National Physical Therapy Month 2024
Posted on October 23, 2024 by CAHP
National Physical Therapy Month is celebrated in October each year to raise awareness about the many benefits of physical therapy. It is also a great opportunity to show our appreciation for our physical therapy students, alumni and faculty.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of South Alabama offers an entry-level, first physical
therapy degree that prepares graduates for professional practice. During their time
in the program, students develop essential communication skills in addition to professional
and manual skills and techniques.
In celebration of National Physical Therapy Month, we are highlighting four students
from South’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Let’s get to know Quentin Brown,
Winston Fleming, Colby Hildestad and Chloe Robinson!
Quentin Brown
Class Year:
“Class of 2026”
Where are you from?
“Thomasville, Alabama”
What was your undergraduate major?
“Exercise science”
Why do you want to be a physical therapist?
“For me, choosing to be a PT stems from a personal experience of mine while in high
school. Essentially, I want to help people get back to doing things at their highest
level possible. The special thing about PT is the amount of time that you get to directly
spend with your patients and the direct care that you have the opportunity to provide
for them. Guiding patients from their lows and helping them reach or even ascend their
goals is what I love about this profession.”
What led you to choose South?
“Coming into college, I knew that I wanted to pursue physical therapy. As I researched exercise science and physical therapy programs, South seemed like the easy choice. Fast forward four years later, South was still the easy choice as I researched DPT programs. The educational component combined with the atmosphere, beautiful campus, and proximity to home led to me choosing USA.”
What has your experience been like as a student at South?
“Overall, I have had a great experience as a student at South. I have had many caring
professors who have helped me along the way and have met many great people who will
be lifelong friends. South has given me many wonderful memories.”
What do you like to do outside of class and studying?
“I really enjoy doing any type of physical activity or sport. Additionally, I enjoy
watching TV or movies with my fiancée.”
What are your plans after graduation?
“I am pretty open to anything at this time. We are exposed to a lot of different things
while in school and during clinical rotations, so I try to keep my mind open and not
think too far ahead.”
What advice would you offer to future PT students?
“I often offer two big pieces of advice to Pre-PT students, centered around remembering
your why and being comfortable being uncomfortable. There will be times that you question
why you are staying up late to study, or dreading taking the GRE, or need some extra
motivation after making a low test grade and it is important to remember why you committed
to this journey in the first place. Additionally, it is important to seek out experiences
that you find uncomfortable. You never know if participating in that one research
study may land you an opportunity to help conduct research, or if shadowing in that
in-patient hospital may lead to you enjoying acute care PT, or what running for that
one officer position may lead to in the future. Take the chances to help diversify
yourself.”
What is a fun fact about yourself?
“People tend to be surprised that I'm from the South and hate seafood.”
Winston Fleming
Class Year:
“2026”
Where are you from?
“Mount Jackson, Virginia”
What was your undergraduate major?
“Bachelor of Science in Pre-Physical Therapy”
Why do you want to be a physical therapist?
“I want to be a physical therapist because it gives me the opportunity to truly connect with people and improve their quality of life. There are few healthcare professions that allow you to spend as much time with patients as a physical therapist does. I love that as a PT I get to spend time gaining a patient’s trust and finding out what may be contributing to their pain and impairments beyond what shows up in their chart. Another reason I want to be a PT is because we get the opportunity to guide the process of returning a patient back to doing something they enjoy. Whether it is a high school athlete rehabbing to return to football or an elderly person improving their strength so they can go to the grocery store, physical therapists play a huge role in improving their patient’s quality of life.”
What led you to choose South?
“Initially I was drawn to South because of its proximity to Pensacola, where I went to undergrad. While working as a rehab tech at a hospital, I had the opportunity to work alongside several PTs that graduated from South. Not only did they highly recommend the program, but I also saw how great they were as clinicians each and every day. I knew that South was the right program for me and that was even more solidified in my mind after my interview. The entire interview process was very laid-back and welcoming. It felt like home!”
What has your experience been like as a student at South?
"My experience as a student at South has been wonderful so far! The DPT program has a great faculty and staff. The faculty challenges us students each day while also standing alongside us and rooting for our success. I couldn’t ask for a better group of classmates. It feels like one big family pushing each other to be successful.”
What do you like to do outside of class and studying?
“I enjoy playing golf, watching sports, and competing with my classmates in intramurals. Some of my favorite time outside of class is spent hanging out with my wife and playing with our dog, Jekyll.”
What are your plans after graduation?
“After graduation, I plan to move to Knoxville, Tennessee, and look for a physical therapist position in either acute care or outpatient orthopedics.”
What advice would you offer to future PT students?
