FOX Rehabilitation Scholar

Live Better Longer

It’s back to school week for us on FOX Rehabilitation’s Live Better Longer podcast, as we check in with Thomas Jefferson University sophomore, Laniyah Emile, who is FOX Rehabilitation’s first STEP-UP scholarship recipient. Every summer in Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University hosts the STEP-UP Program, which is a comprehensive summer enrichment program for students who come from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in medicine and are economically disadvantaged. Furthermore, applicants are made up of students who intend to apply to graduate school to pursue physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, or athletic training. The program helps students become competitive applicants to graduate school and provides a clearer understanding of the expectations and roles of both graduate students and professionals in rehabilitation science fields. Thomas Jefferson later expanded the program by designating STEP-UP for undergraduate students and creating the REACH program for rising juniors and seniors in high school, serving those who wish to explore careers in exercise science, physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, and speech-language pathology.