PT Students Honored to Participate in Global Service Fellowship

By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

Two Physical Therapy students from the College of Health Sciences were among eight UK students selected to take part in the NextGen Service Fellowship — a new global service program from the Institute of International Education (IIE).

The fellowship, supported by The Rockefeller Foundation and Outrider Foundation, provided 52 American undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to work in nonprofit and community-based organizations around the world. UK was one of only nine institutions across the United States to have students chosen for the inaugural program.

Just before the fall semester began, Doctor of Physical Therapy students Sarah Barth and Joshua Cain traveled to Santo Domingo, Ecuador, where they worked at Centro de Salud Hombro a Hombro (Shoulder to Shoulder Health Center). There, they helped expand the clinic’s physical therapy services and led exercise classes for local patients.

“This was an amazing opportunity,” Barth said. “I had previously traveled to Ecuador on a medical brigade with the same organization, and with the NextGen Fellowship, I was able to extend my trip to one month to help set up their new clinic. My passion is to develop my Spanish to provide care directly in the language and to serve underserved populations in Latin America.”

Cain said he approached the experience with several goals in mind — from improving his Spanish to learning how healthcare operates in a different setting.

“I wanted to see how a health clinic functions overseas and better understand how cultural perspectives influence wellness,” he said. “We weren’t entirely sure what to expect, but we quickly found our rhythm by designing exercise classes and contributing to the development of a new physical therapy office. My Spanish improved significantly, and I gained tremendous professional and personal growth from the experience.”

Both students said the fellowship broadened their understanding of global health and deepened their commitment to service.

“This experience reminded me that you don’t need advanced equipment or pristine facilities to make a lasting difference,” Cain said. “It gave me a fresh perspective on healthcare and reinforced how much exercise and health promotion can positively impact a community.”

Barth and Cain credited the College of Health Sciences and the UK Doctor of Physical Therapy Program for helping them learn about and prepare for the fellowship.

“I am deeply grateful to CHS and the University of Kentucky Doctor of Physical Therapy Program for sharing the details of this fellowship with me,” Cain said. “I encourage (everyone) … don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.”

For the University, the number of students chosen was a great accomplishment.

“We are incredibly proud to be one of nine institutions participating in this program and the UK students who were selected,” said Pat Whitlow, former director of UK’s Office of Nationally Competitive Awards. “It’s a testament not only to our students’ academic success but also their servant-leader mindset.”

Through programs like the NextGen Service Fellowship, UK students are gaining hands-on experience that connects classroom learning with global impact.

“This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Cain said. “I hope the College continues to support students who want to serve abroad and make a difference through healthcare.”