“My advice to future PT students is to believe in yourself and have fun! Sometimes in PT school it will feel like the challenge is more than you can handle, but you would not have been accepted into a PT program if the faculty didn’t think you were capable of doing it. You can achieve anything if you trust in yourself and work hard. My other piece of advice is to spend time each week doing something that is fun and brings you joy. There will be times where you feel like you can only focus on school, but make time to do something you enjoy.”
What is a fun fact about yourself?
“World Physical Therapy Day is the same day as my birthday.”
Colby Hildestad
Class Year:
“DPT Class of 2025”
Where are you from?
“Madison, Alabama”
What was your undergraduate major?
“Exercise science at the University of South Alabama”
Why do you want to be a physical therapist?
“I have had multiple surgeries and injuries myself, so I have always been drawn to
physical therapy as a career. I always knew I wanted to be a PT, but I have only recently
realized that it is my calling. By helping a patient improve their mobility and physical
independence, you improve their quality of life by indirectly improving all other
aspects of their health as well. The amount of time that you get to spend with a patient
while providing them care is almost unmatched in the medical field, and it allows
for a genuine connection between the clinician and the patient.”
What led you to choose South?
"I originally chose South because I knew that they had a physical therapy school,
and I also knew that South was the farthest in-state school from my hometown of Madison.
My teenage self thought that the farther I could get away from my family, the better.
I also had some great friends from high school attend South, so I felt that it was
a great way for me to have a support system while also learning how to be my own person.”
What has your experience been like as a student at South?
“I have found that South is genuinely a hidden gem in the Southeast. To me, South
gives you the best blend of campus life, night life, sports teams to root for, and
community to be involved in, and that's not to mention that it's in an ideal location
for various weekend trips to the beach, Biloxi, or the Big Easy. The faculty at South
are genuine leaders in their fields, and the students and organizations on campus
almost always feel like family whether you know them or not.”
What do you like to do outside of class and studying?
“Some of my hobbies include video games, playing golf, and hanging out with friends.
I also enjoy attending church and small groups to provide a source of rest and life
throughout the week.”
What are your plans after graduation?
“I would say that I somewhat have a plan to not have a plan, but I know that I want
to ultimately pursue a role in education in the future. My current plan to start that
journey is to enroll in a residency program in one of my clinical interests like neurologic
PT or electrophysiology.”
What advice would you offer to future PT students?
“I would say to not put school before your own person/personal health. While school
and studying are extremely vital to developing your knowledge base and passing your
classes, I think that some people forget to surround themselves with people that they
love and things that they like to do.”
What is a fun fact about yourself?
“I have a song on Soundcloud.”
Chloe Robinson
Class Year:
“Class of 2025”
Where are you from?
“Gilbertown, Alabama”
What was your undergraduate major?
“Kinesiology exercise science”
Why do you want to be a physical therapist?
“I want to use my knowledge to help others achieve and maintain their functional goals.
Physical therapy allows me to get to know my patients and help them become the best
versions of themselves. I love that I get to follow my patients over a course of weeks,
months, or sometimes years and celebrate the little and big wins with them. I believe
that this profession will allow me to use my talents and skills to help others participate
in life to their greatest ability.”
What led you to choose South?
“During my interview for PT school, the professors who interviewed me emphasized how
South is like a family. I knew that the next three years were going to be challenging
and felt that I needed to be in an environment where I knew the people around me truly
cared about me. That is what I found here at South, and I am so thankful that I was
given the privilege of attending PT school here. My classmates and my professors have
truly become like family to me.”
What has your experience been like as a student at South?
“Being a student at South has been so rewarding. I have learned an ample amount of
knowledge about PT while also thoroughly enjoying my time with the people that I have
gone through PT school with. I could not have asked for a better class to spend almost
every day with for the past two years. From tailgating at the football games to spending
hours in the lab learning PT skills, I have been blessed with the best friends and
classmates.”
What do you like to do outside of class and studying?
“Outside of class and studying, I love playing sports, watching sports, hanging out
with friends and family, and spending time outside. Some of my favorite memories from
PT school are from playing intramural sports with my classmates. We are a competitive
group and have a blast playing sports together!”
What are your plans after graduation?
“After graduation, I plan to stay in the Mobile area. I hope to get a job in the outpatient
setting where I can treat neurological and orthopedic conditions with a focus on vestibular
conditions.”
What advice would you offer to future PT students?
“I would encourage future PT students to enjoy the learning process. Try your best
not to stress over the little things. It is a lot of information, but you are very
capable of learning the information that you need to know to be a great physical therapist.
Your teachers are there to guide you along the way. Most importantly, lean on your
classmates when you need help. They are in the same boat as you, and you all can learn
a lot from one another!”
What is a fun fact about yourself?
“I have a pet bull named Major that I bottle fed when he was a calf!”