This week’s spotlight is on Adam Quire, PT, DPT, a Non-Clinical 101 graduate who is now Clinical Training Manager for Lifeward, Inc. We’re thrilled to feature Adam for his second spotlight! Keep reading for details on his non-clinical career growth!
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What is your full name, title, and company name for your current, primary role?
Adam Quire, PT, DPT — Clinical Training Manager for Lifeward, Inc.
Where are you located?
Boulder, CO.
Where did you go to PT school, and what year did you graduate?
University of Kentucky, 2012.
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If you’re a Non-Clinical 101 student, you can network with many of our spotlight participants in the alumni groups!
What did you do when you first finished school, and for how long?
I worked for an outpatient company called KORT for almost three years. In the first couple years, I split my time between three clinic locations.
In what setting(s) did you work, and what types of patients did you treat?
I worked in outpatient (mostly orthopedics).
What did you enjoy about your early roles? What didn’t you enjoy?
As a new grad, I really enjoyed working with many experienced therapists. It accelerated my development as a clinician. I also loved being involved with the marketing efforts for each clinic.
I did not enjoy the volume of patients I would sometimes have to see. At our busiest, that could be 15-20 patients per day.
What else have you done since then, prior to your current role?
I switched to home health physical therapy and practiced there for six years.
In January 2022, I moved into a specialty account manager (SAM) role with Numotion in Lexington, KY. Numotion is a national complex rehab technology (CRT) company. We provided customized manual and power wheelchairs, as well as pediatric equipment.
Editor’s Note: Adam shares much more about his SAM position at Numotion in his first spotlight! Check it out, then revisit this spotlight to see how his non-clinical career has grown since then!
When and why did you decide to do something non-clinical?
I’m not sure I can pinpoint an exact time; it was more of a gradual development. I do remember a physical therapist who had transitioned to sales did a guest lecture to our PT program. This certainly planted the seed that PTs could venture out beyond patient care.
Then, while doing home health, I listened to many podcasts which indicated that more and more therapists were branching out to non-clinical roles. They seemed to be very happy with their decision.
I started experiencing burnout fairly early in my career, so I knew I would eventually have to make a change.
What are you doing these days?
I am currently a clinical training manager (CTM) for Lifeward (formerly ReWalk Robotics).
The vast majority of my role is spent working with the ReWalk Personal Exoskeleton, which is an FDA-approved and Medicare-covered device that allows individuals with a spinal cord injury to functionally ambulate again.
My role includes:
- Remotely screening potential ReWalkers
- Assisting virtually with physical therapy evaluations with our clinical partners
- Training clinic sites on how to provide ReWalk programs
- Traveling to clinic sites for exoskeleton deliveries/trainings
I also work with the MyoCycle FES Bike created by MYOLYN. Our team conducts virtual trainings for individuals who had recently received their new FES cycle, as well as participates in trials/trainings in-person for clinic sites that are looking to integrate the MyoCycle into their clinical offerings.
Are you still treating patients, or are you solely non-clinical?
Although I am heavily involved in patient care, I am technically not treating patients. I act as a consultant to guide other physical and occupational therapists in evaluations, POC development, and integration of the ReWalk into their therapy practice. Maintaining my clinical license is a requirement in my role; however, I am not billing for PT services myself.
How long have you been in your current role?
I began this role in October 2023.
Did you get any special certifications or training along the way to help you get into your current role?
Initially, I participated in the Non-Clinical 101 course, which was unbelievably helpful, especially the resources regarding creating a non-clinical resume. Once I transitioned into working for Numotion, the experience I gained in that industry led to me landing my current role.
Plus, you’ll get early access to curated non-clinical job listings and a bonus lesson on AI!
How did you find your job? Did you apply or find it through a connection?
I was initially exposed to ReWalk Robotics through a co-worker who had used the exoskeleton herself. I was intrigued by this technology and kept an eye on the company from a distance.
Once I noticed a LinkedIn post regarding an opening for a new CTM, I applied online.
Did you do anything special to your resume and cover letter to land the job?
As I mentioned before, the Non-Clinical 101 course was a lifesaver and an amazing resource.
Non-Clinical 101 guided me through the process of transforming my resume from one that appealed to other clinicians to one that would demonstrate value to a sales-oriented hiring manager. This was crucial in the transition from home health to sales at Numotion.
From there, the combination of my non-clinical and clinical experience was vital in landing the CTM role.
What was the interview like for the clinical training manager role?
My initial interview was via Zoom with Lina, the hiring manager I now work for. Then, she arranged two peer interviews: one with a business development manager who previously held the CTM role, and another with a current CTM who is now my teammate.
