Official Therapist Blog

Occupational Therapist Jobs Offer Boundless Career Opportunities and High Wages

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 09.23.2011 | Category Allied Healthcare, Career Tips, Occupational Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Nurse Blog, Travel Therapist, physical therapy, therapy job bonus

Will a Travel OT Job Bonus Bump Up Your Earnings Even More?

Travel therapist or no, occupational therapists are in for some good news. According to this year’s figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook is among the best for allied healthcare professionals, enabling top incomes, job stability and ongoing demand. Occupational therapy careers are forecasted to continue their increase from 2008, by climbing a steady 26% until 2018. Many occupational therapy jobs offer incomes that average $73,380, but annual salaries, including job bonuses, can soar as high as $93,330 and up, given the right location and setting.

On the Fence About Your Next OT Travel Job?

Read 10 reasons to switch to travel therapy jobs and dispel common myths that OT travel jobs are isolating or somehow impractical. Therapists with wanderlust and penchant for fresh starts love their flexible travel occupational therapy jobs for a whole host of reasons; chiefly because it’s an opportunity to work with a variety of patient groups and develop well-roundness in settings that include skilled nursing facilities, outpatient centers, home health jobs and more. The right staffing agency can guide recent OT graduates and licensed therapists into OT travel jobs with six-figure earning potential.

Working across the country in more than just one job per year shows these professionals, who include travel physical therapists that while metro cities offer top-dollar, less rural areas may have an even greater demand for their skills and offer competitive salaries with a lower cost of living. When travel therapists consider that income can spike as much as 20% higher than their non-traveling counterparts, it may be time-especially if you are a recent graduate-to peruse travel therapy career tips for OTs and PTs.

Ask us for More Travel Therapy Career Tips and Hot Job Opportunities!

Our dedicated consultants are standing by to provide round the clock guidance and support for all potential applicants, and can help those with questions regarding proper documentation to start a travel therapy career now! Call 1-800-617-0608 or apply online today—it’s the first step in landing high paying and highly rewarding occupational therapy jobs from coast to coast. Whether you’re seeking relocation to a state known for its high hourly wages, specific financial perks in the city of your dreams, or a more rural travel therapist lifestyle, we can help you realize your goals.

Footnote: Here’s an insider’s tip for recent OT grads looking for high paying occupational therapy jobs; try states that lack a surplus of OT schools, such as Alaska, Montana, Oregon and Vermont. You may also want to pursue credentials in a hot specialty, like certified hand therapist (CHT), a field dominated by occupational therapists and high in demand.

Underwater Treadmill to Help Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 07.29.2011 | Category Allied Healthcare, Career Tips, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Top Rehab Careers, Top Therapy Blogs, Travel Nurse Blog, Travel Therapist, Travel physical therapy jobs, Videos, medical robotics, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy, video

For some it’s the path of least resistance, but for patients recovering from injuries that resulted in severe spinal cord trauma, the resistance experienced during physical therapy (in the controlled speed of an underwater treadmill) makes all the difference: especially in mobility. The treadmill was developed by Dr. Sandra Stevens, in her human performance lab at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU); the study is a relatively new technology that patients are as eager to use as the physical therapists guiding their sessions in a 270 gallon tank of water. In video footage of the treadmill in use, one patient says, “it makes you feel good.”

Underwater Treadmill video

Details about the Underwater Treadmill

The underwater treadmill got its initial funding from the National Institute of Health. Dr. Stevens began the study with a group of 12 patients, meeting with them 3 times a week for 8 weeks, noting among the positive outcomes that these patients were less likely to suffer from self-fulfilling prophecies and stop progressing. The underwater treadmill seems to prove that there is no ceiling on getting better. In fact, one of Stevens’ patients, who suffered a broken neck in a 2007 accident, continued her therapy after the treadmill study ended, and reports that her wheelchair now sits in a corner, unused 90% of the time. Improvements in this patient and others taking part in underwater treadmill therapy, show the most marked advances are in the number of steps patients managed in their own environments, leg strength, preferred walking speed, and the amount of distance covered in just 6 minutes.

Looking for Physical Therapy Jobs that utilize the cutting edge in technology?

