James B. McKillip Scholarship for Physical Therapy

Physical therapy matters to me because it sits at the intersection of science, service, and human connection. It is one of the few professions where you are not only helping someone recover physically, but also restoring confidence, independence, and quality of life. That combination is what drew me in and what continues to push me forward every day in my training. Through my experiences in a student run pro bono clinic, I have seen firsthand how access to care can change someone’s trajectory. Many of the individuals we serve would not otherwise receive physical therapy. Watching patients come in with pain, limited mobility, or fear of movement, and then gradually regain function and confidence has reinforced why this profession is so important. It is not just about exercises or protocols. It is about meeting people where they are and helping them get back to what matters most to them. These experiences have made it clear to me that access to care is not equal, and that is something I feel a strong responsibility to help change. Physical therapy is also important to me because of its emphasis on empowerment. Unlike many healthcare settings that are more passive, physical therapy requires active participation. Patients learn about their bodies, take ownership of their recovery, and build habits that extend beyond the clinic. Being part of that process and guiding, educating, and motivating patients is something I find incredibly meaningful. It has also shaped the way I approach mentorship, as I strive to empower others in the same way this profession empowers patients. As I continue to grow within the profession, I want my contributions to extend far beyond the clinic and into advocacy, mentorship, and long term change. Through my role as Legislative Chair and my involvement with APTA Tennessee, I have already begun engaging in conversations that influence healthcare policy and access to services. I have seen how decisions made at the policy level directly impact who receives care and who is left out. That realization has driven my commitment to advocating for more equitable access to physical therapy, especially for underserved communities like those I have worked with in our clinic. At the same time, my involvement in mentorship has allowed me to support students who are interested in pursuing physical therapy, many of whom are unsure if this path is attainable for them. I want to continue creating opportunities, resources, and guidance that make this profession more accessible, not just for patients, but for future clinicians as well. I am especially passionate about addressing the financial barriers that limit who can enter this field, and I plan to continue advocating for changes that allow students to pursue physical therapy without being restricted by cost. At its core, physical therapy is important to me because it allows me to make a tangible difference in people’s lives while also contributing to something larger than myself. It is a profession that challenges me to think critically, lead with compassion, and take action beyond the clinic. I am committed to using my experiences in patient care, leadership, and advocacy to improve access, support future clinicians, and help shape a profession that is more equitable and inclusive for both those receiving care and those providing it.

My path to becoming a Physical Therapist has been anything but clear-cut. About 2 years ago, I decided to go back to school to work on my pre-req's so I could apply to PT school. I've been working at PT Tech at an outpatient clinic for almost a year. I have loved connecting with patients and watching them reach their goals, helping them live a better quality of life. I am so excited to start PT school in August, so I can continue on that path and learn the skill set required to become a PT. I was originally drawn to PT back in 2019, right as I was getting ready to graduate from college with a degree in finance. I was almost done with school and had a good job lined up right out of college, so I took the easier route. I worked at Enterprise Rent-A-Car and was promoted very quickly, and became a branch manager after just one year in their management training program. I developed strong people skills, managed $ 5 million in assets, and ultimately learned to lead a team and run a profitable branch. Ultimately, I decided about 3 years ago to pursue a more fulfilling career rather than chase money and promotions. I share this because I feel it's what really sets me apart from other candidates. While I have a strong desire for and love of the work Physical Therapists do, I also see things through a business lens. During my time at my clinic, I have had the opportunity to go out almost weekly to market to doctors and build relationships to help grow our clinic. This was something I did regularly at Enterprise, and I have been able to apply those skills to help the clinic where I am currently working. Through my own research, I see a need for strong, business-minded PTs. Reimbursement rates for physical therapists have, on average, dropped by almost 10% over the past 10 years. My end goal is to open my own clinic and, hopefully, get to a point where I can create well-paying jobs for other PTs that allow them to provide high-quality care. I believe my experience running a branch will help me be a strong advocate for the profession as a whole. As to how I will accomplish that exact goal, I am not sure what that will look like or how it will play out. Right now, my focus is on getting through school and learning the skills required to be a physical therapist. What my time in the business world taught me is how to make adjustments, problem solve, and stay positive even when things aren't going according to plan. Quitting my job to go back to school with a wife and kid has been one of the more challenging things I have done in my life, but I am so grateful I took that leap. I believe all of my experiences up to this point have prepared me to own a business and be a positive influence in the physical therapy profession.

