Technical Project Manager — Elana Yavetz

This week’s spotlight is on Elana Yavetz, PT, DPT, a non-clinical physical therapist who is now Technical Project Manager for connectRN!

What is your full name, title, and company name for your current, primary role?

Elana Yavetz, PT, DPT — Technical Project Manager at connectRN

Where are you located?

Greater Boston, MA.

Where did you go to PT school, and what year did you graduate?

Northeastern University, 2017.

What did you do when you first finished school, and for how long?

I worked as an orthopedic physical therapist at a hospital-based outpatient clinic for about five years. I also dabbled in home health PT for a few months before transitioning out of patient care.

In what setting(s) did you work, and what types of patients did you treat?

I treated typical outpatient orthopedics — a blend of post-op, chronic pain, acute injuries, and some women’s health. I also tried home health.

What did you enjoy about your early roles? What didn’t you enjoy?

I enjoyed working with a very diverse patient population and getting to know and learn more about different cultures and languages, as a large percentage of my patients did not speak English. I also enjoyed the autonomy of being a DPT and making clinical decisions.

When and why did you decide to do something non-clinical?

After almost five years in patient care, I was burned out by a long commute, long hours, and an ever-increasing caseload.

My boyfriend (now husband) worked in advertising from home, and I saw the work-life balance he had and wanted the same for myself.

What are you doing these days?

I am a technical project manager at connectRN, a tech-enabled platform for nurses to find flexible work opportunities. I work very closely with engineering, product, and R&D teams on high-impact projects that involve many stakeholders, which I find very exciting.

Are you still treating patients, or are you solely non-clinical?

I am solely non-clinical.

How long have you been in your current role?

I joined connectRN in February 2022 as an onboarding specialist, then worked my way up through several different roles. I started my current role in February 2025.

Did you get any special certifications or training along the way to help you get into your current role?

I did not get any special certifications or training; I just learned everything on the job!

I did also browse The Non-Clinical PT website prior to transitioning out of patient care, which helped me narrow down potential roles I’d want to explore.

How did you find your job? Did you apply or find it through a connection?

I did have a connection who recommended me for the entry-level role I started at. He was helpful in highlighting my transferable skills and my willingness to learn, which got me the interview.

Did you do anything special to your resume and cover letter to land the job?

I did alter my resume when applying to my current role in order to highlight anything showing metrics or process improvement.

What was the interview like for the technical project manager role?

The interview process included three rounds:

• A screening with the in-house recruiter
• A panel of individuals who were currently in the role I was applying for
• A final interview with the hiring manager

The information I learned on The Non-Clinical PT helped me understand how to speak on my transferable skills.

What are some of the things you did to stand out, take initiative, and advance in your career?

I have advanced from an entry-level role to a manager-level role since starting at connectRN.

I never said “No” to a project, I communicated my ideas on how to improve processes or the product, and I made sure to become an expert at what I was working on.

These things made me stand out during performance reviews when it came time for promotions.

How have people reacted to you leaving patient care?

Most people in my life knew that I was unhappy and burned out in physical therapy, so they were thrilled when I was able to find a better fit for me.

What’s a typical day or week in the life like for you? What types of tasks and responsibilities fill your time?

My days are filled with meetings, usually team or individual syncs related to projects I’m working on. I also have plenty of time for heads-down work, which helps me prepare for meetings with stakeholders.

What are some of the rewards of your role? What are the biggest challenges?

I feel very rewarded by solving problems and contributing to the success of the product and company. I feel like those accomplishments are well-recognized too, which helps!

Challenges include “herding the cats,” which is a big part of the job of a project manager. I’ve had to use skills similar to those of a PT, like empathy, active listening, and clear communication.

How did your clinical background prepare you for this role? Which skills transferred?

So many skills were transferable! Even though I went from treating patients to a technical role at a startup company, I found myself using the same skills, such as organization & time management, interpersonal communication, adaptability, and problem solving.

Ready to launch your own non-clinical career?

Roughly speaking, how are the hours and pay compared to patient care?

I currently work a typical 40-hour week, Monday through Friday. During my time as a clinician, I did four 10-hour days, which I found mentally and physically challenging.

In terms of pay, I did have to take a significant pay cut in order to start fresh in a new career, but I have since worked my way up to making more than I did as a clinician.

What type of person do you think would do well in your technical project manager role?

Someone who thrives in an ambiguous environment, someone who can pivot on a dime, and someone who does not want to do the same thing every day.

Do you work remotely or onsite?

I work hybrid. Two days a week, I go into our office, and the rest of the time I work from home.

Did you read any books, take any courses, or do anything special overall to get you where you are today?

I read Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One by Jenny Blake, which helped me realize I am not alone in feeling like I wanted a change.

What is a typical career path for someone in your technical project manager role?

I find the growth potential of a project manager to be so exciting, something I did not feel as a staff physical therapist. Ideally, I’d like to continue on to managing a team and becoming a leader.

What is next for you? What are your high-level career aspirations?

I’d love to continue learning and exploring the tech world! I’ve been exploring courses in different project management methodologies and AI.

What career advice would you give yourself that you wish you had during school?

I wish someone told me during my time in school that it’s never too late and you’re never too old. I think my fear of looking like I quit or “failed” stopped me from exploring more. I also wish I knew about the sunk-cost fallacy!