Father and son alumni challenge graduates: leave the profession ‘better than you found it’

Elon University conferred nearly 100 degrees from the School of Health Sciences on Dec. 13 in Alumni Gym.

Jeff Shoup G’00 G’05 and Durand Shoup G’22 were all too familiar with how graduates felt during the School of Health Sciences commencement ceremony on Dec. 13 in Alumni Gym.

“If I could go back to that day, I’d tell myself to pause, to take a breath and reflect on the friendships, the challenges and the knowledge I gained during graduate school. I’d make sure to appreciate everyone who made it possible,” said Durand, who earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in 2022.

Durand followed in the footsteps of his father, Jeff, who was part of the inaugural Master of Science in Physical Therapy class in 2000 and earned his doctorate in physical therapy in 2005. In 2009, Jeff founded Natural Bridges Rehabilitation, a physical therapy clinic in Elon, where he continues to practice. Jeff remains actively involved in the Elon community, serving as a clinical instructor for DPT students and contributing to Elon’s H.O.P.E. Clinic and the CityGate Dream Center.

After earning his DPT, Durand established a physical therapy department within The Endurance Collective in Durham, North Carolina, where he serves a diverse athletic community. He is also the founder of Field Performance, an online coaching platform that offers personalized performance coaching for clients with complex medical histories.

Two men in regalia stand behind a podium and speak
Father and son alumni Jeff Shoup G’00 G’05 and Durand Shoup G’22 deliver the commencement address at the School of Health Sciences on Dec. 13 in Alumni Gym.

The impact is in you

On Friday, alongside the 25th anniversary of the DPT program, the father and son addressed nearly 100 graduates, 41 earning a doctorate in physical therapy, 35 earning a master’s in physician assistant studies and 18 earning an accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing. Jeff and Durand challenged the graduates to leave their professions better than they found them.

“We are all colleagues now,” said Jeff. “If we wait for more compliant patients, insurance reform, our government, or big health corporations to make health care better, we will just be waiting. The power of impact is in you.”

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Rev. Kirstin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, opened the ceremony with the invocation followed by the national anthem performed by Associate Professor of Nursing Elizabeth Van Horn. SHS Dean Maha Lund welcomed the graduates and their families and friends.

“Graduates, know that you are needed,” said Lund. “Today, our communities face significant health care challenges and inequities. You have worked hard to develop clinical and leadership skills that can help you address these challenges and reduce health care inequities. Congratulations on your accomplishment. We wish you continued success and happiness as you apply your learning to serve those around you.”

Emphasizing their challenge to graduates, Jeff and Durand offered several pieces of advice, including honoring your foundation, not falling prey to imposter syndrome and embracing struggle.

“Seek wisdom through humility,” said Durand. “Strengthen your foundation you built here at Elon by guarding your character with truth. Let the imposter syndrome die within you with empathy and embrace the suck as you step into the space with others with kindness, empathy, and a willingness to grow. The world, and your profession, will be better for it.”

Two women stand behind another. All are wearing regalia. One woman in regalia places a hood on another one.
School of Health Sciences Dean Maha Lund hoods a School of Health Sciences graduate at commencement on Dec. 13 in Alumni Gym.

Paths to PT and PA

Jeff discussed his long path to graduate school, something many of Friday’s graduates could relate to. Fiorella Barreda G’24 took a nearly six-year gap after her undergraduate career before pursuing her doctorate in physical therapy. Six months before the start of Elon’s DPT program, Barreda had already paid a deposit to another university, but it was the pro-bono H.O.P.E. Clinic that convinced her to come to Elon.

“One of the biggest priorities for me was community service,” said Barreda. “I’ve had this dream of becoming a physical therapist for 15 years. Now, to be here, getting those three letters behind my name. It’s hard to believe.”

Adyazbeth Barrientos Solis G’24 earned her master’s degree in physician assistant studies on Friday. As a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Barrientos Solis is passionate about helping others in similar situations, contributing to the SHS Student Diversity Committee and volunteering to educate SHS on the needs of DACA patients and students.

“I like to advocate for the students and show that there is a way to grad school with being DACA,” she said. “There are a lot of barriers we come across, but it’s possible. It’s something that I also liked about the PA program is that they knew what DACA was. I thought it was important because you have to be able to understand what I have to go through.”

Knowing she wanted to go into medicine, Barrientos Solis was also drawn to physician assistant studies for the flexibility, which she says will allow her to change specialties if needed and also have a family in the future. She has already accepted a position with the Kernodle Clinic in Burlington as a hospitalist in the Department of Surgery.

