For Natasha Marquez, a student in our Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP), it was never a question of if she should go to graduate school, but rather what career she should pursue. Her desire to serve and her family’s focus on education brought her to RMUoHP to become a physical therapist (PT).
“My grandpa always told us to strive to be better in everything we do because he worked hard to get his family to the States and wanted the best for us,” said Marquez. And Marquez has done just that.
Marquez has worked hard through the didactic curriculum and has enjoyed the opportunities in the clinic working with and caring for patients. “The most gratifying experiences I’ve had so far are the clinical hours I get to spend meeting, treating, and connecting with patients of different backgrounds and with different stories,” said Marquez. “The ability to give someone functionality back has been awesome to be a part of and witness.”
While in school and serving in clinics, Marquez has been able to use not only her PT experience and knowledge but also her Hispanic heritage and Spanish language skills to better connect with patients and provide care. “Being born in San Diego, California, and working as a PT tech for two years in a primarily Hispanic community allowed me to experience how important it is to speak another language, specifically Spanish. We were able to see so many more patients due to the ability to reach those who would otherwise have a difficult time communicating with their PT,” said Marquez.
She adds, “The biggest part of my Hispanic heritage that I have learned to cherish is the ability to connect with a wide variety of people solely based on the common language we speak.” For her, she’s been able to provide more connected and personalized care. “Multiple people have told me that they feel more comfortable with me as their therapist because they are able to express themselves in their language. I have had patients tell me ‘you get me,’ solely on the commonality of being Hispanic,” said Marquez.
After graduating, Marquez hopes to provide that same level of care for people back in San Diego. She hasn’t decided on her focus yet, right now she is considering neuro or geriatrics, but whatever she does, she’s excited for her experiences that will help her connect with and provide care for all members of the community.
“Being able to create a connection with a patient due to common ground is a wonderful experience. I have been able to make these connections as a student physical therapist and PT tech and it warms my heart to give someone such comfort that they open up to me and allow me to treat them with no reservations,” said Marquez. “That patient rapport and trust that is gained due to commonality is heartwarming and drives me to continue to learn and be the best PT I can be for my future patients.”
