The sign on the French door of her office read, “Please be quiet. Mommy is taking an exam.” Yet kids giggled, the dog scratched at the window and Elena Luna-Vazquez’s husband blew her kisses from the other side of the glass.
This is the life of a determined University of Pittsburgh hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student.
“Sometimes it was a bit crazy,” admits Luna-Vazquez, a Fort Worth, Texas, resident who graduated from the program in December 2024. “My husband is retired from the military and we have a blended family of four children and two dogs. Everyone’s on their own schedule but they were all supportive of me earning this degree.”
“Whether I had to study, take a quiz, practice some new skills or travel to Pittsburgh for an immersion, they all pulled together to help me do what I needed to do and keep our household running,” she continues.
A career in physical therapy (PT) has always been her goal. In fact, Luna-Vazquez received an undergraduate PT degree in Mexico more than 10 years ago but only practiced as a physical therapist for two years because her family moved to South Korea. When she knew they were coming to the United States, she once again started thinking about her career.
“I applied to nearly 20 PT schools but the program at Pitt was my first choice,” she recalls. “Its reputation was excellent and I had a feeling it would challenge me to be my best.”
In Mexico, Luna-Vazquez learned many PT skills but was not trained in all the evaluation skills or evidence-based practices that are at the core of the Pitt DPT program.
“At Pitt I knew I would be well prepared in every aspect of physical therapy,” she continues. “We would not only learn how the body works and how to evaluate patients, but also how to use evidence-based research to advance patient care. My hope is to pursue further education to help our profession with reimbursement and insurance issues that affect our ability to provide excellent patient care.”
“When I was accepted into the hybrid DPT program, I had so many questions!” Luna-Vazquez continues. “I wasn’t sure how it would work not being on campus all the time. It didn’t take long to realize it was the best thing I could have ever done!”
She says her cohort connected in a way that she never thought possible. “When we came together for our first immersion, it was like a big family reunion!”
Luna-Vazquez enjoyed the way everyone recognized each other from their online sessions, and how the faculty welcomed them with fun activities, including an ice breaker that took groups of students in search of places all over Pittsburgh.
Professor and DPT Hybrid Program Director Kim Nixon-Cave describes her as an excellent student. “Elena was very supportive of her classmates who were struggling with course material,” explains Nixon-Cave. “She was always willing to step in and assist wherever she was needed.”
Of course there were challenges along the way for Luna-Vazquez. Nixon-Cave elaborates: “Even prior to applying to the program, Elena had to complete some prerequisites. The challenge for her was that she didn’t speak English. So, in true Elena style she taught herself English and began taking classes to be able to apply to a DPT program.”
“From that day on, she excelled,” Nixon-Cave adds.
Clinical placements close to her home helped Luna-Vazquez gain real-world experience without leaving her family for extended periods of time.
This busy mom was inspired by her final 15-week clinical rotation at a private PT facility where she worked with patients with neurological conditions, such as stroke and traumatic brain injuries, as well as many geriatric issues such as Parkinson’s disease.
“I truly enjoyed working with that population,” states Luna-Vazquez. “It made me start thinking about my long-term plans and perhaps becoming board certified in both orthopedic and neurological PT.”
Luna-Vazquez credits Nixon-Cave and her Leadership and Professional Development course with giving her the foresight to create long-term goals.
“Dr. Nixon-Cave had such a huge impact on me,” admits Luna-Vazquez. “When she asked us to create a five- and 10-year career plan, it seemed daunting. But along the way, I wondered if I had the potential to take on a leadership role in our profession.”
Luna-Vazquez advocated for herself and was invited to join the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Leadership Scholars program.
Now, as a student delegate from Texas, she is connecting with practicing PTs who are working toward advancing the profession and is creating a project that will be presented at the 2025 APTA Leadership Congress in Washington, D.C. She hopes to continue on as a professional delegate once she obtains her PT license.
“Part of what makes this program outstanding is the way it pairs scholars with mentors who are both sensei and sounding boards for the participants,” offers Nixon-Cave. “Scholars often point to these relationships as among the highlights of their training, but mentors are also quick to point out that the benefits flow both ways.”
Nixon-Cave notes that this is the first year that new graduates had the opportunity to apply and participate in the program. “I see Elena as a future leader in the PT profession and the APTA. She has the potential to hold leadership positions that will shape the profession. Elena’s story is a remarkable story and should be an example that if you set goals and focus as well as work hard you can achieve anything.”
