Rizing Tide Foundation

12/22/2025

Many physical therapists are drawn to oncology for deeply personal reasons. Some have supported a family member through cancer. Others wish they had known how to help after hearing a loved one’s diagnosis. That personal connection often turns into drive and purpose.

Oncology PT is not an easy path, as clinicians often work with patients during their most fearful and vulnerable moments. But for many, it becomes a career rooted in compassion, empathy, and the desire to make a meaningful difference when it matters most.

Helping someone feel more comfortable, regain confidence, or experience relief during a stressful and uncertain time can be profoundly meaningful work. For scholars seeking purpose-driven care, oncology PT offers both challenge and impact in equal measure.

12/18/2025

Cancer survivorship is complex. Patients face evolving (and sometimes isolating) challenges, which is why oncology physical therapists play a critical role in supporting patient journeys. To help our PT Pod explore this specialty, we've invited Dr. Sheree King, PT, CLT-LANA, founder of Ribbons Physical Therapy, to hold a candid conversation about building a career in oncology physical therapy.

Join us on Saturday, December 20, at 7:00 AM PST/ 10:00 AM EST, as Dr. King shares how her path from turned from working in a large hospital cancer center to opening a one-on-one-style private practice for cancer survivors. She'll share everything from clinical and emotional insights to the business realities of this specialty.

Whether you’re curious about oncology PT or exploring niche practice paths, this webinar will provide a valuable and thoughtful perspective that could help guide your career.

📩 Email Belen to learn more and reserve your spot.

12/17/2025

Many PT students have heard of oncology PT but might not know what it actually involves. This highly specialized area within PT is growing quickly as more individuals are diagnosed with cancer. Here are a few things that often surprise people about oncology physical therapy:
• Lymphedema is part of oncology PT care, even though it’s not commonly associated with cancer rehab.
• Oncology PT can take place in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
• It’s highly collaborative, with PTs working closely alongside physicians, oncologists, and surgeons.

For Rizing Tide scholars, specialties like oncology PT are a reminder that physical therapy encompasses more than movement. Physical therapy is rooted in care, presence, and supporting people during their most vulnerable moments.

12/02/2025

It's Giving Tuesday—a time to reconnect and give back to your community. 🫂 💙

Overcoming obstacles is easier when you can rely on the expertise and support of a predecessor. This idea of paying it forward and looking to the future forms the heart of the Rizing Tide Foundation. Every dollar, mentor, and networking opportunity we provide to rising PTs is made possible through the support of community members who've built giving back into their legacy. This Giving Tuesday, please consider paying it forward and supporting Rizing Tide! Your generosity allows us to uplift future DPTs who rely on what we do.

Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us carry our mission forward. Donate today—and thank you for supporting our community!

Help a New Generation of PTs Achieve Great Things Donate to the Rizing Tide Foundation today! Donate to Rizing Tide to Support a Better Future for Physical Therapy Overcoming obstacles is easier when you can rely on the expertise and support of a predecessor. And as you continue to triumph and push....

12/01/2025

We have a new batch of graduations to celebrate this month! 🥳 🎓 Congratulations to Zahraa Darwich, Elisiah Jones, and Darwin Sandoval for finishing PT school! 🎊

We are so proud to see these rising leaders join the ranks of their DPT peers! Please join us in congratulating them!

11/28/2025

Today, on Native American Heritage Day, we recognize the importance of representation in healthcare.

""One of the long-term goals I have is to return back to my community back on the Navajo reservation. When I was working at the medical center, one of the elders approached me and told me that they enjoyed being treated by someone who looked like them. And that's always been something that's stuck in my heart."" —Jayln Gorman, 2024 Rizing Tide Crest Scholar

We’re so proud to support scholars like Jalyn who are driven to serve and uplift their communities!

11/27/2025

Rizing Tide has a lofty goal: to broaden the reach, impact, and accessibility of PT by advancing diversity and inclusiveness in the PT workforce. During our five years of operation, we've made some serious headway—and that's all thanks to the support of our community. On this day of thanks, we want to shout out everyone who has made our progress possible.

