Meet Our Alums - Daniel Millar - "Remind Yourself That You Are Already Worthy"

Published 5/12/2022

UTEP College of Health Sciences

What sparked your interest in UTEP’s Physical Therapy Program?
I was drawn to apply to the UTEP Physical Therapy Program because it has a better student-to-faculty ratio than some of the other programs in Texas. Also, one of my mentors from college graduated from UTEP, and said that she loved how the small cohort size helped her develop strong friendships with her classmates. She felt that this allowed her to have different discussions with people which may not have been possible with larger class sizes.

Tell us about the most interesting experience you had as a PT student.
One of the most interesting experiences I had as a PT student was holding a brain in our anatomy lab my first semester. It’s one thing to read about the human body in textbooks, and to even see pictures and videos online, but to be able to be engaged in hands-on learning to that extent really helps enhance your learning experience.

Tell us about your current work. What are some of the skills you learned as a PT student that you use on a daily basis?
For three years after PT school, I worked in outpatient pediatrics and absolutely loved it. I have since started travel therapy, working short-term, three- to six-month contracts in different cities around the US. Most recently, I’ve been placed in South Philadelphia at a skilled nursing facility. Some of the skills I learned as a PT student that I use on a daily basis are chart reviewing; gathering a patient’s history; performing screening of different body systems; and writing for documentation.

What is the most important piece of advice you would give yourself if you could go back in time to your first year as a PT student?
The biggest piece of advice I would give myself would be to remember that I deserve to be in the PT program just as much as each of my classmates do. Even if I’m the only one that looks like me or comes from my background, I have every right to feel like I belong. I’ve learned that everyone, especially students from underrepresented minority backgrounds, feels imposter syndrome at some point in their journey. The best way to combat it is reminding yourself that you are already worthy. No letter grade, accolade, or degree will change that inherent truth.

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Go Miners!
For more information about the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, please visit: https://www.utep.edu/chs/pt/
Photo courtesy of Daniel Millar