Medical Facilities of America (MFA) is dedicated to our students’ success and wants to highlight students for their efforts. The MFA Student Standout for the month of April is Mary Stewart Pierson.
Name: Mary Stewart Pierson
Hometown: Bluemont, VA
Undergraduate degree and school: Cellular Molecular and Physiological Biology (Christopher Newport University)
What sparked your interest in physical therapy?
The summer just before I started my sophomore year of college I decided to shadow at an outpatient physical therapy clinic in Charlottesville. This is where I absolutely fell in love with the profession. Patients would come in with all sorts of different impairments, and the physical therapists that I shadowed offered these individuals genuine therapeutic help. I saw people who were in increasing amounts of pain make amazing progress through PT. The amount of time and effort these PT’s put into their patient’s really inspired me!
What’s the most exciting part of the DPT program?
The most exciting part of Lynchburg’s program for me is the amount of collaboration that we get to participate in with both professors and classmates. There are so many opportunities in this program to get involved. Our SPI program offers a great way for students to give back to the Lynchburg community through PT, as well as work together with different members of the DPT program. I am a part of the Community Health Center, and we get the amazing opportunity to offer pro bono services to those who need physical therapy.
What do you hope to do with your degree?
I hope to make as much of a difference as I can through physical therapy. I am determined to learn what I can in order to address the needs of every patient that requires PT. As far as what setting I see myself in, I had the opportunity to shadow an inpatient physical therapist prior to joining this program and it was incredible. No matter where I end up, I plan on using this degree to make a difference in people’s lives.
What are some of your hobbies?
In my free time I love to run and work out! I also enjoy cooking and baking if I get the chance. On weekends I enjoy hanging out with friends and relaxing! 🙂 I am also a coffee-holic so I would definitely consider coffee drinking to be a hobby (haha).
What is your favorite quote?
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” — Albus Dumbledore, J.K. Rowling
