When I was reviewing the prerequisites to apply to Physical Therapy programs, observation hours were a requirement for most DPT programs. The amount of hours varied from each program between 20-100 shadowing hours in various settings. I thought ‘how can I get all these hours in, go to class and still work my part-time job as a waitress’. I then came up with the idea of producing a library of observation hours that will provide a virtual exposure to patient care in a variety of Physical Therapy settings. The videos contain
Observation/shadowing hours are typically done in person at clinics, however with the Covid-19 pandemic these hours have become increasingly difficult to obtain. The pandemic has taught us that many things can be done online with the help of technology.
I felt as though PT observation hours would benefit all parties by making physical therapy accessible to those in various geographical locations as well as a diverse population; it helps to save the student both time and money. I believe that it will also benefit universities and the APTA by helping to promote the profession of physical therapy in a positive way.
To provide prospective Physical Therapy students the opportunity to acquire shadowing observation hours through a virtual environment.
To promote accessible clinical observation hours to a broad and diverse pre-admission Physical Therapy applicant pool
PT, DPT, LAT, ATC | Co-owner | Founder
Rosemary O’Halloran, PT, DPT, LAT, ATC is co-owner and co-founder of PT Observation Hours. Rosemary graduated with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in May, 2022 from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Prior to that, she graduated with a Bachelors of Science specializing in Athletic Training from Penn State University in 2019.
Rosemary is also employed by Novacare Rehabilitation as a physical therapist. As a dual credentialed PT-ATC she has a special interest in working with athletes, and is combining her skill sets to treat student athletes at Villanova University. She has a special interest in working with athletes who works with student athletes at Villanova University as well as in a local clinic.
Manager | Co-owner | coFounder
Ann O’Halloran is co-owner and co-founder of PT Observation Hours and has been the Manager of Pain Relief and Physical Therapy LLC for the past 25 years. She received her Bachelor’s from West Chester University and has a strong background in business management, accounting and organizing complex situations.
Ann has employed dozens of physical therapists at her clinics in the greater Philadelphia area and has come to understand how difficult it is to get accepted to PT school. In addition to her many feats, she also teaches employability skills to children with disabilities, takes them to job sites and can offer insight to different realms of physical therapy.
DPT, DSC(PT), SCS, OCS, FAAOMPT
Bryan O’Halloran, DPT, DSC(PT), SCS, OCS, FAAOMPT, is the owner and director of Pain Relief & Physical Therapy and an Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy at Saint Joseph’s University. He graduated from LaTrobe University in Melbourne, Australia and received his clinical Doctorate from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in Boston and his research Doctorate from Andrews University in Michigan.
Dr. O’Halloran is a Board Certified Specialist in both Sports and Orthopedics under the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. He lectures nationally to physical therapists, physicians and athletic trainers and is a Founding Fellow of the American Maitland Instructors Association. He is one of very few physical therapists in the country who have a dual Board Certification.
Bryan completed his Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy in 2018 and has worked with Australian National Teams at World Championships with a variety of work experience across the orthopedic and sports domain. His current areas of research involve cervicogenic headache disorders, outcome measures as well as shoulder impingement syndrome.
“During my junior year of college I decided that I wanted to further my education to become a physical therapist. Due to my very busy schedule with classes, clinical, waitressing job and other commitments, I found it challenging to find time to get observation hours. I would often have to take off work in the summer time to obtain shadowing hours so that I would have enough to apply to school without taking a gap year after graduation.
I found it difficult and inconvenient to obtain these hours. My team and I have created PT observation hours in the hope of making the lives of prospective physical therapy students a little bit easier. Our program allows prospective students to view these videos virtually and independently without having to miss a day of class or work to complete this requirement. My hope is that it can make the profession of physical therapy more accessible to anyone and everyone who expresses an interest in the field.”
Rosemary O’Halloran, PT, DPT, LAT, ATC
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