Graduate students, faculty and staff involved with the Health Outreach Program of ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ, known as the HOPE Clinic, celebrated the official launch of the ā€œFood with HOPEā€ pantry with a March 27 ribbon-cutting at the on North Church Street.

Efforts to establish the pantry were led by Sixela Caballero Gā€™26 and Sadie Thompson Gā€™26, who secured a $1,500 community service grant from the

Since its inception in 2013, HOPE has served over 2,100 clients and saved the community more than $300,000 while giving graduate students in the Department of Physical Therapy Education opportunities to work hands-on with real patients.

The clinic operates from the Francis Center at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ and, since 2022, from the CityGate Dream Center near downtown Burlington, North Carolina.

The HOPE Clinic conducted a comprehensive assessment last year to better identify client needs. Recognizing that medical care accounts for only 10-20% of a personā€™s health outcomes, HOPE sought to address broader health determinants.

The assessment found that food, transportation and healthcare were the most prevalent concerns, with over 40% of clients expressing decreased access to sustainable food sources.

ā€œFrom taking the first psychosocial class in the beginning of last year, ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ has really emphasized multidimensional health,ā€ Caballero said. ā€œBeing a part of the HOPE Clinic is such a blessing, being able to see change in the community through physical therapy, but other things can be going on in clientsā€™ lives that affect their ability to get better.ā€

Faculty mentors praised both students for their leadership in addressing a community need.

ā€œI am incredibly proud of the HOPE Clinic students for recognizing a crucial need in the community and taking meaningful action,ā€ said Crystal Ramsey, associate professor of physical therapy and the clinicā€™s faculty advisor. ā€œTheir commitment to writing a grant, researching ways to make it culturally appropriate and thoughtfully considering how to ensure those facing food insecurity are treated with dignity is truly inspiring. Their dedication not only addresses immediate needs but also promotes respect and compassion for every individual.ā€

The HOPE Clinic also employs certified Spanish interpreters to assist clients and create Spanish-language flyers to increase awareness. People will choose their own foods and pay with points that are allotted based on need, which students described as a more dignified experience.

ā€œThe goal of Food with HOPE is to ensure that everyone in our community has access to nutritious food that honors their dietary needs and their cultural traditions,ā€ said Charity Johansson, chair and program director in the Department of Physical Therapy Education. ā€œHigh quality food is not only a basic necessity, itā€™s a powerful connector that brings people togetherā€”not just those who are here now but those who came before us and will come after.ā€

Donations to the HOPE Clinic and the Food with HOPE pantry can be made through ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s Office of University Advancement.

Jeff Shoup Gā€™00 Gā€™05 and Durand Shoup Gā€™22 were all too familiar with how graduates felt during the School of Health Sciences commencement ceremony on Dec. 13 in Alumni Gym.

ā€œIf I could go back to that day, Iā€™d tell myself to pause, to take a breath and reflect on the friendships, the challenges and the knowledge I gained during graduate school. Iā€™d make sure to appreciate everyone who made it possible,ā€ said Durand, who earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in 2022.

Durand followed in the footsteps of his father, Jeff, who was part of the inaugural Master of Science in Physical Therapy class in 2000 and earned his doctorate in physical therapy in 2005. In 2009, Jeff founded Natural Bridges Rehabilitation, a physical therapy clinic in ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ, where he continues to practice. Jeff remains actively involved in the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ community, serving as a clinical instructor for DPT students and contributing to ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s H.O.P.E. Clinic and the CityGate Dream Center.

After earning his DPT, Durand established a physical therapy department within The Endurance Collective in Durham, North Carolina, where he serves a diverse athletic community. He is also the founder of Field Performance, an online coaching platform that offers personalized performance coaching for clients with complex medical histories.

The impact is in you

On Friday, alongside the 25^th anniversary of the DPT program, the father and son addressed nearly 100 graduates, 41 earning a doctorate in physical therapy, 35 earning a masterā€™s in physician assistant studies and 18 earning an accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing. Jeff and Durand challenged the graduates to leave their professions better than they found them.

