Get to Know: Karina Herrera

Story by: Zabrina Motwani Condor

What made you want to pursue a career in Physical Therapy?

Being the eldest sibling to a sister with medical and developmental disabilities, I was exposed to related services in special education early on. Unofficially observing countless hours of speech, occupational, and physical therapy as I assisted my sister, Shayla. I witnessed firsthand how in conjunction, these services guided her to her goals. I learned invaluable material from each profession through observation and several conversations with her therapists. I was invariably blown away by each service. However, Physical Therapy had such a grip on my attention that I strongly began to explore as a future profession. I wanted to be in a career that would continually push me to learn about myself and provide me the opportunity to develop constantly, while also pursuing my dedication to science, research, and the fascination with the complexity of our bodies.

How has CU Physical Therapy program allowed you to pursue your goals?

Coming into the CU DPT program a mere 10 days after my undergrad graduation, there was no time for breaks. Immediately learning the drive, passion, and commitment it takes to be a part of a prestigious DPT program. Over a year into the program, I can confidently say CU Anschutz continues to give me the education, tools, and opportunities I need to become a great clinician. I have been challenged to degrees unlike anything I have experienced, however with the support and encouragement of the program, my classmates, mi familia, and people closest to me I continue to climb closer to my goals.

What is your “why”?

My passion for service fuels my drive to continue my education and dedicate my life to helping individuals through their medical hardships using the skills I am learning in the DPT program. Having such a personal relationship with physical therapy early on, I could see the impact it made in aiding my sister to reach her developmental milestones with the help of her physical therapist. One of the many things I admire about physical therapy is the emphasis on collaboration and communication with others in order to deliver care to meet the complete needs of the patient. Continuously understanding the impact that can be made as a health care professional in order to support those in need and get them back to their goals.

September 15 – October 15 is a month to celebrate and honor Hispanic and Latin heritage, and the contributions to this countries history, culture and advancements. What does this mean for you? In what ways do you feel you have contributed to the advancement of this Physical Therapy program? / How have you, or want to contribute to your community now/after your graduate?

I am a proud Mexican American woman and the first generation to attend college. It brings me so much joy to share my identity, cultural values, and traditions into the spaces I enter. Celebrating Hispanic and Latin heritages is an opportunity to be prideful of our roots and honoring the history that came before us as we continue to trailblaze. I had made a commitment to myself at the start of the program, to give it my absolute best, then in the future I can advocate in healthcare, speaking and applying pressure on crucial matters. In addition to my studies, I continue to participate in conversations out of the classroom to grow beyond my hands on skills. I currently participate in Community Cafes and Disability Dialogs, both are opportunities to collaborate with other future providers about relevant health care issues and what we can do to advance the field. It is important to me to provide support to underserved communities, making sure accessibility of care is possible to all who need it. After graduation I would like to be a reliable provider as a bilingual clinician using my knowledge in both English and Spanish. Eventually, I hope to have a place in policy work addressing public health issues and health care disparities many communities face.

What words of encouragement do you have to share with future students of color pursuing careers in healthcare?

You deserve to take up space and have your voice be heard. You are needed in these spaces, to be a familiar face during times of dismay for many patients. There may very well be days where it feels like you do not belong, it is so important to refuse the thoughts of not. Impostor syndrome is entirely too real; however, you should not let those moments deter you from pursuing the goals you have set out for yourself. Aim high, even if it appears to be too difficult, succeeding is a process not just a target.

Get to Know: Dr. Adedayo Balogun

What made you want to pursue a career in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation? 
As a medical student, I had a wide and varied interest in all of my different clinical rotations. I had a strong interest in the musculoskeletal system, and the neurological and neuroanatomy courses. When I was exposed to a PM&R rotation, it was the first rotation that I felt completely in tune with the physicians that were present. It helped address all of the most important aspects of a person’s healthcare, and took into account all aspects of a person’s experience when taking part in their care.  

How has the CU PM&R residency program allowed you to pursue your goals? 
This residency program has so far allowed me to cultivate my experience and independence in different rehabilitation settings and learn how to navigate the different barriers and challenges that patients face routinely. I've been exposed to many different versions of being a PM&R physician, and I have had the ability to explore these different areas in a way that I can prepare myself for life after residency.

What is your “why”? 
My “why” is always to bring the best care to as many people that I can first and foremost. I want to be able to deliver that same care to people that have historically been overlooked, and taken advantage of as well. I aspire to provide patients that may not always feel seen or heard to understand that I’m taking their concerns to heart, and I understand the perspective that many of their other care providers may not. I also strive to be a positive example for others who may look like me or identify with me. I want to be more than an example, but a support system for those coming after me.  

February is a month to honor and celebrate Black leaders. What does this mean for you? 
Black History Month is an opportunity to take a step back and reflect on the ways that black people have contributed to the world. We have been leaders for change and equity, leaders in science, health care, ingenuity and all aspects of life. Being a leader, to me is about being accountable. I think that having priorities, morals, and standards, and holding strong to those values is all that it takes to be a leader.  

What leadership role(s) have you taken up and what impact have they had on you and your time in medical school or residency? As a medical student I took part in my school's Student National Medical Association (SNMA) chapter. As president of this chapter, we had a hand in reaching out to the community for other people to understand that becoming a physician was attainable, finishing school and going to the college opened plenty of doors, and providing support and guidance for undergraduate students that had an interest in going to medical school.  

Being a physician inherently occupies a leadership role. As a physiatrist, we regularly take part in team meetings, where we discuss patients with PT’s, OT’s, RN’s, social workers, case managers, and speech therapists. Sometimes, being a leader is understanding how the team functions most effectively, other times it’s trusting your teammates to their expertise and simply providing an overall team goal for everyone to strive towards.  

What words of encouragement do you have to share with future students of color pursuing careers in healthcare?
The words of encouragement that I have for those students would be to always show up and be yourself. You have a unique experience and perspective that matters, and never let fear of failure keep you from trying something that you are passionate about. Do your best to surround yourself with people that you admire and have similar goals as yourself. Not competitors, but people who will lift you up with them. These are the people that you’ll grow the closest to both professionally and personally.