Mega Doctor News
By Selene Rodriguez
McALLEN, Texas – When South Texas College alumna Chelsea Hernandez watched her father begin walking and climbing stairs again after spending weeks in intensive care, she saw firsthand the impact physical therapy could have on a patient’s recovery.
More than a decade later, the proud graduate of STC’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and is now preparing to take her licensure exam, bringing her one step closer to fulfilling the dream inspired by her father’s recovery.
“My dad was in the hospital for months after developing severe pneumonia from bronchitis,” the 31-year-old shared. “It wasn’t until he went through physical therapy that I really saw him come back to life. Now, I’m excited to be part of that change for others.”
The Brownsville native had always envisioned herself helping others through a career in health care, although she wasn’t initially sure what that career would look like.
After graduating from Pace High School, Hernandez attended Texas A&M University in College Station, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2017.
During her first year, her father became seriously ill with bronchitis and later developed severe pneumonia, requiring weeks of intensive care followed by rehabilitation.
“Seeing him light up and get excited because he was getting better, walking and doing the stairs again, really touched my heart,” she said. “He was motivated to get back to the way he was before, and that’s when I knew I wanted to be that person for other people, and help them get back to doing the things they love.”
After unsuccessful attempts to enter a physical therapy program, Hernandez began exploring other options and discovered STC’s Physical Therapist Assistant program in 2019, which offered her an alternative path into the profession.
Despite the challenges of completing the program during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hernandez graduated with an Associate of Applied Science as a Physical Therapist Assistant in 2021 and began working at an outpatient clinic in Brownsville, where she gained more than two years of experience as a PTA.
That experience ultimately opened the door for Hernandez to return to her original goal through the University of Texas Medical Branch’s PTA-to-DPT Bridge Program. This summer, she became the 10th STC graduate and first female to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree through the collaboration between the two institutions.
“Chelsea’s graduation is such an exciting milestone for our program,” said STC PTA Program Chair Diana Hernandez, PT, M.Ed. “She marks our 10th graduate in 10 years to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree through the UTMB PTA-to-DPT Bridge Program, and with six more STC alumni currently enrolled and others pursuing admission, we’re quickly gaining momentum.”
Since 2015, STC graduates have had access to two guaranteed seats each year in UTMB’s PTA-to-DPT Bridge Program in Galveston, one of only four such programs in the nation. The two-year and four-month hybrid program recognizes the education, clinical knowledge and professional experience of practicing PTAs, offering a condensed degree plan with minimal on-campus requirements that allows students to continue living and working in their communities while advancing their education.
“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Hernandez and excited about what this opportunity continues to mean for STC graduates and the Rio Grande Valley,” Diana Hernandez said.
More than a degree, the recent doctoral graduate said the accomplishment represents years of hard work and sacrifice as she prepares to take her physical therapy licensure exam at the end of October and hopes to pursue a career in acute care or inpatient rehabilitation, with a special interest in working with older adults.
“Sometimes I think to myself, ‘Me, a doctor?’ At 31 years old, it’s so surreal,” she said. “But then I remind myself, ‘I deserve this, and I earned it.’ It’s an honor, and I’m very humbled by it. I’m especially thankful to my parents for always supporting me and helping me get to where I am today.”
As she prepares for the next chapter of her career, Hernandez remains grateful to the STC instructors, staff and lab assistants who helped her build the foundation that ultimately led her back to her original goal.
“Without STC, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she said. “I’m very grateful for everyone who helped me along the way. STC gave me the foundation and fundamentals I needed as a PTA, and now as I become a physical therapist.”
For more information on STC’s Physical Therapist Assistant program, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/physical-therapist-assistant/.