Three people in regalia clap and smile
Doctor of Physical Therapy graduates during the 2024 School of Health Sciences Commencement on Dec. 13.

Transform the health care landscape

Friday’s ceremony also included one undergraduate program – the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN). The post-baccalaureate program is open to anyone who already holds a bachelor’s degree and has completed certain prerequisite coursework. It allows students to earn a BSN, traditionally a four-year degree, in 16 months.

“Elon is my bread and butter,” said Sky Allison ’23 ’24, who earned an ABSN degree on Friday. “I loved it enough that I stayed for my second degree. There’s nothing like the faculty here. You can get a pretty campus anywhere that has resources for anything you want to do. But there’s something to be said about the faculty at Elon.”

“Seek wisdom through humility. Strengthen your foundation you built here at Elon by guarding your character with truth.”

Durand Shoup G’22, Doctor of Physical Therapy alum

As with Elon tradition, each graduate received an oak sapling with President Connie Ledoux Book encouraging the SHS Class of 2024 to plant it as a “reminder of the personal leadership you have developed during your studies at Elon.”

“I want you to go forth with the courage and compassion that have been a hallmark of your time at Elon and continue to make us proud as you transform the landscape of health care,” said Book. “I charge you to carry Elon’s values of honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect with you always. Use Elon’s values when you encourage the inevitable hard choices ahead. Lean on them and I want you to lean on each other.”

Connie Book awaits to hand a dipoma to a student on stage
President Connie Ledoux Book prepares to hand a diploma to a graduate earning a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree at the School of Health Sciences commencement on Dec. 13 in Alumni Gym.

School of Health Sciences graduates

Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Skylar Kurtenbach Allison
Sarah Altmann
Timothy Chandler Brayboy
Catherine Anna Cambon
Ashlee Nicole Dais
Lauren Margaret Davenport
Lauren Dykstra
Alexa Fraser
Walker Blair Gagnon
Makayla Alexandra Harris
Kaley Marie Kennedy
Bailey Elizabeth McNamara
Olivia Piernik
Colette Anne Marie Romp
Kimberly Vale Serge
Kassie Faith Simmons
Ashley Rose Thatcher
Jennifer Tinoco Ortiz

Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

Amanda Suraiya-Ann Ahmed
Tyler Hayes Arenas
Adyazbeth Berenice Barrientos Solis
Oshane Adrian Bent
Karlie Yeomans Bousman
Brette Malyn Davis Gailes
Gabriella Comunale DeCoste
Summer Lily Dunlap
Hannah Ann Durkin
Natalie Madeline Flowers
Natalie Ann Gadaleta
John William Gallina
Carentxa Iryva Goede
Kylie Field Haduck
Haley Rose Harris
Troy Kennedy Hightower
Sloan Susan Horejsi
Catherine Durando Ingland
Anthony Jericho
Dylan Kantor
Samantha Ysabelle Kattiria
Maya Anne LeeMaster
Lilly Katherine McGonegal
Allyson McQueen
Mason McClelland Minor
Malavika Santhosh Nair
Samantha Grace Nawrocki
Sophie Ann Newhouse
Linneah Anne Olsen
Barbara Isabel Ramirez
Christina Saba
Jillian Lee Salisbury
Blake Spurlock
Sapir Tabibi
Jordan Elizabeth Walker
Aimee Wheeler

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Erin Allen Lorino
Sofia Anthony
Fiorella Fernandez Barreda
Kayleigh Harwell Beach
Tatum Ruth Benesh
Renee Boudreaux
Meredith Brown Peru
Meghan Byers
Julia Skye Coenen
Timothy Blair Crutchfield Jr.
Brittany Lane Dixon
Nicole Driscoll
Catherine Fruin Nelson
James E. Gerosa
Christopher James Go
Caroline Guill
Sydney Katherine Hanna
Wesley D. Hart
Alexander Japit
Katherine Olivia Jones
Koehna K. Jordan
Haley Nicole Langley
Matthew Doyn Lawler
Ryan Levi
Ashlyn Kate Loring
Bayleigh Heather Mann
Liam J. McCullough
Michelle Sarah Megurdichian
Tristan Nicholas Norton
Peter Tyler O’Connor
Kelly Catherine O’Daniel
Abigail Joy Piecenski
Jack Forrest Potter
Marco Antonio Ramirez
Jennifer Morgan Rentz
Brody Ritch
Corey Joseph Shedlock
Ekaterina Sheftel
Amy Celestine Smelko
Zoe Deanna Webb
Alicia Shardae Wi