Besides using some of the latest technology, like the Underwater Treadmill, physical therapy jobs let you choose from a wide range of work settings, outpatient and Rehab centers, skilled nursing facilities, and private therapy practices. A physical therapy career is normally ranked highest in job satisfaction; generally, most physical therapists report being very satisfied with their occupation. In addition, a past survey by the Wall Street Journal‘s Career Journal, physical therapy rated one of the eight best careers!

A physical therapy career with Travel Force offers permanent, per diem and travel therapy jobs nationwide. We have high paying allied healthcare jobs in America’s best hospitals, which include University teaching hospitals similar to MTSU where the groundbreaking underwater treadmill was developed. If you love travel and have nowhere to go but up, call 1-800-617-0608 or apply online today. Isn’t it time you got your feet wet?

Travel Force Staffing provides recruitment solutions for America’s top rated rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient and Rehab centers, skilled nursing facilities, and private therapy practices located in all 50 U.S. states.

Physical Therapy Student Loan Repayment Changes Proposed

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 07.21.2011 | Category Allied Healthcare, Career Tips, Education, Physical Therapist Education, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Top Rehab Careers, Top Therapy Blogs, Travel Nurse Blog, Travel Therapist, Travel physical therapy jobs, Videos, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy, therapy job bonus, video

PT’s Speak Out on Educational Debt

Introduced earlier this year, the Physical Therapist Student Loan Repayment Eligibility Act of 2011 amends the Public Health Service Act to include physical therapy in the definition of “primary health services.”  The proposed change would make physical therapists eligible for repayment of their student loans under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. Although physical therapists have been excluded under this bill, many health professions are covered by legislation that forgives a certain amount of student loan debt for every year of work in an under-served area. Too often, large under-served areas go without comprehensive health and therapy services, so the NHSC has made it a mission to bring access to these areas.  This bill would allow up to $30,000 in loan forgiveness per year (for a maximum of 2 years) in exchange for service in a disadvantaged area.

The Act is intended to encourage physical therapists to serve in rural and urban under-served communities, primarily by easing the educational debts of physical therapists who would otherwise find it financially impractical to work in these locations. Ultimately some of these therapists may decide to practice long-term in these locations, once their NHSC service is complete.

In June of this year, approximately 1,000 physical therapists, PTA’s and students of physical therapy visited their U.S. Representatives and Senators as part of this year’s PT Day on Capitol Hill. The PT’s visited their congressional reps to lobby on legislation that affects the profession. Check out the APTA’s video of their visit to DC here:

Looks like becoming part of the political process made for an energizing, inspiring day.

How to Be Heard

As of this writing, the bill was currently under consideration in the House Subcommittee on Health. If you would like to speak out on this legislation (H.R. 1426/S. 975), you can email your congressional representatives directly or through the APTA’s Legislative Action Center by visiting www.apta.org/TakeAction

More Ways to Cope with your Physical Therapy Student Loan and Educational Expenses

Recent physical therapy graduates may also want to consider travel therapy jobs as an effective way to defray the costs of rehab therapy education. Not only  are the physical therapist salary and compensation attractive on travel assignments, there are also bonus programs that can make a real difference  to the bottom line. Travel therapy jobs are also a low-risk way to try out different clinical settings — short and long-term  rehab therapy assignments are available in metropolitan and rural settings, in rehabilitation clinics, and in teaching hospitals.

Fill out our brief online application or call 800-617-0608, and start exploring your PT career options. Travel Force Staffing expert recruiters are standing by to take your phone call.

Top iPad Medical Apps might be reshaping healthcare

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 05.04.2011 | Category Allied Healthcare, Apple iPad, Career Tips, Gadgets, Occupational Therapy, Product Reviews, Respiratory Therapy, Speech Language Pathologist, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Top Therapy Blogs, Travel Gadget, Travel Nurse Blog, Travel Therapist, iPad Apps, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

We want to know if you’re currently using iPad medical apps to boost your therapist job knowledge, surf the web for therapy jobs or advance patient care delivery.

You see a fellow physical or occupational therapist, PTA, OTA, or DPT using the technology to access drug databases and anatomical diagrams in seconds. To upload point-of-care therapies in a click and download healthcare education ‘apps’ for the price of an early bird dinner. Practical and affordable, the potential for iPads to improve patient care is endless.

