Jenna Schebor, DPT24
At Tufts DPT, students experience a supportive and nurturing environment, with a focus on both academic excellence and personal growth. The program's faculty, with their wealth of expertise and warm coaching approach, build strong relationships with students, fostering confidence and setting them up for success in their future careers as physical therapists. Hear from Jenna Schebor, DPT24, who is a student in the DPT-Phoenix program.
Why did you choose to pursue a DPT degree?
"I was involved in competitive softball for over 12 years and naturally, with sports comes injury. The list of injuries were endless, but overall, I found myself with some intense elbow issues. In order for me to continue what I loved to do, I continuously had physical therapy appointments and took trips to my athletic trainer during school season. The human body has always fascinated me, and based off previous life experiences, I knew physical therapy was something I wanted to pursue as a career. I have always had an appreciation for health care providers and how selfless and genuine they are to people they may have never met before. My dream is to be a physical therapist in someone's life that gives them the confidence and tools for them to live as independent and healthy as possible!
Why did you choose Tufts to pursue your DPT degree?
"Family and loved ones are HUGE to me. I wanted to be able to attend a program where I was still able to see my family as often as possible without having to move hundreds or even thousands of miles away. I found Tufts DPT-Phoenix as I was navigating through the application cycle and saw that they were opening a Phoenix campus. Being close to home in conjunction with the hybrid-based model was perfect for me, as well as, I was impressed with the program and their values."
What has your experience in the DPT-Phoenix program been like so far?
"I have absolutely LOVED every moment in this program. I have developed friendships that I know will last beyond the program. The faculty and campus staff are extremely knowledgeable and are open to any and all questions and feedback. I believe developing professional relationships not only with fellow students but with faculty as well will set me up for a successful career and continuing education beyond graduation. At Tufts DPT-Phoenix, I feel confident that my knowledge and relationships have and will continue to set me up for success in the physical therapy field."
What is your favorite aspect about the DPT-Phoenix program?
"Lab immersions 100%. Attending lab is always a unique experience and is a great way to not only reinforce what has been learned throughout the semester, but also continue to grow professional relationships with other students and faculty."
What is your proudest personal accomplishment so far?
"I do a lot of volunteer work with one of faculty members for the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Foundation. I have attended the M.J. Fox Walk/Run Series and M.J. Fox Box-4-Bucks event in 2022 and just recently filmed exercise videos preparing for the Box-4-Bucks event in October 2023. I also had the honor of being an Academic Teaching Assistant for our Neuromuscular Practice Management course in our third semester. Having this position not only reinforced my learning of the content, but gave me the platform to interact with more students where we were able to have open discussions about key concepts, which not only helped me during the course, but it also confirmed my interest in wanting to work with the neurological population post-program completion. I also hold a position as a Student Ambassador which allows me to connect with other members with the cohorts coming in after me as well as sharing my personal experience in the Tufts DPT- Phoenix program with future applicants!"
What do you wish to accomplish upon graduation?
"Following graduation, I look forward to passing the NPTE and continuing my education with applying for a residency and potentially a fellowship. The American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) has residency programs ranging from neurological, sports, pediatrics, oncology and more—all which I have found extreme interest in pursuing. The hard part is picking which one as all of them fascinate me!"