433. From Physical Therapist to Nike Sports Science Director: Dr. Blaise Williams' Journey

On this episode of the Healthcare Education Transformation Podcast, Dr. Blaise Williams shares his journey from being a physical therapy student to becoming the Director of Field Services at the Nike Sport Research Lab. He discusses his educational background, including his undergraduate degree in biology and environmental science, and how he stumbled upon physical therapy as a career. Dr. Williams explains how he developed a passion for running-related research and biomechanics, which led him to pursue a PhD and eventually work in various research labs. He also talks about his experience setting up and running a research lab at East Carolina University and later at VCU. Finally, Dr. Williams discusses his current role at Nike and how he is using his expertise to serve athletes and everyday runners.Key Takeaways:- Physical therapists have a unique understanding of human movement and can play a valuable role in various industries, such as sports science and product development.- The field of physical therapy offers opportunities beyond traditional patient care, including research, consulting, and advising.- Technology, such as wearables, provides new opportunities for physical therapists to analyze and interpret human movement data.- Physical therapists should embrace their knowledge and expertise in human movement and actively seek out opportunities to contribute to discussions and advancements in the field.D. S. Blaise Williams III, Ph.D., MPT, FACSM is Director of Field Science and Services on the Field Experience Team within the NIKE Sport Research Lab. Blaise is an energetic and seasoned leader in Applied Human Movement Science with more than 20 years’ experience guiding projects and platforms with multidisciplinary teams. Through innovation, education and service to ALL athletes, Blaise is focused on the future of sport science and its role for healthy participation across the globe.You can learn more about him at: https://www.nike.com/nikelab/nde-nike-sports-research-labSpecial thanks to both our sponsors, The NPTE Final Frontier, and Varela Financial! If you are taking the NPTE or are teaching those about to take the NPTE, visit the NPTE FInal Frontier at www.NPTEFF.com and use code "HET" for 10% off all purchases at the website...and BREAKING NEWS!!!! They now have an OCS review option as well... You're welcome! You can also reach out to them on Instagram @npteff If you're a PT and you have student loan debt, you gotta talk to these guys. What makes them unique is that they view financial planning as like running hurdles on a track. And for PTs, the first hurdle many of us run into is student loan debt. Varela Financial will help you get over that hurdle. They not only take the time to explain to you which plans you individually qualify for and how those plans work, but they ALSO take the time to show you what YOUR individual case looks like mapped out within each option. So if you're looking for help on your student loan debt, or any area of your personal finances, we highly recommend working with them. You can check out Varela Financial out at varelafinancial.com. Feel free to reach out to us at:  http://healthcareeducationtransformationpodcast.com/ https://www.facebook.com/HETPodcast https://twitter.com/HETpodcast Instagram: @hetpodcast @dawnbrown_pt @pteducator @dawnmagnusson31 @farleyschweighart @mail.in.stew.art @ujima_institute For more information on how we can optimize and standardize healthcare education and delivery, subscribe to the Healthcare Education Transformation Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.