Hemisha Kanji, SPT, PT Moves Me Ambasador 

Question: What does better representation in the field mean to you?

Response: Better representation to me means having students, faculty, and support staff that is diverse in cultures, ethnicities, and come from different programs and institutions that may have learned concepts differently than how UNMC teaches. I think it is important to have new perspectives not only in the classroom, but through lived experiences shared by professional peers and SPT peers. Though PT is improving in breaking racial barriers, we still have a long way to go... as 87% of the profession remains Caucasian. Thus, if we begin recruiting students from all backgrounds, academically, professionally, and personally, we can help improve this statistic to create a more inclusive and diverse field. By doing so, we can impact all patients of all ethnic backgrounds. It will make our profession rich, which in return, will enhance the care given to patients in our care.