How has the iPad improved your therapy career?

If you’re currently using an iPad on the job, CHIME IN by responding to this post and letting us know how the technology has benefited your therapist career – we want to share it with the world. Furthermore, we want to know if you’re not using one and why, or if you’ve got ideas for iPad therapy job applications which you feel may benefit the profession

Top iPad Medical apps reshaping healthcare

1. AirStrip OB: Free medical app to help occupational therapists and other medical jobs professionals monitor a baby’s symptoms remotely. Used in tandem with the patient, this healthcare app can reduce trips to the hospital. Additionally, AirStrip comes with cardiology medical apps, imaging and critical care iPad healthcare applications.
2. Blausen Human Atlas: Remember how anatomy captivated you as a youth? It helped you learn and understand your own body? Available for less than $20, the Human Atlas offers the therapy jobs professional comprehensive clinical content on every body system. 3-D animations empower therapists to show their patients what’s going on with their bodies. The atlas is used to play 3D animations and explore 3D models.
3. Davis’s Drug Guide: What occupational and physical therapists need to know about drugs. Fast, easy and at your fingertips. Absolutely indispensable for rehabilitation jobs specialists and professionals on the path to therapist careers success. Free updates with yearly subscription.
4. Diagnosaurus DDx: A powerful diagnosis tool from the medical apps dollar menu. That’s right, for about $0.99 you get an easy healthcare reference system that offers information on a number of diseases and conditions. This healthcare app is fat free!
5. ECG Guide: Another handy dollar menu iPad medical app item. The ECG Guide is your tour book to  regular and abnormal ECGs.  For $0.99 therapy jobs candidates get a “one up” on the lessons of ECG diagnosis.
6. Epocrates: FREE and reliable, Epocrates is the #1 mobile drug reference resource used by healthcare providers at the point of care. Trusted for accuracy and cutting-edge offerings, doctors, RNs and therapist job professionals choose Epocrates as a preferred point of care drug reference.
7. Eponyms: Put simply, an eponym is a name of a drug, structure or disease based on or derived from the name of a person. When looking up medical terms, this FREE healthcare app comes in handy, especially for therapist career grads and undergrads. Doctor of Physical Therapy jobs practitioners find it comes in handy too!
8. Human Body 3D Anatomy: This medical iPad healthcare application acts as an anatomy refresher when it’s time to brush up on what’s connected to the knee bone.  It’s about the price of a bagel and coffee and relies on 3D technologies to bring anatomy to life.
9. iAnatomy: View cross sections of the body and actual CT scans on this iPad medical app – complete with images of cadavers and helpful cataloguing. For therapist career professionals who need to compare scans regularly iAnatomy comes cheaper than a cup of coffee.
10. iRadiology: Therapists review radiology concepts and images with this FREE healthcare app ideal for students, interns, residents and veteran therapy job practitioners.
11. MedCalc: Need to figure dosing? This FREE iPad medical app does the work for you. Handy for advanced therapy jobs professionals charged with administering drug therapies. No more having to remember formulas. Quick, easy reliable healthcare application.
12. Medical Lab Tests: Evaluate lab results quickly with this iPad healthcare app that cost about the price of a decent bottle of olive oil. Review normal lab values, including more than 100 blood tests.
13. Medical Spanish: For the price of a Denny’s Grand Slam Breakfast, you can learn basic Spanish phrases to improve communication with non-English speaking patient groups. The medical apps audio component helps you work on proper pronunciation.
14. Medscape: A staple in any electronic healthcare apps library, Medscape is trusted, FREE and invaluable on rounds when you need a medical reference fast. This medical iPad app features breaking medical news and the latest procedures.
15. MedSpeak: Communicate in Mandarin or Cantonese with this iPad medical application for about $15 bucks. Time tested, user friendly and indispensable for candidates in search of therapy jobs with healthcare employers in urban settings.
16. iMeds XL: For about the price of a large popcorn at the movies therapist career professionals can search by drug name or class for information on prescription interactions, side effects and dosing.
17. Monthly Prescribing Reference: Another FREE medical app that helps with prescription interactions and over the counter drugs.
18. Pedi STAT: For about three bucks therapists working with kids gain insights on symptoms, normal growth and essential pediatrics information.
19. Skyscape’s Medical Bag: Clinical tools, medical calculators and lab tests on the go for $1.99 –cheaper than a Starbucks Latte. Not so much for therapist job practitioners, but it’s so cheap why not have it available.
20. Skyscape RxDrugs Dosing Companion: FREE, FREE, FREE healthcare app to figure out dosing for thousands of generic and brand name medications.

