Carlo Saul, Class of 2023

In today'southward world, tattoos are more than mutual than ever but in that location is a lingering sense of taboo effectually tattooed individuals in physical therapy and the healthcare field in general. Equally a professional person, one is expected to look a certain, clean blazon of fashion. This stereotype does not include tattoos every bit they are yet associated with lawlessness and impurity. Growing up, I also viewed tattoos in this light, but this all inverse every bit I went through my undergraduate years.

E'er since I was a child, I dreamed of being a healthcare professional. My science background is ingrained with a dichotomous mindset of right and wrong, whether it was through multiple choice exams, lab skills, or clinical practice guidelines. Equally my undergraduate career ended, I felt trapped in a box based on objectivity. This is when I establish comfort in the subjective nature of the art of tattooing. In the tattoo earth, at that place are endless possibilities as there are countless styles, placements, subjects, and color palettes that i tin can choose from.

A few of Carlo'due south tattoos

As I pondered in my academic box, I reflected on the way I viewed myself. I grew up with an intrinsic shame of my body weight. I never viewed myself as bonny or appealing to others. This is a dynamic mindset that is rooted in my socioeconomic condition, unmarried parent household, health illiteracy, and lack of consistent exercise and healthy eating. Afterwards graduating from undergrad at the age of 22, I decided to accept control. I was unemployed every bit I was looking for a physical therapy tech position, and so out of boredom, I joined a local gym. My weight started dropping and I started to feel stronger, more energetic, and started to take pride in my progress. At that place was this new sense of conviction equally I saw the scales go down and weights get heavier. This was the first time I felt genuine control of my body.

This newfound control expanded to cocky-expression through tattoos. It started off with memorial tattoos to honor loved ones who had passed away. It so progressed to telling my personal story whether it was nods to my Filipino-American civilisation, NBA basketball, or fifty-fifty just appreciation for the work of tattoo artists that I dearest. The beauty of tattoos is that there is no i correct way of getting them. Whether it is a collection of dissimilar styles, a modest hidden tattoo, or unabridged body suit, one has freedom to express themselves. This does not hateful everyone needs a tattoo every bit that freedom of expression is aligned with choosing to non go tattooed too.

When applying to physical therapy schools, only one website had pictures of students or faculty with tattoos. Every bit a tattooed individual, minority, and 3 years out of schoolhouse, I felt stress, anxiety, and loneliness. In my applications, I did not mention tattoos and kept my sleeves rolled down during interviews. Two years later and in my 2nd yr as a Md of Physical Therapy Student of Regis University, I could not feel any more differently every bit over 49% of my current cohort have tattoos. My classmates and faculty accept never fabricated me feel self-conscious, ashamed, or whatever bottom because of my tattoos. I share a sense of storytelling, individualism, and pride with my tattooed peers.

The sense of autonomy and control that I experience with my tattooed trunk draws parallels to the patient experience in physical therapy. A part of being tattooed is sharing a piece of myself without words, thus beingness vulnerable to others. Vulnerability and acceptance are two key components of a skilful physical therapist-patient experience. Gone are the days of cookie-cutter fashion treatments, as plans of care are individualized to the specifics of each patient. This ways granting patient autonomy and influence on their care, just every bit I have through the ink on my peel.

Tattoos are non a mark of knowledge or proficiency as a health care provider. Judge me on my character. Judge me on my clinical reasoning. Judge me on my disquisitional thinking. Judge me on my bedside manner, my professionalism, my empathy, my commitment to learning, on my sincerity. Do not gauge that my body is colored exterior the lines. I vow to accept my patients as the individuals they are. Hopefully they tin do the same and view my tattoos as an expression of my personal story, not a marking of wickedness. Just like physical therapy, tattoo collecting is a lifelong learning procedure. May the ink on my pare be as strong equally the ink on my Doctor of Concrete Therapy diploma.

May the ink on my peel be as strong as the ink on my Doctor of Physical Therapy diploma.

– Carlo Saul

Give thanks y'all to anybody from the Form of 2023 who shared a lilliputian bit of themselves for this.