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In honor or National Allied Health Professions Week, we would like to recognize all of our outstanding students for pursuing their dreams of making lives better through their chosen allied health career. Here are a few of our students and why they chose their field of study:

Binni Khatri
Program: Physical Therapy
"I chose to pursue physical therapy because it empowers progressive self-sufficiency in individuals that are limited by pain, movement and other ailments. As a physical therapist, I will have the chance to be a patient advocate, encourage lifestyle changes, and serve the community."

Evelyn Rivera
Program: Clinical Laboratory Sciences
"I chose to pursue the CLS profession because although they are not often personally involved with patients, laboratory technologists play a crucial role process of providing personalized care by generating vitally important data for identifying and treating many health conditions."

Karina Alexis Garcia
Program: Clinical Laboratory Sciences
"While I was doing my research on applying to medical school, I came upon some information regarding the Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS) program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The fact that in the CLS program, one learns to integrate science and health care made me realize that in order for me to become the best physician I could be, I needed to learn more than just the science. I decided to join the CLS program in the hope that one day I will be able to better treat my patients by further understanding and correctly utilizing the results received from the clinical laboratory."

Ken Queliza
Program: Physical Therapy
"I chose to pursue physical therapy because of my interest in the human body’s potential. The idea that movement dysfunction can be improved upon with exercise still fascinates me. I was also attracted to the evidence-based rationale with which physical therapists plan their patients’ treatments on. I see myself working in an outpatient rehabilitative setting, making a difference for each of my patients with every therapy session. I’m trying to do my part to make the world a better place, one rehabilitated person at a time."

Monique Lecky
Program: Occupational Therapy
"I chose to purse a degree in Occupational Therapy because helping others learn to help themselves is a rewarding and fulfilling experience. As an Occupational therapist, I am not only an integral part of a patient’s rehabilitative process, but I also get to use my creativity to customize interventions to fit the individual needs of each patient. Through my participation in extracurricular activities and performing extensive shadowing, this has confirmed that the role and responsibilities of an occupational therapist are the ideal career fit for me."

Rebecca Smith
Program: Physical Therapy
"Ever since I was young, I knew that I wanted a career within the health professions. It wasn’t until I started working with children with special needs at the Arc of San Antonio, that I decided I wanted to pursue physical therapy. I have always enjoyed helping others and giving back to the community and this career will allow me to continue to do that and so much more."

Tammi L. Sligh
Program: Physician Assistant Studies
"Coming from a small town in Mississippi, and being the first person in my family to graduate high school, I was afraid to dream too big. I settled on a BS degree in Cytotechnology (also an Allied Health program) and worked in this field for many years. I went on to earn a Master of Science in Forensic Science. I worked as a Forensic Scientist for 15 years, but the pull to practice medicine was still so great that I could not let it go. I became an EMT so I could treat patients on some level, at least part time. My family physician introduced me to the PA they had hired and I decided to check into the profession. I realized it was the career that had been looking for me! It was perfect! I could combine all my medical training and my compassion for people, especially from rural communities like mine, into one truly meaningful career. I was born to be a physician assistant; I just took the long road to get here!"

Christopher Pursch
Program: Physical Therapy
"Physical Therapy allows me the opportunity to help people on multiple levels. The ability to functionally move is one of the most empowering aspects of being human, helping restore this ability is incredible."

Hannah Morton
Program: Occupational Therapy
"I always knew I wanted an active job in the health field and I felt that occupational therapy best fit my personality as well as my interests. I love that it mixes the science of the human body with a bit of creativity to help others achieve their goals! I hope work as a pediatric therapist, maybe even in a NICU or hospital setting."

Heather Dowling
Program: Respiratory Care
"After earning a BS in Biology from UTSA, I wanted to continue my education in the medical field here in San Antonio. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Respiratory Care program stood out to me because the professors and admissions team were very welcoming and willing to help. In the future, I would like to work as a respiratory therapist on a transport team for a NICU."

Emilie Janskey
Program: Occupational Therapy

"I shadowed in many other areas of the health field during my undergrad. Although they were all great professions, occupational therapy was the profession that fit my personality best. I became intrigued with the creativity, various techniques, and devices occupational therapists used in treating their patients and the positive role they play in their patient’s lives."