iPads and their medical apps are catching on fast in the therapy jobs marketplace. In fact, having one may improve your marketability as a therapist jobs candidate.

Travel Force Staffing provides recruitment solutions for America’s top rated rehabilitation hospitals , outpatient and Rehab centers, skilled nursing facilities, and private therapy practices located in all 50 U.S. states. Our experienced team of staffing experts place physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, surgical technologists and per diem staff and other allied healthcare professionals into therapy careers nationwide. Contact us today at 800-617-0608 for instant access to cutting edge recruitment technology, therapy career resources, news, and information.

Related iPad App blogs

Good iPad app for Physical therapy students

• Electronic Text Books
• Occupational Therapists iPad App

Where would we be without Occupational Therapists?

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 04.01.2011 | Category Allied Healthcare, Monthly Events, Occupational Therapy, Occupational Therapy Month - April, Therapy Jobs, Travel Nurse Blog

April is Occupational Therapy Month. Pay remains high and demand continues.

Thank goodness for Occupational Therapists. Without them, countless soldiers would return from wartime with little help to readjust emotionally to civilian life or get the help they need to cope with permanent disability. Without occupational therapists, persons inflicted with Multiple Sclerosis and similar debilitating diseases wouldn’t have the hope they now have to lead independent lives.

In short, without occupational therapists, millions of Americans wouldn’t be able to return to the activities that give their lives purpose and pleasure, and which allow them to function in the world to the best of their abilities. For this, our hats go off at Travel Force to America’s more than 120,000 occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in celebration of Occupational Therapy Month in April.

Starting as a profession in the United States in 1917 and now viewed as one of the top “50 Best Careers in 2011″ by U.S. News & World Report, a career in occupational therapy is both personally and professionally rewarding.  The median salary for occupational therapists was about $70,000 in 2009 - with the top ten percent of earners in 2010 making more than $100,000. On a spiritual level, few things can compare with helping disadvantaged people pull themselves from emotional and physical lows to re-establish and regain self worth and confidence.

Similar to other therapy careers, a shortage of occupational therapists continues to be in play. Demand for occupational therapists jobs remains high and the current shortage is soon to be exacerbated by a deluge of previously uninsured patients gaining access to healthcare via reform efforts - about 46 million Americans.

Though jobs in occupational therapy are plentiful, healthcare employers are on the lookout for the brightest and the best. They want therapists on top of their game. Those current on new technologies and techniques and willing to work flexible hours based on fluctuations in patient demand.

For occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in search of therapy jobs with top hospitals and employers in the outpatient sector, an agency relationship is suggested. A therapy jobs agency such as Travel Force can ensure high pay and expose therapy job seekers to postings in attractive job markets where quality of life and health is excellent.

Call a Travel Force representative today at 800.617.0608 or apply online today.

Click here to purchase AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) Occupational Therapy Month merchandise with this year’s theme: Living Life to Its Fullest.

Find the Occupational Therapy Association in your state.

Read more about demand uptick for occupational therapists

Surgical Technologist Jobs in Colorado now require licensing

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 03.25.2011 | Category Allied Healthcare, Career Tips, How to Tips, Medical/Surgical, Therapist Jobs, Top Rehab Careers, Top Therapy Blogs, Travel Nurse Blog, rehabilitation therapy

The deadline is April 1, 2011 for surgical technologists, technicians and assistants in the state if they want to keep working

Why Do Colorado Surgical Technologists now have to register to practice in the state?

Because in 2009, Colorado authorities found that a surgical technician exposed thousands of patients in the state to Hepatitis C. The surgical technician, who tested positive for the disease herself prior to being hired, stole syringes filled with fentanyl from where she worked and returned them filled with saline for patient re-use.