After a follow-up virtual meeting with Lina, the company flew me in for an in-person interview, where I met Lina and shadowed her during a training session at a clinical site. Following that visit, I was fortunate to receive an offer to join Lifeward.
What are some of the things you did to stand out, take initiative, and advance in your career?
A huge part of how I got to Lifeward was having experience with assistive technology while being able to demonstrate success in developing a new book of business in my territory while at Numotion.
How have people reacted to you leaving patient care?
Most everyone has been supportive and understands my reasons for leaving patient care. Initially, I think many people did find it confusing that I would give up clinical practice after dedicating so much time, effort, and money to my DPT degree.
Now, when I explain what I do for work, people tend to be very engaged in wanting to know more about how the robotics work and are fascinated with the concept. It is really fun for me when I get to explain what I do.
What’s a typical day or week in the life like for you? What types of tasks and responsibilities fill your time?
Most weeks, I travel to a clinical site for one to three days, depending on the activity needed in that territory. This could involve delivering a new exoskeleton, providing advanced training on navigating stairs and curbs, or assisting in therapy sessions to address any challenges the therapist or ReWalker may face.
Between visits, I offer virtual support to the clinic every few weeks. Some weeks, I work entirely from home, conducting virtual screenings, developing educational materials such as written content and videos for our online training, and providing remote training for the MyoCycle.
We also have weekly Zoom meetings with our internal team for case management and business development purposes.
What are some of the rewards of your role? What are the biggest challenges?
The biggest reward is seeing someone stand and walk in the exoskeleton for the first time.
As you can imagine, it tends to be a very emotional time for the ReWalker and their family and friends who are supporting them. It’s also really fun to work with the amazing therapists that we do, while helping them integrate such an awesome piece of technology into their clinical toolbox.
Personally, I love to travel. It’s been a real blessing to start traveling for work purposes and see parts of the country I probably wouldn’t have sought out otherwise.
I’d say the biggest challenge is time management. You have to be able to plan out your travel independently while managing all of the remote activities required at the same time. It forces you to be organized in keeping your calendar straight while planning ahead.
How did your clinical background prepare you for this role? Which skills transferred?
You do have to have a physical or occupational license to hold this CTM position, so obviously my clinical background was paramount.
Roughly speaking, how are the hours and pay compared to patient care?
My working hours vary wildly from week to week. The biggest variable being how far I am traveling and for how long. The flexibility of this role is amazing, though. On weeks I am not traveling for work, I can work from anywhere.
What type of person do you think would do well in your clinical training manager role?
For this role, you certainly have to be detail-oriented and be able to plan ahead for travel and meeting the needs of your accounts. However, you also have to be willing to pivot at the last minute when changes occur unexpectedly. It helps to be individually driven and motivated, while also being able to work well on a small team.
Do you work remotely or onsite?
Remote work with travel to various clinical sites.
Does your organization hire PT, OT, or SLP professionals into non-clinical roles? If so, what type of roles?
We have many PTs, OTs, and ATCs that are on the sales team. My CTM teammates are all PTs or OTs. We also have some clinicians on our executive and marketing teams.
Lifeward as a company is very clinician-driven with a full complement of teammates who do not have a clinical background.
Did you read any books, take any courses, or do anything special overall to get you where you are today?
The Non-Clinical 101 course was the biggest factor in my transition out of patient care.
With extensive local travel as a home health PT and SAM with Numotion, and now national travel as a CTM, I’ve had plenty of time over the past decade to use audiobooks and podcasts as resources for self-improvement.
What is a typical career path for someone in your clinical training manager role?
As the company has continued to grow, it has allowed for CTMs to move into a variety of different roles. We have former CTMs now on the sales, marketing, and executive teams.
Your path within this company is largely determined by your ambitions and particular skill set.
What is next for you? What are your high-level career aspirations?
I’m very happy in my current role at Lifeward and plan to consistently improve as a CTM, with hopes of staying on the team long term. While I’m open to exploring other roles within the company as opportunities arise, I don’t have a specific career trajectory in mind at the moment. I do have a passion for internal education and onboarding, so that might be something to pursue in the future.
What would you recommend to someone who is considering going into a role like yours? Do you have any special words of wisdom for the readers?
As cliché as it sounds, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Job searching often involves dealing with rejection, and sometimes taking a pay cut to gain experience that aligns with your long-term career and financial goals.
In my experience, as you broaden your skills and build relationships, opportunities will eventually open up.
What would you teach to today’s graduate students in your profession, if you had the opportunity?
I would love to introduce graduate students to the world of robotic exoskeletons and similar devices. This sector will continue to grow as technologies improve, and I think it’s important for our future clinicians to be aware of what’s out there and how to integrate it into patient care.
