Inspiring a Heart for Service in Physical Therapy

“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” —1 Peter 4:10

Clinical Associate Professor Anne Boddy, PT, DPT, PhD, faithfully weaves her passion for service into her teachings in Baylor University’s Department of Physical Therapy. She is intentional to lead by example, hoping to inspire her students to have a similar heart for service.

“I want my students to understand that there’s a bigger calling beyond us,” she said. “Faith allows us to be supportive of each other, to provide an environment that is safe and inclusive. If we’re not serving others, then I think that we’re doing a disservice.”

Like many faculty for Baylor’s hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, Boddy resides outside of Texas—in St. Augustine, Florida. There, she found a way to merge her passion for clinical practice, Parkinson’s disease research, teaching, and making a difference in the lives of those living in her community. Alongside two fellow physical therapists, she helped to establish the ReBloom Center, a nonprofit that provides a community space for those who are impacted by Parkinson’s disease. The center is holistic in nature, offering a combination of exercise and voice classes, support groups, and guidance from nutritionists.

“Parkinson’s has the outcome where it takes away movement, it takes away your voice, it takes away your independence, your freedom,” she explained. “The whole idea is to help improve the quality of life for those who have Parkinson’s in our own community.”

While the ReBloom Center directly assists individuals with the diagnosis, the caregivers, and the family members, Boddy made certain it would also provide a space for Baylor DPT students to learn and grow in service. The partnership quickly became mutually beneficial, integrating opportunities for virtual observing and engagement, fitness challenge fundraisers, and research. In addition, two DPT students relocated to do their clinical education at the center. 

Boddy stresses that her nonprofit is just a starting point. She urges students to find their own places to serve by leaning into their personal passions or realizing needs within their community. 

“That’s the beauty of our DPT program. Our students aren’t just in Waco or Florida, they’re all over the country—so, you really can make an impact that is country-wide,” she said. 

While educating well-rounded clinicians, Baylor Physical Therapy incorporates talents, faith, and service. Boddy encourages students to understand that these can be worked seamlessly into their profession. One of the best ways to teach this is to lead by example. It is one way, she said, to serve her very own students.

“It’s important for students to see that beyond the classroom our mission is really to help people. I am serving my community—I’m not just teaching and saying, ‘You need to do this,’” she said. “As a physical therapist and faculty member, it’s often easy to step back from your clinical practice and just focus on teaching. But I think it’s incredibly important for our students to actually see that we are still passionate about our profession, that we’re still involved, even if we’re not treating on a regular basis.”

ABOUT ROBBINS COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Established in 2014, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences seeks to enhance health, quality of life, and human flourishing for all individuals and communities through education, research, and innovation. It includes six academic departments—Communication Sciences and Disorders; Health, Human Performance, and Recreation; Human Sciences and Design; Occupational Therapy; Physical Therapy; and Public Health—along with the Division of Health Professions, which houses the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. Robbins College offers 13 bachelor’s degrees, eight master’s degrees, and six doctoral degrees, as well as nine graduate programs in partnership with the U.S. Army. Graduate programs in Robbins College are offered in a variety of modalities, including on campus, online, and hybrid.