Dr. Trevor Lentz earned his PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Florida in 2017.
Dr. Trevor Lentz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Duke Clinical Research Institute at Duke University. He earned his PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Florida in 2017 before his Postdoctoral fellowship in Musculoskeletal Outcomes at the Duke Clinical Research Institute. While at UF, Trevor was mentored by Dr. Steven George. Trevor’s work focuses on improving the implementation and value of non-pharmacologic health care for people with musculoskeletal pain conditions.
What are some of the things you like most about your current job?
I enjoy having the intellectual freedom, resources, and support to pursue bold ideas that will improve the lives of people with pain. My projects span a variety of settings (e.g., Duke University Health System, Durham VA Medical Center, industry partners) and designs (e.g., clinical trials, “big data” studies, qualitative and policy work) which means that no two days are the same. I enjoy the intellectual environment of a major research university where I collaborate with many different disciplines including chiropractors, surgeons, health policy experts, population health researchers, statisticians, and implementation scientists. In my role, one of my most enjoyable experiences is teaching and mentoring trainees, including DPT and PhD students, and physicians and surgeons pursuing careers as clinical scientists. Working in downtown Durham is fun as well – great food and culture.
What are some of the most challenging things about your current job?
Being a PI is like running a small business, sometimes multiple small businesses at once. While conducting research brings many intellectual rewards, it also brings numerous day-to-day challenges like procuring data, managing personnel effort, completing paperwork, and troubleshooting issues with study enrollment, finances, and subcontracts. As faculty in a research position, one of the most pressing challenges is pursuing and maintaining research funding for my work, all while mentoring, writing manuscripts, engaging in professional service, and holding leadership positions. It makes for very long and busy days.
Describe a moment in your career when you felt particularly proud of your work and its impact.
I chose a physical therapy career because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of people who were suffering from pain. Transitioning out of the clinic and into a research career made me concerned that I may lose the opportunity to see firsthand (as you do in clinic) how your efforts can change lives. However, I’ve been proud to observe the impact of my work in different ways. For example, when a study participant told me that the treatment she received as part of my clinical trial fundamentally changed the trajectory of her well-being after surgery. Or when health policy work that I led was instrumental in changing payment policy to improve pain care access for people in underserved areas. Another example is a physical therapist in Spain telling me that his use of screening tools we developed dramatically improved the quality of care he can provide. These are proud moments and experiences that keep me excited about the work I do.
What advice would you give PhD students?
Absorb all you can but don’t burn yourself out. Look for opportunities to collaborate, learn new skills, and pursue bold ideas, but don’t overextend yourself. Do something you are passionate about. Or better yet, do a few things you are passionate about. I’ve found a bit of diversification to be very helpful as I navigate the ever-changing world of research funding. Most importantly, strive to balance your time and effort between yourself, your family, friends, work, and other things that are important to you. This is a persistent challenge for many in research careers.