Physical Therapy Students’ Perspective of Treating Patients with Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome as a Member of a Student-led Interprofessional Care Team

Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) presents with persistent, multisystem symptoms and uncertain treatment pathways, challenging healthcare teams to collaborate across disciplines. This study explores physical therapist students' experience participating in a student-led interprofessional PACS clinic. Sixteen second-year DPT students completed a structured written reflection following their participation in the clinic. Reflections were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory and a general inductive approach to identify key themes. Three primary themes emerged: 1) the importance of strong communication within the interprofessional team; 2) the value of interprofessional collaboration in complex, uncertain care; and 3) a need for greater knowledge and resources related to PACS. Although students appreciated the importance of team-based communication, many struggled to assert their role within the group, reflecting the ongoing development of professional identity and interprofessional confidence. The evolving nature of PACS care further challenged students to think critically and rely on collective decision-making. These findings suggest that student-led clinics, particularly those centered on medically complex conditions, offer valuable opportunities for experiential learning, interprofessional identity or team identify formation, and interprofessional skill development. These findings support the integration of complex interprofessional clinical experiences into allied health training to enhance role clarity, communication, and clinical readiness.