Physical Therapy Students Run Away With Their Education

NYIT students are used to running around—they run to class, to internships, to club activities. But on Sunday, November 4, they joined in a different kind of race.

More than 35 students in the NYIT physical therapy program volunteered their services for the New York City Marathon. After the runners completed the 26.219 mile course (which also goes through all five boroughs), the students provided them with massages, helped them stretch, and assisted those suffering from dehydration, hyperthermia, hypothermia, and other race-related issues.

Juliana Galante (D.P.T. ’18) coordinated the effort to recruit volunteers. “We worked closely with other medical professions, including student nurses, athletic trainers, resident and attending physicians, massage therapists, nurse practitioners, and other physical therapy students,” she said.

Galante originally heard about the opportunity in her first year at NYIT, but was unable to take part. Nevertheless, she was determined to serve as a volunteer, and in her second year she started an NYIT D.P.T. group with the New York Road Runners.

“We made it our goal to spread the news to others in our program and get them involved this year,” she said. Their efforts succeeded—and the group was thrilled with the number of volunteers. “As students, we are able to get a lot of hands-on experience, which gives us good exposure to working with actual patients. I think that is one of the main reasons why so many people enjoyed the experience,” she said.