Ready, set, go: Annual Physical Therapy Olympics set for March 23-24

By Kate Hunger 

More than 650 students were expected to participate in the 2018 Job Fair and Physical Therapy Olympics March 23-24.

The event is open to students and alumni from physical therapy programs through the state, as well as students of other health professions. All net proceeds benefit the PT student scholarship, said, Michael Geelhoed, D.P.T., OCS, MTC, associate professor and director of clinical education for the Department of Physical Therapy. 

"We hear feedback that it's their favorite job fair in the state of Texas to come to because they know they are going to get the foot traffic and the variety," Geelhoed said of employers attending the job fair. 

One of the events is a Friday PTO kickoff social mixer. 

"We did that in hope of offering more networking and connection between the programs," said Caitlin Vela, PTO Chair of the UT Health San Antonio Physical Therapy Class of 2019.

Friday's event includes a dance, tug-of-war, sand volleyball, ultimate frisbee, table tennis, billiards and "PT Idol" karaoke.  

A 5K relay race opens Saturday's schedule, followed by the job fair from 9 a.m. to Noon. The job fair will be held at the Medical Arts and Research Center (MARC) at 83 Floyd Curl Drive, one mile north of campus. 

PT students musicians will play live much during lunch, after which the competition will continue with table tennis, dodgeball, basketball, and soccer. 

"The biggest thing in the job fair," Vela said. "I think that's a huge reason people keep coming back. It's a huge opportunity to network with recruiters and the school - the competitive aspect, the camaraderie. It's just a great event where everybody comes together." 

An awards ceremony wraps up the event with honors including a spirit award for the loudest cheers and most PTO points. 

"I got to participate in tug-of-war last year," she said. "I thought that was really fun. I had a lot of fun watching the dance. All the schools come and they have been participating for months." 

Registration is $10 Per student and closes March 19. More information on the Job Fair and PRO are available online.