12/07/2025
BS RTp Alumna
| Loyalty Speaks
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โจ
Read through Dr. Phoebe Bacalso-Letaba's insights on what it is to be a CDUcian:
1) ๐ฟ๐๐จ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ค๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ง. ๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ค ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐พ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ก๐ช๐ข๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ค๐๐๐ฎ?
I am currently a practicing Family and Lifestyle Medicine Physician, while also serving as a faculty member in both the College of Rehabilitative Sciences and the College of Medicine. My roles allow me to integrate clinical practice with academic mentorship, contributing to both patient care and the development of future healthcare professionals.
2) ๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐จ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ช๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ก๐ช๐ข๐ฃ๐ช๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐พ๐ฟ๐ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ?
The experiences I acquired as a student of CD have positively impacted most of my career considerations. It is with CDU that I gained a strong academic background, discipline, and developed my ability to think critically which is highly helpful in my chosen field.
3) ๐๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ'๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐ง๐๐ข๐จ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ง?
The academic programs offered at CDU greatly assisted me in my current career and its challenges. The comprehensive approach provided by the Universityโs curriculum enabled me to master both bookish concepts and practical skills required in the field. The rigor alongside assessment in critical thinking, analysis, evidence-based practice, and problem solving gave me the ability to handle complex scenarios with ease. Moreover, the community exposure, clinical rotations, and interprofessional learning integrated into the program cultivated the adaptability, resilience, and communicative abilities essential in modern healthcare. The discipline of assessment and the high academic requirements instilled advanced attention to detail, self-discipline, and a commitment to ongoing development. From my time at CDU, I can conclude that it did not only help me professionally, but it developed me as a person capable of working in high pressure environments and making an impactful difference in my area of work.
4) ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐พ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ก๐ช๐ข๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ง๐ค๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ง๐จ ๐ค๐ง ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ง?
Yes, I can say for myself that being a CDU alumna has shaped my career, personally regarding doors and opportunities which I pursued for my professional growth. Their accomplishments aid me in professional landscape as subsystems of health sciences turn into an aid within competitive environment built with employers and colleagues, as people trust their education and training enabling clearer vision towards CDU and its graduates. CDU turns into a trusted partner within professional dimensions. Alongside, robust network turns to be beneficial capturing all the invaluable assets onto CDU alumni. Mentorship becomes effortless, but so do collaborations and job opportunities turning through connections. There is turn via trust, word of mouth, and joint deeds that make my life easier due to being part of CDU community. As an individual, I can state that influence turns into help using my profession and those sharing the same values: passion for commitment alongside service.
5) ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐พ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ก๐ช๐ข๐ฃ๐-๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ก๐จ ๐ค๐ง ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐จ๐๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐๐ค๐ก๐ก๐๐๐๐ช๐๐จ?
As a CDU alumna, I can identify several key skills and attributes that differentiate me from my peers. One that stands out the most is the robust blend of theoretical and practical preparation, particularly in regard to clinical interactions, which I navigate with assurance and skill. CDU encouraged me to think critically, be flexible, and practice care with a focus on the patient โ values that in my profession I apply instinctively.
6) ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ข๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ช๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ค, ๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ช๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ง?
Right after obtaining my license as a physician, I returned to give back to my alma materโboth the College of Medicine and the College of Rehabilitative Sciences. What began as a short-term plan quickly evolved into a long-term commitment as new opportunities opened up along the way, allowing me to continue teaching. This experience has also greatly influenced me as a clinician, deepening my understanding and strengthening my practice through continuous learning and engagement with future healthcare professionals.
7) ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ช๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐ข๐๐ฏ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐ญ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐จ๐ช๐๐๐๐จ๐จ, ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐?
I would advise current students to do the following to make the most of their college experience in order to succeed in their careers:
Seize every chance to learn, both within and beyond the classroom. Participate fully in clinical rotations, lectures, and community service because each experience advances your development. Develop close bonds with your peers and mentors because they will join your support system and professional network. Take on leadership roles, volunteer, attend seminars, and join organizations to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. These encounters foster abilities that extend well beyond the classroom. Strive to maintain a healthy work-life balanceโit allows you to grow professionally while still having the time and energy to gain valuable life experiences outside of work. Above all, maintain your curiosity and dedication to lifelong learning. Your time in college is about more than just obtaining a degree; it's also about developing into the kind of person and professional you
8.) ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐พ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ก๐ช๐ข๐ฃ๐?
It is being part of a legacy of excellence, compassion, and service. CDU instills not only strong academic and clinical skills but also a deep sense of integrity and social responsibility. As a graduate, you carry the credibility and respect that comes with the CDU name, which opens doors and fosters meaningful connections in the professional world. More than that, thereโs a sense of pride and belonging in being part of a community that continuously strives to uplift healthcare and make a positive impact in society. The shared values, lasting friendships, and supportive alumni network truly make being a CDU graduate something special.
