Former ballet professional dances into world of physical therapy

Imagine having a medical issue that limited your ability to move and perform functional activities in your daily life? In this situation, most people turn to physical therapy.

Erin Mitchell, class of 2012, did. The former professional ballet dancer was injured, and physical therapy was the answer, not only to her health, but her new career.

Mitchell entered the working world of physical therapy assistants last year after graduation from the PTA program at the College of Southern Nevada, where 100 percent of her class passed the national licensure exams on the first attempt. The students posted test scores for the PTA National Licensure Exam at an overall average of 36 points above the national average, and 54 points above the national average in the category of Professionalism, Safety and Ethics.

"The program really focused on developing our clinical skills," Mitchell said.

She credits CSN and the faculty for going the extra mile to prepare students for the exam and work confidently in the profession. One of her favorite program components: hands-on learning during lab classes.

Mitchell works as a physical therapy assistant at the Werner Institute for Balance and Dizziness and enjoys best helping patients improve their motion abilities and putting them on a path back to recovery.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at CSN is a fully accredited, two-year program of study. For more information on the PTA program, visit csn.edu.