trauma center, schools and early intervention, and telehealth with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Dr. Fischer’s passion is in early intervention, which she has practiced for 11 years in Maryland before moving her family to Ponte Vedra, FL in 2017. Dr. Fischer began teaching at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences as a lab assistant in the fall of 2019 and worked as a contributing faculty member primarily in the pediatrics applications course while pursuing her Post-professional Doctor in Occupational Therapy, which she earned from Chatham University in May 2022. She moved to a core faculty role at USAHS as Instructor in May 2022.
Dr. Fischer is passionate about working with families of infants and young children, focusing her evidence-based project in that area. She also started a small local business, AskanOT, which provides education and consultative services to families concerned about their young child’s development. Dr. Fischer’s research includes partnering with pediatric primary care, providing parent education through a local pediatric practice. She is excited to promote occupational therapy’s role in the emerging practice area of pediatric primary care.
