Kimmy Chhoeuk: Paving the way for future career in physical therapy

When she graduates from the University of Maine in May, Kimmy Chhoeuk of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, plans to go directly into a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.

Although she’s not sure where she’ll continue her education, Chhoeuk — a kinesiology and physical education major with a concentration in exercise science and a minor in psychology — already has options. She’s been accepted to the DPT program at Tufts University near Boston and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Worcester. She’s waiting to hear back from a few other schools where she applied before making a final decision.

At UMaine, Chhoeuk has gotten plenty of support from faculty and staff to keep striving toward her goals. She says the exercise science program offered everything she needed to succeed in the field, particularly during a previous internship at a PT clinic in her hometown, and gave her confidence to apply to graduate programs. 

“I’ve learned so much about the body and how it works,” she says “In a lot of my classes, we work with clients one-on-one. We also learned about different methods and equipment that are used for injury treatment and prevention that I got to see in a real-world setting at the clinic where I did my internship.”

Read the full story on the College of Education and Human Development website. 

Contact: Casey Kelly, casey.kelly@maine.edu