ā€œWe are all colleagues now,ā€ said Jeff. ā€œIf we wait for more compliant patients, insurance reform, our government, or big health corporations to make health care better, we will just be waiting. The power of impact is in you.ā€

Rev. Kirstin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, opened the ceremony with the invocation followed by the national anthem performed by Associate Professor of Nursing Elizabeth Van Horn. SHS Dean Maha Lund welcomed the graduates and their families and friends.

ā€œGraduates, know that you are needed,ā€ said Lund. ā€œToday, our communities face significant health care challenges and inequities. You have worked hard to develop clinical and leadership skills that can help you address these challenges and reduce health care inequities. Congratulations on your accomplishment. We wish you continued success and happiness as you apply your learning to serve those around you.ā€

Emphasizing their challenge to graduates, Jeff and Durand offered several pieces of advice, including honoring your foundation, not falling prey to imposter syndrome and embracing struggle.

ā€œSeek wisdom through humility,ā€ said Durand. ā€œStrengthen your foundation you built here at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ by guarding your character with truth. Let the imposter syndrome die within you with empathy and embrace the suck as you step into the space with others with kindness, empathy, and a willingness to grow. The world, and your profession, will be better for it.ā€

Paths to PT and PA

Jeff discussed his long path to graduate school, something many of Fridayā€™s graduates could relate to. Fiorella Barreda Gā€™24 took a nearly six-year gap after her undergraduate career before pursuing her doctorate in physical therapy. Six months before the start of ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s DPT program, Barreda had already paid a deposit to another university, but it was the pro-bono H.O.P.E. Clinic that convinced her to come to ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ.

ā€œOne of the biggest priorities for me was community service,ā€ said Barreda. ā€œIā€™ve had this dream of becoming a physical therapist for 15 years. Now, to be here, getting those three letters behind my name. Itā€™s hard to believe.ā€

Adyazbeth Barrientos Solis Gā€™24 earned her masterā€™s degree in physician assistant studies on Friday. As a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Barrientos Solis is passionate about helping others in similar situations, contributing to the SHS Student Diversity Committee and volunteering to educate SHS on the needs of DACA patients and students.

ā€œI like to advocate for the students and show that there is a way to grad school with being DACA,ā€ she said. ā€œThere are a lot of barriers we come across, but itā€™s possible. Itā€™s something that I also liked about the PA program is that they knew what DACA was. I thought it was important because you have to be able to understand what I have to go through.ā€

Knowing she wanted to go into medicine, Barrientos Solis was also drawn to physician assistant studies for the flexibility, which she says will allow her to change specialties if needed and also have a family in the future. She has already accepted a position with the Kernodle Clinic in Burlington as a hospitalist in the Department of Surgery.

Transform the health care landscape

Fridayā€™s ceremony also included one undergraduate program ā€“ the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN). The post-baccalaureate program is open to anyone who already holds a bachelorā€™s degree and has completed certain prerequisite coursework. It allows students to earn a BSN, traditionally a four-year degree, in 16 months.

ā€œĀŅĀ׏Óʵ is my bread and butter,ā€ said Sky Allison ā€™23 ā€™24, who earned an ABSN degree on Friday. ā€œI loved it enough that I stayed for my second degree. Thereā€™s nothing like the faculty here. You can get a pretty campus anywhere that has resources for anything you want to do. But thereā€™s something to be said about the faculty at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ.ā€

ā€œSeek wisdom through humility. Strengthen your foundation you built here at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ by guarding your character with truth.”

