By Derek Fenwick
Vice President, People & Culture
When I talk with therapists about taking on a student, I sometimes sense a moment of hesitation, as if they’re thinking, “I’m already stretched thin; do I really have time for this?” I get it. Mentoring a student can sound like one more thing on an already full plate. But in truth, it’s one of the most energizing, rewarding parts of what we do.
Every time one of our clinicians opens the door to a student, they’re investing not only in that person’s development, but also in our profession’s future. Students bring fresh curiosity, current evidence, and a contagious enthusiasm that reminds us why we fell in love with this work in the first place. They ask great questions, push us to think critically, and sometimes even teach us something new from their recent coursework or research.
And there are very real benefits for your team and your patients. A student can often help extend patient coverage in areas where we have high census or open positions — keeping care consistent and easing workload pressures on both the CI and the team. It’s a win–win: students gain valuable hands-on experience, and our patients receive high-impact care.
Mentoring also deepens your own professional confidence. When you explain, demonstrate, and reflect with a learner, you reinforce your own expertise. You start noticing the small decisions you make instinctively — and realizing how much skill, compassion, and judgment you actually use every day.
Finally, hosting students helps us build our future workforce. Time and again, we’ve seen that new graduates who complete a student placement with Infinity Rehab are far more likely to join our team after graduation.
A great student experience can be the start of a long, meaningful professional relationship, not just with that individual, but also with the school we’re partnering with. In fact, we find that schools are much more likely to be open to alerting ALL their students and recent grads to our open positions when we have an active relationship with them. When you agree to mentor a student, it helps us accelerate and deepen that relationship.
We’re working to expand our student placement program so more of our sites can host future clinicians. That means we need more therapists and managers willing to raise their hand and say, “Yes, I’ll take a student.” If you’ve never done it before, we’ll guide you through the process and provide support along the way.
Next week we are launching our next student survey for all DORs to complete. We are checking in about Winter-Summer 2026 placement updates from our programs. (Directors, you can take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IRstudentsNov2025)
So, when your DOR asks, “Would you take a student?” I hope you’ll consider the benefits of saying “Yes,” even if it feels like a stretch or a burden. You’re not just doing a favor — you’re shaping the next generation of therapists, strengthening your own practice, and helping our organization grow stronger for the future.