We’re thankful for our scholars and their commitment to improving the lives of their patients and the future of physical therapy.

We’re grateful for our employers and sponsors who've supported our mission and opened doors for future PTs.

And finally, we're deeply appreciative of our Beachcombers, our selection committee, speakers, volunteers, and all those who believe in our vision.

From all of us at Rizing Tide, thank you so much—and we wish you a warm and restful holiday. 🧡🤎

11/18/2025

Did you know Native American women earn about half of what their white male coworkers make in a year?

On Native Women’s Equal Pay Day, Rizing Tide is focused on supporting Indigenous women in PT and expanding opportunities that help our profession better reflect the communities we serve.

We’re creating opportunities through mentorship and scholarships to grow a diverse PT workforce. Join us in advocating for fair pay, supporting Indigenous women in PT, and closing the wage gap.

11/13/2025

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Titilayo Akinmusuru, PT, DPT, director of acute care therapy at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, for leading the latest PT Pod webinar on acute care physical therapy!

Dr. Akinmusuru shared an inside look at what it’s like to help patients regain strength and mobility during critical stages of recovery in a hospital setting. She taught us how vital acute care PTs are in helping patients take their first steps toward healing.

As she shared with our scholars, “If you can make it in acute care, you can make it anywhere.”

At Rizing Tide, we’re proud to give future PTs opportunities to explore the many specialties within rehab therapy and hear directly from leaders who are shaping the field.

11/12/2025

Why is men’s pelvic health still overlooked in physical therapy?

While DPT programs often cover women’s pelvic health, male patients with pelvic pain, urinary issues, or sexual dysfunction are still too often left without specialized care. That’s where Integrated Pelvic Care - IPC is changing the narrative.

In our latest blog, we highlight the growing need for PTs trained in men’s pelvic health and share insights from experts Dr. Di Wu and Zhen Chen, co-founders of IPC. Their goal is to provide PTs with the skills and confidence to treat this often overlooked population, improving outcomes and helping more men regain comfort, confidence, and quality of life.

Learn more about why specialized training matters and how you can be part of this change:

Pelvic health is a growing physical therapy specialty—but its typical focus leaves behind one large patient population.

11/07/2025

What makes Rizing Tide different from any other scholarship organization is its commitment to helping SPTs learn about the specialties that exist in rehab therapy.

Members of the Rizing Tide PT Pod can join our next webinar, featuring Dr. Titilayo Akinmusuru, PT, DPT, director of acute care therapy at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, tomorrow, November 8, at 7:00 AM PDT / 10:00 AM EDT. Attendees will get an inside look at the world of acute care physical therapy, where PTs patients regain strength and mobility in a hospital setting.

If you’re curious about hospital-based PT or you're considering a career in acute care, you won’t want to miss this conversation! Email Belen to learn more and reserve your spot.

11/04/2025

Our 2025 Surge scholars are here! This year, we awarded a scholarship to five doctors of physical therapy who are pursuing advanced education through residency training. Their dedication, passion, and leadership are inspirational—and promise a bright future for our profession.

2025 Surge Scholars
Gabriela Rodriguez: University of Central Florida & Orlando Health Neurologic Residency
Maya Jones: Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation & Texas Woman's University in Dallas Physical Therapy Residency in Women's Health
Juan Avelino: Brooks Rehabilitation Orthopedic Residency

2025 Surge Rizing Star Scholars
Zoe Dickerson: Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation Oncology Residency
Do Kyung Yun: Greater Los Angeles VA Orthopedic Residency

Learn more about the 2025 Surge cohort and how Rizing Tide is creating a more inclusive future for the physical therapy profession:

/PRNewswire/ -- Rizing Tide, a foundation dedicated to expanding access to physical therapy care by creating a more inclusive workforce through scholarships...