Beyond the Bedside: Breaking Barriers and Expanding Your PTA Career

Jessica Hochberg proves that being a PTA is not a limitation - it is a launchpad. In this episode, Katie talks with Jessica (former Director of Rehab, certified stroke rehab and fall prevention specialist, and MBA in healthcare management) about the career moves PTAs are not always taught: how to build leadership skills, reframe your transferable strengths, and pursue non-clinical paths like quality, documentation review, and health tech.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why leadership roles often default to PT, OT, or SLP, and how PTAs can still rise
• The evaluation barrier and what it means for career ladders
• Real-world value of documentation, compliance, and quality improvement work
• Health tech roles PTAs can pursue (product, sales, clinical support)
• How to rewrite your resume in business language (numbers, outcomes, impact)
• Using LinkedIn strategically to learn, connect, and find opportunities
• Letting go of guilt: leaving bedside care does not mean you stopped caring
• Myth vs Reality game and Jessicas PTA+ Point hero moment

Links and mentions:

Guest: Jessica Hochberg

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-hochberg-mba-pta-csrs-cfps-b14106220/

Host: Katie Sutton / PTA+

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093326902910

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pta_plus/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-sutton-0725/

Mentioned:

APTA Advanced Proficiency Pathways (APP) and volunteer opportunities

https://www.apta.org/for-ptas/pta-advanced-proficiency-pathways

Mentioned:

The Non-Clinical PT

https://thenonclinicalpt.com/