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
Ryan Wooley, PT, DPT is a physical therapist (PT) and educator who is passionate about delivering individualized, evidence-based physical therapy care to diverse populations. Dr. Wooley received his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2015. He has completed the Evidence in Motion’s Orthopedic Residency program and became an American Physical Therapy Association board-certified Orthopedic Specialist in March 2017. He earned an National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Condition Specialist certification in 2012 and worked as a personal trainer and CrossFit coach prior to pursuing a DPT.
A native of Austin, TX, Dr. Wooley has worked locally as a PT in the outpatient orthopedic setting since 2015. In his treatment practice, he has focused on treating a diverse range of patients, including people with chronic pain issues and high-level professional athletes. He has been a Lab Instructor with the Austin campus Flex program since Spring 2017, teaching Applied Anatomy and Movement Science courses.
