RIC Degree in Exercise Science Led to Doctorate in Physical Therapy

Briana Gough graduated from RIC in 2019 with a B.S. degree in community health and wellness (now called wellness and exercise science). Today she is a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) at Elite Physical Therapy in Warwick and a RIC adjunct faculty member in the Department of Health and Physical Education.

According to Gough, “Rhode Island College’s wellness and exercise science program “set the stage” for the rigors of DPT school. A DPT is the current entry-level degree for physical therapists practicing in the United States and involves three years of schooling.

Gough is a graduate of URI’s DPT program, and notes, “I was well prepared when I got there, particularly as far as courses in strength, conditioning, exercise physiology and kinesiology. All of these courses, which I first had at RIC, helped give me the prerequisite knowledge.”

Along with coursework, a major component of DPT education is clinical rotations. In her final year, Gough engaged in rotations at clinics and hospitals, working closely with licensed physical therapists to hone her skills.

After graduation, she took the national PT exam in order to be licensed and practice as a physical therapist. Today she is a certified doctor of physical therapy, helping patients recover from injuries and mobility limitations.

“At my clinic, focus is on exercise,” she says. “As a population, we see a higher concentration of people over 65, and for a lot of them, it’s the first time in a while that they’re able to move without pain or to interact with their pain in a way that allows them to do the things they want to do.”

“I wanted to go into this field because of the people,” Gough says. “I enjoy empowering them to take control of their health, giving them tools to be as mobile as possible and helping them have the fullest quality of life.”

She also teaches a course in kinesiology twice a week at Rhode Island College.

“What I appreciate about RIC’s wellness and exercise science program is not only the hard sciences you learn, I think they also do a great job of developing your teaching skills,” she says. “As a physical therapist, you’re teaching every day. You’re teaching patients exercises and you’re teaching them about their condition.”

Gough was so inspired by the teaching style of former RIC Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education Jason Sawyer that in her senior year she wavered between pursuing physical therapy and going into teaching.

“I had a few conversations with Dr. Sawyer, but he wasn’t going to tell me one way or the other what to do,” she says. “I think that’s what makes him such an outstanding teacher. He gave me the resources and the tools to come to that decision myself. He invited me to guest lecture his first-year students’ class for a day, and it allowed me to get an idea if I liked being in front of a classroom. I really enjoyed it. Though I ended up pursuing physical therapy, I’m also teaching. I feel very fortunate. As a licensed provider of physical therapy, I think there’s a lot you can bring to the classroom with clinical experience.”

Gough urges RIC students to take advantage of the many opportunities that the Department of Health and Physical Education offers, such as teaching opportunities at all different levels – elementary, high school and community-based programs – and to reach out and make connections with physical therapists in the field to get a feel for the profession.

For information on a degree in wellness and exercise science, visit Wellness and Exercise Science B.S.