By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director
 

Viviana Ortiz Guerrero knows the impact a physical therapist can make in people’s lives.  

“Growing up, I was the clumsy kid who was also involved in sports,” said Guerrero, a 24-year-old PT student from Bogotá, Colombia. “Physical therapy gave me my life back after many injuries and eventually after ankle surgery. I value the impact it made on my life and hope to make a difference in other people’s lives.”

Guerrero and the 55 other students in the PT Class of 2025 will get one step closer to helping others when they celebrate their White Coat Ceremony from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Singletary Center.

Guerrero, president of the Lexington campus PT class, will speak at the ceremony, which she says she’s been looking forward to.

“Yes, I will be giving a speech,” she said. “I will be talking about the student perspective, making this transition from didactic coursework into clinicals. I hope to remind the students of all we’ve overcome to be here and thank our support systems for everything they’ve done.

“As our first white coat ceremony in the UK PT program, it symbolizes respect for our doctoral degree and our profession,” she continued. “For me personally, it means that we have reached another milestone in the program and are moving forward to the next phase.”

Guerrero, who also earned a B.S. in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, as well as a B.A. in Music from UK, said she wanted to continue her educational journey here in Lexington.

“PT school at UK offered many diverse learning opportunities that I felt would expand my horizons as a student, including experiences like a medical brigade in Ecuador and a clinical experience in Italy,” she said.

And for those interested in going down a similar path? What would she tell those students?  

“The community that you’re able to build in PT school and the opportunities we have are unlike any other,” she said. “The proximity to a Level 1 Trauma center, well-known research, and dedicated faculty members shapes your education in an impactful way.”

And starting tonight, they will all be one step closer to their goals.

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