For the graduating Class of 2026 at The George Washington University (GW) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, graduation marks years of growth, discovery, and experiences that shaped the physical therapists they hope to become. While each student entered the program with their own goals and vision for the future, their time at GW challenged them to remain open-minded, develop their clinical reasoning, and discover opportunities they may never have anticipated.
For Emily Radovic (DPT ‘26), the relationships formed with classmates played an important role in navigating both the challenges and successes of the program. “As a cohort, you go through all of the highs and lows together,” she shared.
“There is a culture of collaboration and caring for others that is focused on succeeding as a team rather than just as individuals,” Radovic explained. Classmates consistently supported and encouraged one another throughout both their academic coursework and clinical rotations. That support became one of the most meaningful parts of her experience at GW.
When Radovic entered GW, she never expected to pursue inpatient physical therapy. Her clinical experiences, however, introduced her to acute care and ultimately changed the direction of her career. She is now working as an acute care physical therapist at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX.
“My clinical experiences showed me how many different ways there are to be a great physical therapist,” Radovic explained. Her clinical instructors each had different approaches and ways of communicating with patients, but she noticed that each placed their patients goals and personal factors at the forefront of care.
Amanda Allen (DPT ‘26) experienced a similar shift in her career interests. When she began the GW DPT program, she hoped to become a sports physical therapist and work with athletes to help them return to the field. “Now, I am a resident in the Medstar/GW Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program,” she explained. Through her time at GW, Allen developed a strong passion for the neurologic patient population and now hopes to build her career in an inpatient rehabilitation setting, treating patients after stroke and brain injury.
One of her most meaningful experiences came outside of the traditional classroom. After learning about the spinal cord injury population through her neurologic coursework at GW, Allen became involved with the MedStar NRH United wheelchair rugby team.
“I’m proud that I took the leap of faith to show up to my first practice without knowing what to expect,” she said. What started as an unfamiliar experience eventually became a significant part of her time at GW. “Two years later, I am great friends with many members of the team and have gained mentorship through other PTs involved with the team. GW has given me a great network of colleagues–peers, professors, and alumni–who are all willing to lend a hand,” she shared. For Allen, her time with the wheelchair rugby team was the most rewarding experience to come out of her time at GW.
For Grace Klusty (DPT ‘26), clinical education was less about discovering one specific specialty and more about learning from each environment and incorporating those experiences into her own approach to patient care. Across her clinical experiences, she encountered clinical instructors with different strengths, perspectives, and approaches to treatment.
“I tried to take my favorite parts of each clinic and shape how I treat my patients with that combination of traits,” Klusty explained. “It was great to have CIs that have different thought processes with treatment, evaluations, and progressions so that I could develop my own unique way of treatment that borrows from all of the strong mentorship I had access to,” Klusty said.
GW community engagement also helped the graduates develop confidence as they transitioned from students to clinicians. For Radovic, opportunities to practice skills with members of the community, including fall-risk screenings, provided valuable experience before beginning full-time clinical rotations.
“GW gave me many opportunities to practice my skills as a student in real life situations,” she said. These experiences allowed her to develop both her technical and interpersonal skills and helped Radovic feel more confident entering her clinical experiences.
As the Class of 2026 moves into the next stage of their careers, their paths reflect the many directions a DPT education can lead. Although their career paths differ, their experiences share a common theme: the importance of remaining open to new opportunities and allowing experiences to shape the clinician you become.
Reflecting on what she would tell herself at the beginning of the program, Radovic offered advice that captures the journey of the Class of 2026, “Be open to everything. Whether it’s a specialty, a course, a clinical rotation, or a research position, don’t immediately count yourself out,” she said. “Come into everything with an open mind because you never know what might change your future.”
As the Class of 2026 begin their careers, they carry with them not only the clinical foundation developed at GW, but also the relationships, experiences, and lessons that will continue to shape the clinicians they become.
