Nicole Siegel Bulow ’97 chose to attend Shenandoah University because of its dual major Doctor of Physical Therapy/Master of Science in athletic training program. “The dual program is no joke, but it’s worth it,” said Bulow.
Some of Bulow’s fondest memories of Shenandoah were working in the cadaver lab, and making a pot roast at school so her and her classmates didn’t have to take a break from studying.
Bulow is a physical therapist and the owner of SolFuel Wellness, an out-of-network, self-pay clinic, in Seattle, Washington. As a physical therapist, she specializes in Functional Manual Therapy. Bulow primarily works in sports medicine, orthopedics and women’s health, focusing on pregnancy and postpartum recovery. “My unique approach guides me to identify the root cause of a problem and work with people to get back to doing what they love,” said Bulow.
Some of the most rewarding experiences Bulow has had in her career include starting her own practice, being a physical therapist for the United States Rowing team, and passing the Certified Functional Manual Therapist exam through the Institute of Physical Art. She has also found a few of her patient interactions to be very rewarding, including helping a patient qualify for the Boston Marathon and facilitate a patient’s fertility journey to a successful birth.
The unique education Bulow received at Shenandoah allowed her to become a more successful, knowledgeable and engaged physical therapist.
Bulow’s advice to students is: “Keep learning. If you start to find yourself getting bored, burnt out or thinking you know it all, start taking more classes. Find the approach to physical therapy that speaks to you. Choose a certification/advanced practice approach and follow it through to its end.”