Our Interview With Dr. Meghan Braun

Dr. Meghan Braun is a board-certified and licensed Physical Therapist based in Florida, specializing in sports performance, rehabilitation, injury prevention, return-to-play, and concussion management. She is the owner and founder of Body Mechanics Physical Therapy.

What motivated you to pursue a career in medicine? 

I knew that I wanted to be a doctor of some sort but didn’t want to be on call or work on weekends. I wanted to be able to help people without surgery or medications and actually see the improvement in people, especially with youth athletes. Keeping them healthy as well, both mentally and physically. 

What do you wish you had known about the medical school application process before you applied? 

Just that it is really challenging and competitive getting into school, so you may apply and get rejected several times before you actually get accepted. 

What was the biggest challenge that caught you off guard when you sat down to write the MCAT?

I didn’t have to do the MCAT; I had to do the GRE. There was a lot on it about language! 

How much work experience did you gain before applying to medical school? What opportunities did you pursue, and what helped you the most during the application process? 

I worked in a physical therapy clinic for about 2 years and shadowed several PTs as well while applying to school and finishing prerequisite courses for a better GPA. Getting the best possible grades on pre-req classes was the most beneficial for the application. 

Did you have any setbacks or rejections during the med school admissions process, and what did you learn from those experiences? 

Yes, I got rejected from several schools my first year I applied because of my GPA. My GPA was actually very good, but not as good as other applicants, I suppose, so then I went back and retook some classes to apply again the next year.

What led you to specialize in physical therapy? What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue your specialty?

I wanted to help people more, especially athletes, rehab and learn to heal both mentally and physically. Networking is a big part of what I do, especially being a self-pay, direct-access clinic. So getting to be involved in sports, both on a professional and playing level, helps a lot. 

If someone wants to start their own practice, what does that path look like after finishing medical school? 

You really need to understand the business side of things, hiring people is essential, as well as having a business coach. It helps to have someone keep you on track with things, as well as a good support system. 

What advice would you give to someone who’s looking to start their practice today?

I would say have all of your finances in order, know what your business plan and model is going to look like, and then start marketing yourself and your business to figure out where you should set up shop and what kind of patient demographic you would like to target.

Inspira Advantage is proud to interview experts like Dr. Meghan Braun to help future doctors understand the challenges and rewards of a medical career. Learn more about how our experts can help you get into medical school today.