Meeting the First Black PT

After my black studies class, my professor, Dr. LaVerne Gyant, shared with me the contact information for Dr. Collins. At the time, Dr. Collins was a professor in the physical therapy program at Northern Illinois University. I sent her an email and scheduled a time to meet.  Going into her office, I was so excited and filled with so many questions. She greeted me and we sat down and just started to talk. It felt so natural. I had so many questions, and just wanted to listen to her advice and suggestions. After three years of shadowing, she was the first Black physical therapist I had ever met. A title that she filled beyond my expectations. She gave me hope and she told me exactly how it is in the profession. Hours passed, and what she shared with me, no one else in my entire college career told me. She was such a blessing to me, and came at the perfect time. To this day, I consider Dr. Collins a mentor who I’m still in contact with. She changed my life in more ways than she can even imagine.