As a result, Colorado enacted a new surgical technology jobs law requiring all surgical technologists, assistants and technicians to register with the state by April 1, 2011 before being considered for employment. Lawmakers say this will ensure that hospitals and surgery centers do not inadvertently hire surgical technologists with a criminal background or with a history of jeopardizing patient safety. Additionally, the new law will allow employers to share information with other potential healthcare employers concerning impaired work function, drug diversion, patient abuse and violent crimes.

How does a Surgical Technologist register to qualify for work in the state of Colorado?

The registration process for the new surgical technology jobs law is simple and takes only a few minutes. If you have any questions regarding surgical technologist jobs in Colorado or anywhere else in the U.S, call a Travel Force Staffing representative at 800.617.0608 or apply online today.

Travel Force Staffing^TM provides recruitment solutions for America’s top rated rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient and Rehab centers, skilled nursing facilities, and private therapy practices located in all 50 U.S. states. Our experienced team of staffing experts place physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, surgical technologists and per diem staff and other allied healthcare professionals into therapy careers nationwide. Contact us today at 800-617-0608 for instant access to cutting edge recruitment technology, therapy career resources, news, and information.

Healthcare Careers booming for the best and brightest

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 03.15.2011 | Category Allied Healthcare, Career Tips, Occupational Therapy, Speech Language Pathologist, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Top Rehab Careers, Top Therapy Blogs, Travel Nurse Blog, Travel Therapist, Travel physical therapy jobs, physical therapy, physical therapy job questions, rehabilitation therapy

Labor Bureau says healthcare jobs are good for employment. Staffing experts say well educated rehabilitation candidates are in high demand.

The healthcare industry is expected to generate 3.2 million new wage and salary jobs through 2018. Healthcare careers for physical therapists and occupational therapists will grow faster than average and demand for Speech Language Pathologists, physical therapy assistant jobs , medical technologists and technicians will surpass all other occupations.* Great news for healthcare employers and candidates alike.

Though healthcare career websites tout a rosy outlook for healthcare jobs, not everyone will qualify. Advanced credentials and years of experience will likely move to the front of the therapy jobs line.  Next will be high academic achievers and flexible candidates willing to relocate.

A healthcare career is viable, satisfying and lucrative. Do you have what it takes?

Healthcare employers will expect competency and accountability from the next wave of healthcare job seekers. Some will test for proficiency after hire while others track caregiver performance via workforce metrics, electronic health records and patient surveys.  A working knowledge of healthcare information technologies will be required of most.

Take for example physical therapy jobs, said Mary Kay Hull, Vice President of Recruitment with Travel Force Staffing. In just a few short years a DPT or Doctorate of Physical Therapy will be required to enter this profession. This means years of sacrifice and study for beginners to achieve Graduate Employment. For working professionals wanting to get ahead; self discipline, perseverance and hours of burning the midnight oil.  Without a DPT in five years, the marketability of a physical therapist may sorely diminish.

Occupational therapy jobs call for a breadth of job knowledge. From cognitive constructs in CAMFC-TBI (Computer Adaptive Measure of Functional Cognition for TBI) to quickly evolving treatments aimed at children, productive aging and disabilities, occupational therapy jobs require accurate, often computer assisted cognitive assessments, a mastery of human behavior and a familiarity with social constructs.

Demand for multilingual Speech-Language Pathologists is on the rise. With globalization touching all aspects of American life - and millions of immigrants gaining access to healthcare for the first time via reform - English-speaking speech language pathologists fluent in Mandarin, Korean, Arabic and Spanish will experience a heightened sense of marketability in coming years.

Similar to physical and occupational therapy jobs and speech language pathologists; medical technicians and technologists will need to continually prove their worth in the workplace.  To this end, Travel Force Staffing suggests healthcare job candidates speak to a therapy jobs recruiter to enhance marketability and successfully target healthcare employers.  Call 800.617.0608 or apply online.

