FACULTY PROFILE
"What I most enjoy about teaching at GSU — I love the faculty, staff and students. I am very fortunate to be working with the very talented and distinguished faculty members and students within the Department of Physical Therapy.
I find the most rewarding aspect of academic work is helping shape a student’s ability to analyze data and clinically problem solve; teaching the students the tools they will need to succeed in the field of physical therapy; inspiring students to achieve greatness in their future careers and helping students live the life they have imagined.
I started off my career working for a private company contracted to work within a Chicagoland hospital. I had the privilege of working in the field of acute care in which I was exposed to hundreds of patients suffering from neurological, cardiopulmonary, orthopedic and surgically-related conditions.
Additionally, I had the chance to work in the Intensive Care Unit with trauma patients, where I learned I had found my niche and that life could change so quickly at any time for anyone. Within the first few years, I started to practice in wound care, providing care for both inpatients and outpatients. I had the distinct privilege of working with talented physicians, podiatrists and surgeons who taught me so much. During this time I continued working in acute care and the inpatient rehabilitation unit, as the patient census allowed.
Through my career I served as clinical instructors for many physical therapy students, and learned that I loved to teach. So I became the CCCE (clinical coordinator for clinical education) for the company I worked for, and began to teach at GSU, Midwestern University and Morton College as an adjunct faculty. My life path has now led me to GSU, Department of Physical Therapy, and it is proving to be the best choice I have made in my career.
Outside of work I have found volunteering with Special Olympics to be a rewarding opportunity that has allowed me to see many children and young adults succeed in their competitions and have fun."
-Amy Bala
Link to Amy Bala CV