HeartlandBeat Student of the Month – July 2013

For Carly (Kroeker) Hiebner, her future occupation was a toss up between education or a career in the sciences.  To help with her decision and gain some hands-on experience, she obtained a CNA license. After working as a CNA, she quickly learned that she loved the medical field and enjoyed assisting the patients.

“Being able to help those who were hurting or unable to care for themselves gave me a great sense of purpose, and I really felt like God was calling me in that direction. After praying about it and consulting friends and family, I decided physical therapy was a perfect fit for me,” said Hiebner.

In preparation for her future career, Carly attended Tabor College where she received a B.A. in Natural Sciences and Mathematics with a Biology Concentration and a Minor in Psychology.  While she kept busy with her difficult coursework there, she was also very involved at her small college.  She played varsity volleyball, lettering all four years, received the NAIA All-American Scholar Athlete, and was also awarded the Tabor College Scholar Athlete of the Year.  Apart from athletics, she was in choir and a co-president of the Science Club.  Carly was also able to travel to Europe and Belize for college credit.  Making the Dean’s List throughout college, Hiebner graduated Summa Cum Laude.

After acceptance into the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Carly faced many adjustments as she began school.  She was newly married, living in a large and unfamiliar city, and had to spend the majority of her time focused on schoolwork.  Her husband, Grant, was an encouraging support to her during this time.

“Although at times it was overwhelming and the studying was never-ending, clinical rotations and working with patients made it worthwhile,” Carly noted.  While obtaining her doctorate, she was able to be a teacher’s assistant and also helped lead several labs for nursing students.

After many years of hard work, Carly graduated with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy this past May.  She and her husband will reside in Grand Island where she will be working at Grand Island Physical Therapy in their Balance, Mobility, and Aquatic Center.

“I am really looking forward to gaining more experience and working with the neuro population at the Balance and Mobility Center! I was fortunate to have a clinical rotation there and enjoyed watching these patients progress and being a part of their recovery.”

While Carly looks to begin her career, she also looks back and remembers how her education base she received at Heartland gave her the knowledge and skills she needed to be successful in college.  She had learned how to write quality papers quickly and had already learned what studying techniques worked best for her.  The balance of schoolwork and activities she learned from living in a small community was also another valuable skill she was able to transfer to her undergraduate and graduate experiences.

Congratulations to Dr. Hiebner on a successful completion of school, and best of luck to her as she begins her new physical therapy career in Grand Island.