Durand Shoup Gā€™22, Doctor of Physical Therapy alum

As with ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ tradition, each graduate received an oak sapling with President Connie Ledoux Book encouraging the SHS Class of 2024 to plant it as a ā€œreminder of the personal leadership you have developed during your studies at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ.ā€

ā€œI want you to go forth with the courage and compassion that have been a hallmark of your time at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ and continue to make us proud as you transform the landscape of health care,ā€ said Book. ā€œI charge you to carry ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s values of honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect with you always. Use ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s values when you encourage the inevitable hard choices ahead. Lean on them and I want you to lean on each other.ā€

School of Health Sciences graduates

Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Skylar Kurtenbach Allison
Sarah Altmann
Timothy Chandler Brayboy
Catherine Anna Cambon
Ashlee Nicole Dais
Lauren Margaret Davenport
Lauren Dykstra
Alexa Fraser
Walker Blair Gagnon
Makayla Alexandra Harris
Kaley Marie Kennedy
Bailey Elizabeth McNamara
Olivia Piernik
Colette Anne Marie Romp
Kimberly Vale Serge
Kassie Faith Simmons
Ashley Rose Thatcher
Jennifer Tinoco Ortiz

Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

Amanda Suraiya-Ann Ahmed
Tyler Hayes Arenas
Adyazbeth Berenice Barrientos Solis
Oshane Adrian Bent
Karlie Yeomans Bousman
Brette Malyn Davis Gailes
Gabriella Comunale DeCoste
Summer Lily Dunlap
Hannah Ann Durkin
Natalie Madeline Flowers
Natalie Ann Gadaleta
John William Gallina
Carentxa Iryva Goede
Kylie Field Haduck
Haley Rose Harris
Troy Kennedy Hightower
Sloan Susan Horejsi
Catherine Durando Ingland
Anthony Jericho
Dylan Kantor
Samantha Ysabelle Kattiria
Maya Anne LeeMaster
Lilly Katherine McGonegal
Allyson McQueen
Mason McClelland Minor
Malavika Santhosh Nair
Samantha Grace Nawrocki
Sophie Ann Newhouse
Linneah Anne Olsen
Barbara Isabel Ramirez
Christina Saba
Jillian Lee Salisbury
Blake Spurlock
Sapir Tabibi
Jordan Elizabeth Walker
Aimee Wheeler

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Erin Allen Lorino
Sofia Anthony
Fiorella Fernandez Barreda
Kayleigh Harwell Beach
Tatum Ruth Benesh
Renee Boudreaux
Meredith Brown Peru
Meghan Byers
Julia Skye Coenen
Timothy Blair Crutchfield Jr.
Brittany Lane Dixon
Nicole Driscoll
Catherine Fruin Nelson
James E. Gerosa
Christopher James Go
Caroline Guill
Sydney Katherine Hanna
Wesley D. Hart
Alexander Japit
Katherine Olivia Jones
Koehna K. Jordan
Haley Nicole Langley
Matthew Doyn Lawler
Ryan Levi
Ashlyn Kate Loring
Bayleigh Heather Mann
Liam J. McCullough
Michelle Sarah Megurdichian
Tristan Nicholas Norton
Peter Tyler Oā€™Connor
Kelly Catherine Oā€™Daniel
Abigail Joy Piecenski
Jack Forrest Potter
Marco Antonio Ramirez
Jennifer Morgan Rentz
Brody Ritch
Corey Joseph Shedlock
Ekaterina Sheftel
Amy Celestine Smelko
Zoe Deanna Webb
Alicia Shardae Wi

Caballero is a first-generation college student with a long history of leadership and service. Still in her first-year of ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ’s DPT program, she is on the leadership team for the Health Outreach Program of ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ (H.O.P.E.) Clinic, a physical therapy clinic managed and operated by ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ DPT students that offers free services to those uninsured or under-insured in Alamance County and surrounding areas. Caballero also serves as a H.O.P.E. Clinic liaison to the , a Global Learning Ambassador, and a representative on the School of Health Sciences Diversity Committee where she assists in the design and implementation of monthly events open to all programs within the School of Health Sciences.

Caballero, one of ten DPT students in the US to receive the scholarship this year, says she aspires to be ā€œa physical therapist who will provide compassionate and culturally sensitive healthcare.” Professor of physical therapy education Janet Cope, who nominated Caballero for the award, would undoubtedly say she is well on her way to achieving that goal. In her nomination letter, Cope commented on Caballeroā€™s academic maturity and her quiet commitment to supporting her peers, inside the classroom and out.

