First-Year Student Holden Cox Reflects on First Semester in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

I am currently in my first semester as a Doctor of Physical Therapy student. While it is only the first semester, I have already learned so many foundational concepts to eventually make me a great clinician. I have also learned how important advocacy is for your respective profession and recently joined the orthopedics section of the APTA. CU’s PASA is another organization I am proud to be a part of to actively incorporate interprofessional education into my academic journey. 

While I attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, I chose Campbell University primarily due to HPREP. The Ransdell Family Health Professions Readiness & Enrichment Program (HPREP) is a summer program for prospective students interested in any of CPHS’s healthcare programs. The program provides direct exposure to programs, facilities, and faculty with CPHS and the Campbell University School of Medicine (CUSOM). I loved how HPREP gave underrepresented individuals the ability to see what healthcare has to offer. I grew up on Goldsboro, NC and CPHS’s focus on rural healthcare spoke to me. Being around the “Campbell family” for multiple days convinced me it was the right program. The faculty and staff genuinely cared about each person at HPREP and wanted to see the best for us, whether it was providing GRE preparation advice, one-on-one advising, etc., it was all beneficial.

Prospective students should choose Campbell over anywhere else because of the family environment here. Everyone is so eager to see you succeed and provide any assistance that they can. Professors have an open-door policy, meaning anytime you have a question, you can pop into their office. Coming from a large-size university where it was harder to get personal attention, I also love how in each class you know and have a personal connection with your professors. 

Over the coming years in the DPT program, I am hoping to leave a lasting impact on the local Harnett County community via the Pro Bono Clinic. Physical therapy services can become quite expensive for patients, so I am thankful that the community has such a great resource such as the clinic. I also plan on being involved in the Farm Workers Clinic to assist in the community. 

To learn more about Campbell’s DPT program, visit our website.