Physical therapy is important because movement is such a powerful tool in rehabilitation. In a world where people tend to search for "quick fixes", following an exercise prescription is impressive and has been shown to be beneficial. I have seen the power of training during my time as an Army officer; I was responsible for the physical training of myself and a team of seven Soldiers. Through our training plan we supported each other as we gained physical strength and we ultimately became closer as a group. It was impressive seeing everyone work together and it followed us throughout the day. I wanted to pursue a career in physical therapy since I was a teenager, and it is reassuring to see the positive effects of fitness first-hand throughout my career so far. I ultimately would like to specialize in Sports and work with outdoor recreationists, especially rock climbers. My physical therapy program is based in Denver, Colorado but we have a rural clinical requirement that I am so excited for because it will resemble my ultimate goal of opening a clinic along the collegiate peaks of Colorado. I want to focus on rock climbing because it is becoming more accessible. As more climbing gyms open, people in city or suburban settings can try climbing without having to commit to traveling to the mountains, finding the gear required, and figuring out how to climb on their own. I enjoy seeing more affinity groups in gyms catering to populations less likely to know other climbers; it has opened a sport that I am passionate about to everyone. The accessibility means that more climbers may experience overuse injuries or acute musculoskeletal injuries, which is where I plan to come in. I would like to aid in recovery as someone who is passionate for outdoor recreation, I would like to return patients to the activities that they love as quickly as possible while providing a base to prevent future injury. Another goal I have is to work with the veteran community; it can be hard to relate as a veteran with people who have not served in the military so I would like to help build a community. I plan to introduce fellow veterans to outdoor recreation and help them find activity that they enjoy and can continue as they age. I have seen many veterans lose their sense of purpose after leaving the military and they stop being active completely without the daily training requirement, my goal is to help them see that activity does not have to be punishment and that they are able to find something they can learn to be passionate about. I am so excited for the future of physical therapy. Recently the APTA and NSCA announced a partnership, which seems so intuitive. I expect that this will lead to a better-defined handover from physical therapists to strength and conditioning specialists. I know this will only help our patients as the process will encourage them to continue practicing movement and prevent common injuries as they age. I am lucky to be starting my physical therapy career now and I am so excited for everything that the future holds!

My journey with physical therapy (PT) has been marked by financial constraints, failing courses, and battling with injuries but all of it has increased my personal growth as a student. Through these experiences, I developed a strong desire to positively impact my community and the world. Growing up, I noticed a lack of representation in certain careers, including healthcare. Seeing my family navigate these spaces inspired me to contribute to greater diversity in PT. I know that I will benefit the PT workforce by doing more with less, building a community that involves mentorship, and staying active in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). PT has been the most rewarding field for me and I have only worked as a physical therapist technician or interned in an outpatient clinic. So I am looking forward to the day when I am practicing and working with students as they start their journey while contributing to the profession. My parents raised my younger brother and I with limited resources, as my mother worked towards finishing her degree while pregnant with my little brother and my father worked as a nurse to provide for us. Despite the challenges, my parents never complained or gave up, knowing that their hard work and perseverance would pay off in the end. Seeing them work this hard drove me to pursue PT, because I wanted to represent my community and mentor the younger generation about the benefits and autonomy that comes with PT. Furthermore, my parents may have had financial hurdles but they taught me to manage my time and apply myself to all that I do. In order for a physical therapist to be successful, they have to manage their time with patients while also applying current and valid techniques (e.g., CPG's) to their patients. My perspective about PT continues to grow as I learn and after completing my first Quarter of PT school, I get excited about being a licensed professional in this field because it will always be important to me. My journey has given me a profound understanding of the systemic barriers individuals from my background may face, but I will not let that hinder my growth. With this awareness, I aim to use my experiences to drive positive change in my community and beyond. One of my primary goals is to establish mentorship programs that connect students from low-income backgrounds with successful individuals who have overcome similar challenges. This is one of many ways that I plan to use to benefit the workforce in PT. I have volunteered in my community as a “Big Brother” for Big Brother Big Sister Inc., taught group exercise classes that were open to the public, and a current member of the local NAACP chapter. I believe that personal narratives and mentorship can inspire resilience, ignite ambition, and provide tangible guidance for navigating the complexities of any workforce. In conclusion, by leveraging my experiences and insights, I aim to contribute to initiatives that uplift underrepresented communities by partnering with the APTA and providing the community with the tools and resources needed to build a brighter future. I plan to use my life experience to empower individuals facing similar challenges, fostering mentorship programs and advocating for systemic changes at the local level. My story is not just one of overcoming adversity; it is a testament to the transformative power of perseverance and for positive change that arises from the crucible of hardship.