ā€œSheā€™s a delightful human!ā€ Cope remarked, in response to the good news.

Rizing Tideā€™s mission is to empower a new generation of BIPOC leaders in the physical therapy profession by providing scholarships to help address the costs of higher education and offering mentorship and leadership skill training to the scholars. Fiorella Barreda, in ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s DPT class of 2024, was also recognized with the Rizing Tide Crest Scholarship in 2022.

During his initial appointment at the HOPE Clinic in 2023, the client relied on the support of three Doctor of Physical Therapy students to walk distances of 5 to 15 feet because he could not stand without assistance or propel his legs forward. Following months of dedicated therapy, the client made significant strides, transitioning to walking with the aid of two DPT students. However, to achieve complete independence in walking, he required appropriate bracing. Since customized braces cost several thousand dollars, providing that assistance was likely going to be cost-prohibitive.

This is when the HOPE Clinic partnered with Professor Sirena Hargrove-Leak in the Department of Engineering. Hargrove-Leak offered her class, Engineering Design for Service (EGR 2210) as a partner to the HOPE Clinic for the Fall 2023 semester. The course emphasizes the commitment by engineers to serve the needs of others and consider the well-being of those they serve. Students work in small teams to apply the engineering design process to design devices or systems to help people in the local community.

In Fall 2023, two teams of engineering students worked to design and build bracing to help this client. One team focused on the knee and another team focused on the ankle. The members of the ā€œknee teamā€ were Maggie Dion, Jacob Karty, Jesus Santoyo Rosales and Gerry Tejado. The members of the ā€œankle teamā€ were Nadia Aho, Diego Hernandez and Talton Mickle. By the end of the semester, the ā€œknee teamā€ designed and built one fully functional brace, while the ā€œankle teamā€ identified a reasonably priced off-the-shelf solution and designed potential ways to modify it to meet the specific needs of the client.

The project strongly aligned with the interests of ā€œankle teamā€ member and Honors Fellow Diego Hernandez, a member of the Class of 2026. ā€œIt has been one of the most rewarding experiences Iā€™ve had and has shown me that helping people with some form of disability is what I want to do with the rest of my life,ā€ Hernandez said.

Even after the conclusion of the Engineering Design for Service course, Hernandez has continued work on the project. During Winter Term, he built a second knee brace for the client using the design developed by the ā€œknee team.ā€ For his Honors Fellows research project over the next two years, Hernandez aims to complete the work on the ankle brace and design an effective way to connect the knee and ankle braces to further enhance the clientā€™s experience.

Through this powerful collaboration between the HOPE Clinic and Hargrove-Leak’s class, two braces have been created for the client that have allowed him to walk independently with a walker for over 120 feet.

“When I first joined his treatment team, three people had to physically advance his legs and hips for him to walk,” said Kaitlyn Carpenter, a second-year DPT student. “At his last session, he was able to walk completely on his own with a walker. His walking is even better with the custom knee braces designed by ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ engineering students. His progress has been incredible, and it is rewarding to know that we helped him gain more independence and reach his main goal of walking around his home and in the community.”

The knee braces have been invaluable for the client. The DPT students assessed endurance with and without the braces. Without the braces, the client walked 45 feet in 2 minutes and 41 seconds. With the braces, he walked 121 feet in the same time frame. Gains of this magnitude are remarkable and indicate a reduced fall risk and improved efficiency with mobility.

ā€œThrough this project, I gained a deeper appreciation for the collaborative nature of problem-solving with people from different disciplines,” Hernandez said. “Moreover, I came to understand the importance of aligning our product with the needs and expectations of our patients. By actively engaging with the patient and gathering feedback throughout the development process, we were able to iterate and refine our product to better meet his needs.ā€

Hernandez is excited to continue to help this client grow and improve even more.

