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What were the main 'career decision' milestones in your life so far?

Barry McEntee, Chartered Physiotherapist

After Junior Cert subject choice was kept broad - at this point I was gearing towards physiotherapy/engineering so i did my best with subject choices to keep my options open as much as possible. Physics & Chemistry came in useful in First year College having had a good grounding in these areas from secondary school. Having not done biology prior to first semester in college, i found this quite challenging and things moved at quite a fast pace but those who had done biology previously were a good help in bringing everyone along with them, and we returned the favour when it came to physics/chemistry.

My first job was in general medical wards at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, it was great to get straight into the workforce after graduating and I picked up a lot of medical / cardioresp / neuro experience here which continue to stand to me to this day in recognising non-MSK issues that present in clinic.

The first major milestone for me was leaving this job and starting an job on the Orthopaedic Ward in Sports Surgery Clinic. This gave me a great grounding in elective surgery. From there I progressed internally within SSC to general MSK outpatients and from there focusing and specialising more in the area of hip & groin injury management and ACL rehabilitation. While in this role I had an opportunity to work with Meath Minor Footballers in a team physiotherapist capacity which two years later opened doors to become involved with the Senior County team.

During my time with the Seniors I moved to a private practice on the South side where I worked for the best part of a year, but the commute almost daily due to my commitments with Meath became too much and I moved back to Navan to establish McEntee Performance Physio, a physiotherapy and rehabilitation centre based in Club Active Gym, a warehouse-type gym with the latest training equipment. It's a little over four years since we opened our doors and now have a staff of 4 physiotherapists working at this site

Who are the people who most influenced your career direction?

My respective line managers along the way, all provided encouragement and guidance to explore what it was I wanted to achieve.

A particular friend who has given me some great business advice and principles to live by, this has been a big help to me given that I have no previous background in business or management.

How did you go about getting your current job?

I set up on my own / Self Employed

Describe a typical day?

6am - 7am - Emails and Admin
7am - First Appointment
2pm - End of Clinic
4pm - May start second Clinic
9pm - Finish of Clinic

What are the main tasks and responsibilities?

Patient Care
Injury Management
Staff Roster
Staff Training
Continued Professional Development
Policies & Procedures
Innovation
Customer Service Audits
Management
Interventions

What are the main challenges?

Time management & Self accountability

What do you like most?

Meeting and working with people

Is there anything that isn't great?

Interference with own social interests due to working hours

What particular skills do you bring to your workplace?

Be approachable to all staff
Leadership skills
Offer staff support whenever needed

What subjects did you take in school and how have these influenced your career path?

Physics
Chemistry
Music
French

What is your education to date?

Leaving Cert
BSc Physio
Several courses in specific rehabilitation/diagnostic techniques

What aspects of your education have proven most important for your job?

A well rounded view of the world; involvement in many extra curricular activities when I was younger have helped this.

An appreciation of everyone and their role in society

What have been the most rewarding events in your career so far?

Establishing McEntee Performance Physio

What personal qualities do you have that helps you in your career?

Ambitious & Hard Working

What is your dream job?

Establishing and growing a state of the art rehabilitation facility providing the following services :

Physiotherapy
Coaches
Performance Nutrition
Sports Psychology
Exercise Physiology
Sports Medicine

Does your job allow you to have a lifestyle you are happy with?

Being honest, to a degree yes, but not fully. The nature and reality of private practice is that we are busiest outside of everyone else's 9-5 schedule. This means early mornings, which are great, and I enjoy. Late evenings however impact on family life, social life, and sporting endeavours.

I haven't been as involved in my chosen sport of Gaelic football as I'd like to have been this past few years as its quite the challenge to juggle work and making training, especially when GAA fixtures change so frequently and at such short notice.

I have a comfortable lifestyle thanks to putting in long hours and working hard, this is something that I enjoy so it's never an issue for me aside from the aforementioned clash with my own sporting interests.

What advice would you give to someone considering this job?

You need to be prepared to work hard, work long hours & work unsociable hours. Starting out, be prepared to take the jobs that nobody wants to do - make your contacts through that and progress to follow your dream

What are the three most important personal characteristics required for the job?