Physical therapy is important to me because it provides an avenue to inspire change in consistently underserved regions of the country. It is also one of the professions on the forefront of promoting living an active and healthy lifestyle to help improve the overall health of society. I have been able to take some of these ideologies into my volunteer coaching at the high school level, in which we try to build healthy leaders on the court, in the classroom, and in life. Additionally, throughout my collegiate career, I have focused on promoting health equity in rural parts of Southern Utah, including St. George, Hurricane, and the Navajo lands in the Four Corners region. These areas face significant health inequities due to limited healthcare literacy and access, and I am committed to being part of the solution for these communities. To begin addressing these disparities, I have actively engaged in several initiatives during my time in graduate school. On numerous occasions, I have delivered presentations and demonstrations to showcase the various benefits of physical therapy and its potential impact on people in rural communities. Additionally, I have participated in hosting healthcare fairs for high school students in St. George, Utah, providing information on how they can pursue careers in physical therapy and other healthcare professions. In addition to these presentations, one of my most rewarding efforts has been collaborating annually with Utah Tech University's Physical Therapy Assistant program to bring the Go Baby Go project to Southern Utah. This program aims to modify small motorized ride-on toy cars for young children with disabilities. These disabilities often make it very challenging for the children to ambulate independently or play with their friends and family. These cars are provided free of charge to families and offer children a chance to enjoy their childhood more fully and engage with their families and friends. Moreover, I have made two 10-hour round trips to the rural Four Corners region to engage with high school students from the Navajo Nation. Through interactive presentations, I introduced them to the field of physical therapy, exploring various career pathways and demonstrating fun and practical interventions. These interventions included challenging exercises, electrical stimulation, and balance activities. Upon the conclusion of these activities, we discussed what health meant to them and how they can promote lifelong healthy habits for themselves and their families. The sessions were not only educational but also interactive and enjoyable, promoting movement and health among the students. Looking ahead, I aspire to continue working in underserved communities in rural areas across the country. My goal is to help reduce health disparities between rural and urban regions and contribute to improving the overall health of these communities through the services I provide during my career. By fostering equity in healthcare access, I hope to play a role in making our country healthier as a whole.

