Do you want to help people move better and regulate pain as a licensed physical therapist? If so, you’ll want to set yourself up for success as early as possible. You will need to complete a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from a program). But prior to gaining admission at any schools good for physical therapy, you must first complete a bachelor’s degree. While you can theoretically enroll in one of the top physical therapy programs with a bachelor’s degree in any subject, some majors are more relevant to a physical therapy career than others. —those which allow you to complete prereq ..read more

At the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS), Teresa Gingles, PT, USAHS DPT 2011, embarked on a journey that would lead her to become a beacon of hope and advocate for an aging population. Dr. Gingles is a 2023 Alumni Force for Good Contest Winner. The alumni video competition celebrates the incredible impact that USAHS alumni are making in their communities. Dr. Gingles describes this recognition as validating her passion for empowering older adults. See her video submission below: For her, this award serves not as a feather in her cap but as a solid foundation upon which ..read more

In a world where aging is often associated with decline, Kaelee Brockway, PT, DPT, EdD, and Keegan McKay, OTD, MOT, OTR, are inspired to challenge these ideas and invest in older adults. Their joint efforts with local community organizations and dedication to engaging students in the process are reshaping the future for seniors. Breaking barriers in aging perception Dr. Brockway, assistant professor of physical therapy (PT), and Dr. McKay, assistant professor of occupational therapy (OT), both at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) Dallas campus, bring a wealth of expe ..read more

The story of Bethany High, a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) student at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS), is a testament to passion, perseverance and purpose. High is pursuing dual interests – Olympic-level trap shooting aspirations and a graduate health sciences degree. Her introduction to trap shooting began seven years ago, a pursuit sparked by a chance encounter with a family friend. “I was instantly in love with everything about shooting sports,” High says. From her humble beginnings in 4-H, she met a coach who introduced her to Olympic Bunker Trap shootin ..read more

Katie Hohman Advocacy is about taking action and garnering support to bring change or awareness to a cause or issue. Through small but significant steps, such as writing letters, mentoring or speaking publicly, advocacy can occur in many impactful ways. Regardless of the chosen path, anyone can become an advocate with the goal to make things better—whether it’s by influencing and guiding healthcare policies, being involved in a professional association or through volunteerism and community service. Take it from Katie Hohman, PT (tDPT ’10). She has owned and operated a private physical therap ..read more

With her philosophy of “Encourage the heart, lead by example and inspire a shared vision to maintain the highest standards,” Jessica Hovland, DNP, RN, CPAN, NE-BC, PMGT-BC (DNP ’20) is taking her innovation and leadership learnings and putting them to practice. Dr. Hovland graduated from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with an emphasis in nurse executive leadership. When pursuing her DNP, her research involved blending multimodal analgesia and virtual reality (VR) to offer surgical patients a non-opioid treatment option to ..read more

Alli Yingling (MOT ’19) on her graduation day. As an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Alli Yingling (MOT ’19) fell in love with occupational therapy (OT). Working toward a psychology degree, she interned at a large pediatrics clinic that employed physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists. “After spending time with the owner, who was an OT, I decided I liked the philosophy behind occupational therapy,” she says. “I also enjoyed seeing the confidence build in the kids I was working with and watching them blossom and come out ..read more

More than 200 University alumni, students and employees, along with alumni families and community members, attended the inaugural Alumni Reunion and Family Weekend, held September 15–17 on the St. Augustine, FL campus.   Activities included a family barbecue, continuing education sessions, campus tours, a campus fair and community impact activity, alumni/employee reception and an in-person Alumni Association Advisory Board meeting, plus free time to enjoy the St. Augustine area. Says Director, Alumni Engagement Polly Crabtree, “We’re thrilled to have brought together the USAHS community ..read more

Meet Megan Jewell, OTR/L, USAHS MOT 2012, an occupational therapy (OT) catalyst for change. Jewell’s unwavering dedication to fostering goodness within her field sets her apart. Jewell is a 2023 University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) Force for Good Alumni Video Contest Winner. The alumni video competition celebrates the incredible impact USAHS alumni make in their communities. When asked what this award means to her, she says that the core goal of OT should always be about doing good things and spreading kindness, not just for clients but for the profession and the community ..read more

Online learning is here to stay and here at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences we’re all about helping as many OTs reach their goal of earning their Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) as possible. If you’re thinking about expanding your skill set and taking the next step in your OT career, we have several different options—we call them “pathways”—and we’re certain that one of them will fit your lifestyle. We’re super excited to announce our newest flexible pathway, the Hybrid Immersion for MOT. It’s the perfect complement to our Residential MOT (blended online and in-person ..read more