February 20, 2023

Doctor of Physical Therapy students at Drexel University, held a Q&A panel with physical therapists of color. The group was started as a student-led diversity, equity and inclusion resource for Drexel’s DPT program to create a safe space for students of color to connect and support one another. They felt it necessary to provide a platform to speak on issues regarding DEI in the physical therapy field from individuals who have firsthand experiences on these topics. With the support of faculty and staff, the group was able to organize and host their very first event.

Close to 90 people attended this first annual DEI event. Panelists Doriean Broady, PT, DPT, Kimberley Cooke, PT, DPT, OCS, Melanie Ferdinand, PT, DPT, MPH, Annalisa Na PT, DPT, PhDm and Akil Piggott, PT, DPT, OCS, ACSM EP-C shared their journey in the healthcare field as physical therapists while navigating the feeling of being “different” based on the way they looked or from where they and their family originated. Many of the panelists shared similar stories about the lack of representation ─ people who looked like them.

Akil Piggot, PT, DPT `16 recounted his experience and lessons learned from growing up with Panamanian parents, moving from a predominantly Black school to predominantly white ones. “I grew up in a community where I was people’s only Black friend. Then I go to PT school where I was the only Black student,” he shared. He was used to the everyday challenges of his reality, which, in his mind, gave him an openness and understanding of what struggles people in different communities face. Kimberley Cooke, PT, DPT `04, who always knew she wanted to become a physical therapist, was hopeful that Drexel would be more diverse being in Philadelphia. “All the students and professors I interviewed were white,” she said. She did have a good experience at Drexel crediting part of it to its involvement in the communities she hoped to one day serve.

Panelists encouraged everyone to take pride in who they are as well as advocate for themselves and others. “You may be the minority in your job and that’s something you should wear with pride,” said Doriean Broady, PT, DPT `17. Building a community within the healthcare profession is essential to making everyone feel welcome at the table.

Regarding the topic of alliance, the panelists noted that showing up for others who may lack the privilege, non-minoritized individuals have is vital to understanding and learning from one another. “If you hear someone projecting a stereotype, make the effort to have a conversation with them to help them understand the consequences those biases can have in your work,” asserted Melanie Ferdinand, PT, DPT `17. With an open mind comes understanding and the opportunity to improve connections with everyone in the healthcare community, those who work in healthcare and those who use healthcare to improve their quality of life.

“Our profession needs to do a better job on what our profession does and how they help others,” Cooke added. This successful event brought by the Drexel DPT’s Students of Color is the first of, hopefully, many that can provide a safe and welcoming environment for everyone to share, listen and learn from the minoritized communities that are making a place for themselves in the physical therapy healthcare community.

Written by Roberta Perry