As an Egyptian immigrant where poliovirus was not eradicated in the developing country until 2006, as opposed to the 1960s in the U.S., my father was diagnosed with poliovirus and is currently living with post-polio syndrome. In addition, his lifelong battle with poliovirus led to recently developed spinal stenosis with multiple herniated discs at the lumbar region of his spine. Due to complications caused by severe radiculopathy, he required numerous urgent surgeries. Regardless of the physical pain he experienced, my father was determined to work hard to successfully provide for our family. However, chronic pain, fatigue, and declining mobility due to poliovirus and PPS impaired his quality of life and well-being. The empathetic pain and anguish I experience in response to the impact of poliovirus on my father's physical and mental health is why I decided to pursue a career in physical therapy. I aim to use the training and education I acquire to help others experiencing similar symptoms due to neuromuscular diseases, chronic pain, or impaired mobility to improve, reduce, and manage their pain and restore movement and physical function. While obtaining a career where I can help others restore and manage their physical function was a childhood dream that stemmed from seeing my father, a hero in my eyes for withstanding all the physical and mental ailments associated with his disease to provide for us, I was unsure where to start. That quickly changed when a simple family vacation during community college became a life-changing experience and gave me undoubtable certainty and affirmation of a prospective career in physical therapy. During my family vacation, I had the pleasure of meeting my father's childhood friend, and I learned about his occupation as a physical therapist. He spoke about his motivation for pursuing this career and the many patients he helped overcome their injuries and disabilities. This was the moment when I knew the career path I wanted to pursue. I was starstruck because I wanted to hear more about his experiences and the patients he has helped. I was blown away by how devoted he was to this career, and at that very moment, I knew this was the path I wanted to follow. A couple of years later, I earned my bachelor's degree in Kinesiology at California State University, Northridge, and applied to Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. However, I was not fortunate enough to get accepted. Despite being disappointed at the time, this did not discourage me. I applied to the Physical Therapy Assistant program at Loma Linda University and successfully earned my Physical Therapy Assistant license. I am currently work at Providence St. Joseph's Medical Center, which is part of Therapeutic Associates Inc. While I enjoy my career as a physical therapy assistant, there were other goals for my prospective career. My love for Physical Therapy has motivated me to continue with my education and pursue my Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree. I am attending the University of St. Augustine Health Science and continuing to work at Providence St. Joseph's Medical Center. Growing up and not understanding why my father could not participate in certain physical activities with me like other children's fathers was a struggle but a blessing in disguise. It made me realize that helping individuals like my father is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

The profession of physical therapy is personally important as it's a conservative treatment option that improves one's quality of life. With an out-reach to all populations in pain management, reaching process and outcome goals, and gaining independence. Physical therapists prioritize individualized treatment planning and meet patients where they're at in their recovery process. In addition, a coordinating aspect of the field that is important to me is the patient-therapist relationship. This field is a combination of emotional and intellectual intelligence. It homes in on the vitality of building rapport with patients from all walks of life. In regards to current contributions to the field, I serve as a physical therapy technician and owner/personal trainer for a single member LLC. Within my role as a technician in an outpatient-based setting, the business generally serves patients of all ages with orthopedic-related injuries. With that said, my boss has since transitioned to serving patients with neurologically derived disorders such as Dysautonomia and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Since my on-boarding in May 2023, I'm the primary technician that assists in treating these patients. With a common modality of a patented direct current device called the Neubie; to better help patients, I acquired a Level 1 Neubie Certification. To which, I co-treat under physical therapist supervision with the Neubie and specialize in training the physical therapists, technicians, and doctoral students on clinical rotation. Within my other role as owner/personal trainer for 80/20 Performance LLC, I serve current and discharged physical therapy patients with neurological and/or orthopedic based injuries. My mission is to facilitate the barriers to improving clients’ performance. In which, I provide 1:1, 1-hour services with emphasis in corrective-based exercise for strengthening underactive musculature, reducing muscle guarding, and overall preparing the body for movement with progressive exercise. In dedicating my future career as a physical therapist, my goal as a doctoral student is becoming multi-faceted in the realm of research, teaching, and didactic knowledge. With specialization in leadership and high-performance coaching, in which, helping patients to reach their fullest potential from a mental standpoint. Post-graduation from Texas State in 2027, I aspire to transition my personal training company to a physical therapy-based business. In coordination, I will be pursuing a high-performance coaching certification to incorporate as a separate service in the business. I look to contribute a business that values the physical recovery and facilitates the mental barriers preventing patients from improved self-efficacy and overall independence. To which, also advocating and building increased understanding in the profession about dysautonomia as it’s often misdiagnosed for years, and contributes to a reduced quality of life due to poor pain management.