WilsonĀ was presented the Service Award which recognizes a Black student who has demonstrated a sustained commitment in one or more of these community engagement forms beyond ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s campus: volunteer service, political engagement, social action and activism or advocacy ā€” the student who has shown exceptional passion and commitment towards helping others.

In nomination letters, Wilson was described as having “contagious energy and a commitment to equitable healthcare.” In her time here at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ, Wilson is a active member of the Health Outreach Program at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ (H.O.P.E. Clinic), Student Board and has volunteered over 125 hours.

She is known for using her breaks and free time to oversee the scheduling and intakes of patients weekly, coordinate monthly meetings with administrative staff, and facilitate scheduling of interpretation services for patients who do not speak English as their primary language. Wilson has also aided in the expansion of the pro bono services at the CityGate Dream Center of Burlington. At the Dream Center, she is involved in the soccer program, serving as a role model to girls and women in sports and promoting wellness.

Additionally, she facilitated the donation of youth soccer jersey’s and baby diapers. Wilson is a co-writer of a grant in the North Carolina American Physical Therapy Association aiming to financially support and expand health services at the Dream Center.

OrmondĀ was presented the Leadership Award which recognizes a Black student with exceptional leadership qualities demonstrated through sustained and progressive involvement and participation in university or community organizations. The student has shown the ability to lead, influence, and guide other individuals and/or organizations.

In nomination letters, Ormond was described as a “leader and advocate.” He is the chair of the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ School of Health Sciences Student Diversity Committee. He has facilitated and coordinated the creation of over 25 monthly Diversi-teas for faculty, staff and students to interact with guest speakers on topics of DEI in health care, LGBTQIA+ ally training for healthcare professionals, Islamophobia and its impact on health, and Black American health disparities.

He has been described as leading this committee with “curiosity and open-mindedness to diverse issues.” Ormond also volunteers his time to the H.O.P.E. Clinic not only as a Physical Therapy student, but also as a Spanish translator for clinicians and patients. He received the H.O.P.E. Clinic’s ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ PT of the Month Excellence Award (EPiTOME) for his “exceptional leadership and creativity with his patients.” He has co-authored a peer-reviewed poster at CSM in 2023, serves as a peer mentor for two members of the Class of 2025, and volunteered to assist in the photoshoot for the third edition of the PT textbook,Ā “Mobility in Context,” and was selected by the publisher to be on the cover.

In addition, the Academic Achievement award was presented to students. This award recognize a Black/African American student who has excelled in academic excellence and possesses the highest-class GPA.

The following Doctor of Physical Therapy students were recognized:

• Jordan Waite (DPT 23′)
• Alicia Wilson (DPT 24′)
• Raya Coley (DPT 25′) & Jazmyne DavisĀ (DPT 25′)

In addition to PT services, local physician Dr. Andy Lamb comes to the Dream Center to screen patients for PT and medical needs. In addition to medical services, the HOPE Clinic supports patient needs such as splints, feminine hygiene products, and interpreter services.

“I am so thankful for the support and presence of the HOPE clinic at the Dream Center,” said Emilia Suarez, Health Promoter Coordinator CityGate Dream Center. “Through this connection, we have been able to help people in the community gain access to resources and treatment that they would not have been able to afford.Ā  We are also so thankful for the donation given to the soccer program. With this support, we were able to get uniforms for 40 students and they really enjoyed it. Thank you so much for supporting the Latino community.”

The student-run pro bono clinic is managed and operated by ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Doctor of Physical Therapy students with support from faculty and clinicians from the community. The clinic offers free PT services to those who are uninsured or under-insured in Alamance County and surrounding areas.

ā€œHOPE Clinic represents a group of people who work daily to make a difference in the community,” said Miranda Thompson, a student leader. “This translates to opportunities for those who may not have had access to opportunities otherwise, for both students and patients. Having this platform that places patient care to underserved communities at the forefront with pillars of student learning, volunteer clinician involvement, and forward-thinking visions for the status/quality of healthcare is incredibly important for our professional future and the patients whose lives are being impacted.ā€