Body
For Meghan Coleman, a path toward medicine began long before medical school. Growing up in Indianapolis, Indiana, she was a competitive athlete whose experiences with injury and recovery sparked an early interest in healthcare and the patient experience.
A former Division I tennis player at the University of Notre Dame, Meghan studied science business while balancing the demands of collegiate athletics. Along the way, she experienced her share of injuries, including wrist surgery and a torn quadriceps muscle in college. Those experiences introduced her to physical therapy and rehabilitation, giving her firsthand insight into the impact healthcare professionals can have during a patient’s recovery journey.
“I was kind of used to being in a medical setting,” she says. “That’s when I got really interested in the medical field.”
After graduating from Notre Dame, Meghan spent a gap year working as a physical therapy technician at an orthopedic surgery center in Indianapolis. There, she gained valuable exposure to the rehabilitation side of medicine and was introduced to the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R).
Working alongside physical therapists and patients throughout their recovery process helped solidify her interest. She was especially drawn to the opportunity to build long-term relationships with patients and witness their progress over time.
“That’s kind of how I first was introduced to PM&R,” she says. “I really liked forming relationships with patients and getting to see their progression.”
Now a medical student at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Meghan recently completed her first year and is already exploring the specialties that interest her most. While PM&R remains at the top of her list, she is also interested in sports medicine and pediatrics.
Her interest in rehabilitation medicine led her to connect with PM&R physicians early in medical school, including alumni of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s medical externship program, a six-week program combining clinical and research activities. After learning more about the field and the institution’s reputation, applying to the externship felt like a natural next step.
“Shirley Ryan is the best rehab facility in the country,” she says. “I knew I should definitely apply.”
As a medical extern, Meghan is gaining hands-on experience across multiple rehabilitation settings. She recently completed a rotation on the traumatic brain injury service and is currently working with the cancer rehabilitation team. Her days include pre-rounding on patients, performing physical exams, gathering updates, and presenting findings during interdisciplinary rounds.
Beyond her clinical work, Meghan is working with the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research (CROR) on creating a new measure summary for the Rehabilitation Measures Database (RMD). She selected the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Evaluation Form. It is a patient-reported questionnaire that assesses knee symptoms, function, and ability to participate in daily and sports activities to measure overall knee health. Meghan will review the literature on its development, psychometric properties, and clinical applications for inclusion into the database.
“Meg is a delight to work with,” says CROR associate director, Linda Ehrlich-Jones, PhD, RN. “She has such enthusiasm for learning more about measurement and we are excited to work with her on her RMD summary.”
Outside of her studies, Meghan remains active through tennis and running. This summer, she’s also enjoying the opportunity to explore Chicago with her roommates and fellow medical students from her home in Wicker Park.