More than 50 faculty, and current and admitted students, attended the third annual Black History Month Physical Therapist Alumni Panel event, held February 6.

Brittany Damice, PT, DPT ’18, Farimang Touray Jr., PT, DPT ’22, Alvin Atkinson II, PT, DPT ’22, and Itua Eghe, PT, DPT ’23, shared their stories about becoming physical therapists. They discussed the obstacles they overcame and gave advice for the aspiring healthcare providers in attendance.

The virtual event was sponsored by the Department of Physical Therapy, in collaboration with the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Fellow Karina Absalon, a Doctor of Occupational Therapy student.

The panel was moderated by first-year Doctor of Physical Therapy student Caresse Henderson.

Read more about the panelists:

Dr. Brittany Damice is a pediatric physical therapist at Boston Children’s Hospital, working in inpatient, hospital-based outpatient, and early intervention settings, where she treats congenital, developmental, genetic, autoimmune, neurological, and orthopedic diagnoses. She also has experience treating pediatric chronic pain within an intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment program where she treats diagnoses including but not limited to: Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome, Functional Abdominal Pain, Chronic Headache/Migraine, and Functional Neurological Disorder. She is also involved in several research efforts investigating tests, measures, and health equity regarding treatment of the pediatric chronic pain population.

Dr. Farimang Touray, Jr, originally from Anchorage, Alaska, was co-class representative for the class of 2022. Since then, he has practiced in Massachusetts, Alaska and currently in California.

Dr. Alvin “AJ” Atkinson II works full time in a hospital-based outpatient setting in Greater Boston, treating varying ages of orthopedic conditions. Prior to attending the IHP, his background was in sports rehab and orthopedic conditions, specifically in coaching and basketball skills training. As a student, he, along with two of his other minority colleagues, cultivated a podcast discussing their unique experiences through healthcare. With the help of some faculty, they curated a class group discussion surrounding the killing and aftermath of George Floyd. Diversity and inclusion are staples he carries with him at each clinic at which he works.

Dr. Itua Eghe received his B.S. in Health Sciences from Boston University in 2019 prior to attending the Institute. Currently, he practices in an outpatient clinic in Cambridge, MA, where he enjoys treating a variety of orthopedic conditions in a diverse patient population.