PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS
Keystone College BS 2018
Rutgers University DPT 2021
ProRehab & University of Evansville Sports Residency 2022
Instagram: rothephysio

Describe your career path from residency graduation to your current position.

After graduating from residency, I found myself torn between staying in Evansville to continue learning from some of the best sports clinicians or exploring physical therapy opportunities in higher-level athletics. Having completed our residency and developed a new skill set and knowledge base, I felt competitive enough to apply for and take on the challenge of a fellowship. After discussions with my residency mentors, I applied for and was selected as the first Hospital for Special Surgery & New York Mets Upper Extremity Sports Fellow. During my fellowship, I had the privilege of learning under two world-class organizations, enhancing my clinical and professional development in sports and upper extremity rehabilitation. Following the completion of my fellowship, I accepted a position with the Baltimore Orioles as a Minor League Physical Therapist in Florida and the Dominican Republic.

What are you passionate about in your work?

I love helping patients and athletes return to doing what they love and assisting them in reaching their utmost potential. I particularly enjoy working with patients who are considered 'difficult' or have 'failed' conventional rehab. I believe that the assessment and treatment paradigm I learned during my residency, supplemented by my fellowship, provides me with a unique perspective to address these cases.

Additionally, I am passionate about advocating for Hispanic/Latino patients and athletes, as they often do not receive the necessary and most appropriate treatment due to language barriers. I have always advocated for people of color to work in spaces like physical therapy because this demographic is underrepresented in healthcare. Mentoring upcoming clinicians is another passion of mine, as I have been fortunate to have amazing mentors who helped me get to where I am. My ultimate goal is to approach each workday with a sense of purpose, finding fulfillment in my contributions, and be recognized as a 'game changer' within the field.

How did the residency experience help shape your success? 

The ProRehab & University of Evansville Sports Residency has been instrumental in shaping the clinician I am today. After completing the residency, I conducted movement assessments, assessed risk factors, and developed treatment plans for the professional baseball players of the New York Mets. Additionally, I taught lab sessions on SFMA principles and assessment techniques to staff members and organized movement testing for draft picks. Without the knowledge gained from this sports residency, I wouldn't have been equipped to perform any of these tasks during my fellowship.

With all that being said, my initial goal for pursuing a sports residency was to enhance my clinical reasoning skills, become an 'expert sports clinician,' and undertake the responsibilities mentioned above. However, during my 15 months in Evansville, the most significant aspect was the personal growth and the relationships I forged. I now have a residency family and friends that I can always count on. These relationships provide me with support and counsel when I need career or life advice, encounter challenging patient cases, and inspire me to be the best version of myself. While many residencies can help develop you as an expert clinician, I believe it's the additional aspects I mentioned that sets Evansville apart. 

Advice for current DPT students?

Take every opportunity that comes your way, and whatever you do, do it with excellence. You never know where an opportunity will lead, and doing things to the best of your abilities will never result in disappointing others or yourself. Also, while you are going through your journey, embrace the grind, enjoy the process, and have some fun! 

Anything else you would like to share about the profession or your residency experience?

I cannot say enough great things about our residency, not just because of everything you will learn but mostly because of the people. You'll be hard-pressed to find better clinicians elsewhere, but what's even more impressive is that the residency family is made up of exceptional, good-hearted individuals. I have been all over the U.S. and I have seen great clinicians from many different residencies, and I believe our residency is up there with the best of them (if not the best—I'm biased)! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to myself or any member of the residency family; we would love to have a conversation with you!