Mega Doctor News
By Selene Rodriguez
South Texas College’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program was recently awarded a $50,000 investment for new training equipment through a $25,000 grant from the Rio-South Texas Education and Community Development Foundation (RSTEF) and a matching contribution from the STC Foundation.
Celebrated recently during a check presentation at STC’s Health Science Professions campus, the joint investment will help fast-track what was originally a five-year plan to equip the program’s upcoming lab space, expanding hands-on training opportunities for future students.
“What I had mapped out as a five-year plan, slowly equipping our space, has now turned into a one-year plan,” said STC PTA Program Chair Diana Hernandez, DPT. “This is going to benefit generations of students coming through our program because when they graduate and enter clinical settings, they’ll already be familiar with the equipment they’re expected to use, allowing them to feel more confident and prepared as they transition from the classroom into the profession.”
Since welcoming its first cohort in 1998, STC’s PTA Program has continued to evolve its curriculum and training to reflect changes in the physical therapy profession.
Recently reaccredited through 2036 by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), the program has also maintained a 100% pass rate on the national licensure examination since its inception.
“Our commitment has always been to provide our students with the highest quality education and ensure they are prepared for the profession,” Hernandez said. “Over the years, we’ve continued our education as faculty, incorporated new textbooks and guest speakers and revamped our courses multiple times to ensure what we teach reflects current practices. Some of our equipment, however, dates to when the program first started, so this investment gives us the opportunity to bring our equipment in line with that same standard of excellence.”
As the program prepares to expand into a new lab space expected to open in spring 2027, the funding will allow it to purchase contemporary equipment that more closely reflects what students will encounter in clinical settings, including electronic parallel bars, adjustable treatment tables, a therapy treadmill for gait training, a multifunction squat rack and cryotherapy equipment.
“As a student, I’ve learned so much through this program, but there were still pieces of equipment I encountered for the first time when I went into my clinicals,” said STC student Victoria Iniguez. “I’m excited to see our program grow and for future students to have that experience here first. They’ll be able to walk into their clinicals and say, ‘I’ve done this before.’ It will give them that extra confidence to apply what they’ve learned and continue doing what we came into this profession to do, which is helping people.”
The equipment to be purchased was selected with input from the program’s advisory board and local clinical partners, including representatives from sports medicine clinics who helped faculty identify equipment that would provide the greatest educational value and could be used across multiple areas of instruction.
“We really tried to look at what we could use that wasn’t just for one purpose,” Hernandez said. “I might teach the use of a piece of equipment in my therapeutic exercise course, but then it can be used again in rehabilitation or neurological coursework. We wanted equipment that could benefit students throughout the program and allow them to practice a variety of patient scenarios.”
The new lab space will also benefit students in STC’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, who will be able to use the shared space and many of its multipurpose features for hands-on training.
For RSTEF, the investment aligns with its broader commitment to supporting postsecondary education and workforce development initiatives that prepare South Texas residents for in-demand occupations.
“We are always excited to invest in programs that prepare students for in-demand occupations and create pathways to better-paying careers right here in South Texas,” said Adam Gonzalez, RSTEF chief executive officer. “Our goal is to give residents opportunities to build successful futures, stay in this region and thrive. STC has been a great partner in that effort, and support like this not only benefits students, but also helps build the skilled workforce South Texas needs for the future.”
Sharing the sentiment, STC Vice President of Institutional Advancement and External Affairs Rodney Rodriguez, Ph.D., said the investment will have a lasting impact by providing resources that will benefit future generations of STC students.
“Partnerships like this allow us to bring additional resources to the college and invest directly in the success of our students,” Rodriguez said. “The STC Foundation is proud to provide the matching funds for this grant, and we will continue seeking opportunities to support our programs with the equipment, technology and resources they need to provide students with an exceptional education and prepare them for success.”
For more information on STC’s Physical Therapist Assistant program, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/physical-therapist-assistant/.