Learn about:

• Therapy Jobs Benefits

• Therapy Career Options

• Physical Therapy Jobs FAQs

• Travel Therapy Jobs Documentation

Travel Force Staffing^TM provides recruitment solutions for America’s top rated rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient and Rehab centers, skilled nursing facilities, and private therapy practices located in all 50 U.S. states. Our experienced team of staffing experts place physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, per diem staff and other allied healthcare professionals into therapy careers nationwide. Contact us today for instant access to cutting edge recruitment technology, therapy career resources, news, and information.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Physical Therapy Students Lobby To Change an Indiana State Law That Inhibits Patients from Seeking Care Without a Referral

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 02.11.2011 | Category Allied Healthcare, Career Tips, Top Rehab Careers, Travel Nurse Blog, Travel physical therapy jobs, physical therapy, physical therapy job questions

Indiana Physical Therapy students recently lobbied to get a new House Bill hearing, to permit patients in America’s Hoosier State to see a Physical Therapist for up to 30 days without a referral from a physician. This measure, if passed, would enable Indiana to join 48 other U.S. states in permitting PTs to conduct an initial examination.

Other than Indiana, just three states remain as holdouts: Oklahoma, Michigan and Alabama. Some physical therapists say that the likelihood of a patient seeking aid from a masseuse, physical trainer or chiropractor before consulting a physical therapist’s consult in these 4 states is driving PTs away. Physical therapy students are calling the situation a “brain drain”, adding that highly trained recent graduates, i.e. doctors of physical therapy, are moving to more progressive states for physical therapist jobs; precisely why physical therapy students are leading the way in state legislation that gives their future patients easier access to the care they need—a measure that reinforces job stability for high-paying Indiana physical therapy jobs.

Take an Active Interest in Your Physical Therapy Career!

What about your physical therapy career? Do you keep abreast of healthcare trends that improve patient outcomes and create more work opportunities in rehab hospitals and clinics? Would you get involved at the legislative level, if it made the difference between stability in your physical therapy career, or being forced to move out of state to more effectively pursue your goals?

Help a leading therapist staffing agency answer this question by showing us where you stand on this hot button topic! Take the physical therapy career awareness survey below!

Take Our Physical Therapy Career Trends Awareness Survey

Thank you for your participation.

APTA Event for Physical Therapist

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 11.05.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Career Tips, Monthly Events, Physical Therapist Education, Travel Nurse Blog, physical therapy

Combined Sections Meeting (CSM)

The Combined Sections Meeting (CSM 2011) will be hosted in New Orleans, LA on February 9-12. This event focuses on programming designed by all 18 of APTA’s specialty sections.  The Combined Sections Meeting event bring together more than 7,500 physical therapy professionals from around the nation for 5 motivating days of outstanding programming, networking opportunities, and an exhibit hall filled with products and services to keep you and your practice on the cutting edge.

In addition, PT students can be awarded with conference registration and $500 towards expenses to attend CSM. Apply by December 1. Get more details about the physical therapy students award.

More about CSM 2011

If you are interested in PT jobs in LA – check the latest physical therapy jobs in Louisiana

Ballet Puts Heart Health on Center Stage

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 02.26.2010 | Category Registered Nurses, Respiratory Therapy, Therapy Jobs, Travel Nurse Blog, Traveling Therapist, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

As a physical therapist, you’re probably well aware that February is American Heart  Month – a time to take seriously all matters of the heart, from emotional well-being to physical health.

That means learning to take care of your own needs, as well as those of your physical therapy patients.  (For a review of the five fundamentals of heart health, see our primer on heart awareness.)

It also means reaching out in your traveling physical therapy jobs and finding like-minded health-care professionals to collaborate with on heart awareness.

One collaboration regarding heart awareness even led to a new ballet, titled “Heart (Function vs. Emotion).”  This production of the Bodiography  contemporary ballet company in Pittsburgh debuted on Feb. 19, and featured six performers who happen to be heart patients!

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the heart-centric ballet was inspired by a conversation between Bodiography artistic director and choreographer Maria Caruso, and Dennis McNamara, professor of medicine and medical director of heart failure/cardiac transplantation at UPMC.

The collective experiences of the patients, the doctors, and the dancers in the troupe led to a ballet that many described as life-changing. “We’re all in this experience together in bringing about awareness,” Caruso said.

What a lovely and magical way to commemorate American Heart Month!