02/21/2025
🚨 Representation Matters ❗️❗️🚨
My brother and I had the pleasure of speaking with the middle schoolers at the New School of Leadership and Arts. It was a full-circle moment for us, as we were invited by our former middle school teacher.
We shared our personal journeys, our backgrounds, highs, lows, and key lessons we’ve learned along the way.
Growing up in a family of healthcare practitioners, I was naturally immersed in an environment that valued care, rehabilitation, and human performance. At the same time, my love for sports shaped much of my early life, fueling my passion for movement, competition, and resilience. These two influences, healthcare and athletics, led me to a career in physical therapy, allowing me to combine my deep understanding of the body with my desire to help others return to doing what they love.
I also made sure to highlight an important fact: only 5% of all practicing physical therapists are Black or African American. ❗️
The healthcare profession as a whole does not equally reflect all racial and ethnic groups.
Why does representation matterâť“
Here are just a few reasons:
đź“ťIncreasing the number of Black and African Americans in healthcare is one of the most effective ways to build a more approachable and inclusive system.
đź“ťProviding early exposure to the profession in underrepresented communities can improve awareness of physical therapy and inspire young students to consider careers in the field.
đź“ťDiversity drives innovation and progress. Bringing different perspectives into the field helps push the profession forward.
My passion has always been to strengthen my community, particularly youth athletes of color, through a focus on athletics, wellness, and academic excellence.
