With positivity, kindness DPT student aims to make an impact
And her hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed
Growing up in a suburb of Atlanta, Sydney Ballew discovered by high school that she had interests in medicine and in business. But she had no idea where her path would lead when she committed to play lacrosse for the University of Cincinnati at just 16 years old.
Ballew arrived on campus with some college credits already under her belt and jumped right into advanced undergraduate classes like anatomy and physiology. Being an athlete, she’d thought about physical therapy as a career. Then, during her first year as a Bearcat, she injured her knee on the playing field.
“It turned out to be a blessing in disguise,” Ballew said, five years later. “Being in the training room, seeing the miracles of PT with everyone around me, I was like, 'I'm on the right path.'”
Sydney Ballew plays lacrosse for the University of Cincinnati. Photo/provided
Ballew healed up and went on to play lacrosse for three years. Today she has completed a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Sciences and is on course to earn her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2025.
“What truly distinguishes Sydney is her intrinsic motivation,” said UC’s Director of the Physical Therapy Program Chalee Engelhard. “She seeks leadership not for accolades or recognition but to find joy in her work and to contribute positively to the lives of others.”
That attitude — and a long list of experience and volunteer work — led to recent recognition for Ballew in, of all places, Atlanta, where she accepted two awards (and accompanying scholarships) at the annual conference for the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) held in October. The Washington, D.C.-based not-for-profit is a professional association for academic administrators, educators and others concerned with the pressing issues impacting allied health education.
Somehow, Ballew never drops a ball, despite having so many in the air.
Rebecca Rebitski Assistant professor in UC's College of Allied Health Sciences
ASAHP President Craig R. Jackson said Ballew was a clear choice for one of this year’s Scholarships of Excellence, as well as the Elwood Scholar award, which recognizes an outstanding individual who excels in their academic program and has significant potential to assume future leadership roles in their health profession.
“Sydney's academic achievements and her steadfast commitment to the field of physical therapy distinguish her from her peers,” said Jackson, who is also dean of the School of Allied Health Professions at Loma Linda University. “She upholds the Elwood legacy with distinction.”
Sydney Ballew, Health Sciences graduate. Photo/provided
Ballew said if the message she conveyed in her winning essay didn’t fall on deaf ears, it’s another sign that she’s on the right track.
“I want to advocate for the movement of our bodies as preventative health care,” Ballew said. “I aim to inspire individuals to embrace movement as a cornerstone of their well-being, fostering healthier communities.”
Adjunct Professor Rebecca Rebitski has had Ballew in four classes and is faculty adviser to UC’s pro-bono Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Clinic, for which Ballew is treasurer. Not only is Ballew a 4.0. student, but she’s volunteered at the clinic, which provides physical therapy to uninsured and underinsured individuals in the region, for several years, Rebitski said. Ballew oversees two fundraisers a year and manages the clinic’s budget and expenses, as treasurer.
“She’s certainly trusted,” Rebitski said. “She’ll take on a challenge with all her energy; look at and vet all opportunities, rather than taking the shortcut or just grabbing low-hanging fruit.”
Ballew is also program director and adaptive sports coach volunteer for Iron-Core, a strength and conditioning clinic for child and adult adaptive athletes. She’s the liaison to the Ohio Physical Therapy Association for the UC DPT Student Organization and is a former volunteer support teacher for Cincinnati Ballet Moves, an adaptive dance class for children with cognitive, behavioral or physical disabilities.
"Somehow, Ballew never drops a ball, despite having so many in the air," Rebitski said. "She is confident and comfortable with the children and the adults that she works with, as well as the professionals she networks with at the state and national levels."
“Making an impact at the community level, one patient at a time, is very worthy in her mind,” Rebitski said. “Whatever Sydney chooses to do, she’ll be great at.”
Sydney Ballew receives an award on a stage. Photo/provided
Ballew isn’t sure what vein of physical therapy she’ll enter upon graduation, but said she’s enjoyed everything she’s done so far through the DPT program. She’s back in the classroom for two semesters now, after completing the first of three clinical experiences. Ballew’s first rotation involved working for nine weeks in a local inpatient rehabilitation hospital.
"I worked with a lot of strokes, some amputations, individuals with multiple traumas,” Ballew said. “The hands-on part really brings everything home, and I loved it — again I knew I picked the right profession.”
Her next clinical rotation will be in a local outpatient orthopedic and sports medicine program and the final one will be working in the outpatient pelvic floor and cancer care unit at St. Elizabeth Hospital.
She seeks leadership not for accolades or recognition but to find joy in her work and to contribute positively to the lives of others.
Chalee Engelhard Doctor of Physical Therapy program director
Featured image at top: Sydney Ballew receives an award on a stage. Photo/provided
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With positivity, kindness DPT student aims to make an impact
December 2, 2024
University of Cincinnati Doctor of Physical Therapy student Sydney Ballew excels in academics, leadership and advocacy. Recognized with national awards, she volunteers with adaptive athletes, manages UC’s Pro-Bono DPT Clinic and promotes movement as preventative health care. With a 4.0 GPA, she aims to impact underserved populations through specialized physical therapy care.