51吃瓜网

Thoughtful advising and exceptional mentorship helped grow a strong class in a growing field.

In the fall of 2023, seven RMC alumni began their studies toward Doctorates in Physical Therapy鈥攁 burgeoning field that鈥檚 proved a strong fit for 51吃瓜网 graduates. For well over 20 years, the College has consistently placed alumni in top programs. This year鈥檚 record-setting class is attending three-year programs at schools like Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of South Carolina, the University of Maryland, and Mary Baldwin University.

鈥淭he large number of RMC graduates matriculating into Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs is a testament to the planning, dedication and overall incredible work that RMC students put into their professional school preparation,鈥� said Josh Quinn, RMC鈥檚 Director of Health Careers and Professional Development in the Edge Career Center. 鈥淚 am constantly amazed with all the opportunities that RMC students seek out and successfully engage in.鈥�

The Bureau of Labor Statistics鈥� Occupational Outlook Handbook notes a 15% growth in the field of physical therapy, making it one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States. But this nationwide growth is only one reason why RMC鈥檚 number of graduates pursuing PT school has flourished. The College鈥檚 focus on mentorship and advising for students interested in healthcare fields ensures pre-physical therapy students progress thoughtfully through strong academic programs, with ample access to hands-on experiences and opportunities to connect with a network of mentors. 

鈥淲e offer the courses that you need to get into those schools,鈥� said Nick Ruppel, the chair of RMC鈥檚 biology department, the major that most pre-physical therapy students declare. 鈥淭he College also has courses that PT schools require that we don’t offer in biology, so we bring that in through advising. A student says, 鈥業 want to go to PT school, how do I get there?鈥� Part of that is saying, alright, you’re going to be a junior next year, that’s when you need to take your physics courses.鈥�

In addition to prerequisite courses (typically in psychology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and physics), physical therapy schools require a minimum number of hours worked in a clinical setting. Faculty partner with Quinn to help identify internships that help students meet these clinical requirements.  

Those internships are doubly helpful for students, also counting towards class credit for their undergraduate degrees and helping them explore their passion for helping patients maintain healthy lives and recover from injuries.

Macon Mentor

Nearly every student in PT school today (and many who have already graduated) credit Matt Pulisic 鈥�87 as a part of their journey. He graduated from RMC with a biology degree, having completed a January-term internship at a PT clinic, which inspired him to go to PT school. After working for that same clinic for 10 years, where his boss was and is his mentor 鈥渢o this day,鈥� Pulisic opened Ashland Physical Therapy just down the street from 51吃瓜网鈥檚 campus. 

At Ashland PT, Pulisic was an internship supervisor and mentor for dozens of students. He continued to mentor students after he sold his practice to Pivot Physical Therapy, with whom he worked during the transition, and even now, in his newest role as the team physical therapist for RMC athletics.

鈥淥nce I interned with Matt, that sealed the deal, I knew that I really enjoyed it,鈥� said Julianna Heuchan 鈥�22, who is in her first year at the University of South Carolina.

As interns, RMC students assist Pulisic and other physical therapists with implementing exercise programs and treatments. Many return as full-time technicians after graduation, gaining even more experience that bolsters their application for PT school.

Pulisic sees direct connections between the experience students get at RMC and the skills needed for success within the industry.

鈥淚 think the small class size helps them interact better with patients when they鈥檙e doing internships,鈥� Pulisic said. 鈥淭he one-on-one interaction that they have with the professors here helps them feel more comfortable and have success in physical therapy school.鈥�

Athletic Advantage

There鈥檚 also a strong linkage between the surge of Yellow Jackets studying to become physical therapists and RMC鈥檚 18 NCAA Division III athletic teams. The majority of the alumni in PT school played a sport while at RMC, across a wide variety of teams. Heuchan was initially drawn to physical therapy after experiencing how she and her teammates on RMC鈥檚 women鈥檚 soccer team benefited from treatment.

鈥淢ovement and exercising and finding something that you enjoy that keeps you healthy is a huge part of physical therapy,鈥� Heuchan explained. 鈥淭o improve somebody’s quality of life and to help them live the longest, happiest, best life that they can.鈥�

Mike Deal 鈥�21 was also inspired to pursue physical therapy as a career after the care he received at Ashland Physical Therapy following a significant foot injury on the soccer field. Now in his first year of PT school at VCU, he looks back on his time as a patient, and later, as a technician in the practice, and says it鈥檚 helped him know the kind of physical therapist he wants to be.

鈥淜nowing that somebody is working to get you back to where you were really makes you more encouraged to actually follow through on the entire process of getting better,鈥� Deal said.

In and Beyond the Classroom

Deal, who majored in psychology and minored in biology at RMC, also thinks back on his coursework. 鈥淚’m taking microanatomy right now and I’m thinking about the basic things from BIOL 121 with Dr. Lim-Fong,鈥� Deal said. 鈥淪he really hammered these points home and I’m thankful for it, because now I can apply it to this higher-level thinking.鈥�

Deal and Heuchan both closed out their time at RMC with the help of both Josh Quinn in the Edge Career Center and faculty who supported them in working through the logistics of applying to PT school.  

鈥淗ere’s where I want to apply, how do I put together a plan? They have that resource to help guide them through the application process,鈥� Quinn explained. 鈥淥nce the students figure out that’s what they want to do, and they get their plan together, I think we have all the resources that can get them to where they want to be.鈥