Albany State student gains physical therapy experience at Columbia program

Albany State University junior Jose Holmes II joined Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s Summer Health Professions Education Program to explore physical therapy and prepare for graduate study. The experience underscored the role of Albany State’s Honors Program in helping students compete for selective national opportunities.

Why it matters: - Jose Holmes II’s Columbia University summer program experience adds momentum to his goal of becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy. - The opportunity highlights how Albany State University’s academic and honors support can help students access selective national health professions programs. - The experience also reflects the broader pipeline effort to prepare more undergraduates for graduate study in healthcare.

What happened: - Albany State University junior Jose Holmes II participated in the Summer Health Professions Education Program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York. - Holmes is a Health and Human Performance major from Berkeley, California. - The program brought together undergraduate students from across the country for academic enrichment, professional development, mentorship and exposure to healthcare careers. - Holmes said the experience strengthened his understanding of physical therapy and confirmed his interest in graduate study in the field.

The details: - SHPEP is a national initiative aimed at increasing access to health professions careers by helping undergraduates prepare for graduate and professional education. - Participating students receive academic enrichment, career exploration, mentorship and professional development. - Holmes said the program showed him that healthcare success requires more than strong grades. - He pointed to communication, compassion, cultural awareness, professionalism and the ability to work with people from different backgrounds as essential to quality care. - Holmes said the program also reinforced the value of professional relationships, mentorship and early preparation for graduate school. - Holmes credited Albany State University’s academic environment and the Velma Fudge Grant Honors Program with helping him prepare for the opportunity. - He said faculty guidance, coursework and honors involvement helped him build discipline, confidence and professional awareness. - Holmes is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and the Health and Human Performance Club. - He has also earned Dean’s List recognition. - Holmes has contributed to the Albany State community through service tied to Honors Convocation preparations, a mathematics tournament and the Albany Marathon.

Between the lines: - Holmes’ experience suggests that hands-on exposure can sharpen a student’s career focus before graduate school applications begin. - Albany State’s repeated placement of students in programs at Columbia, MIT, Brown, Duke, UCLA and other research universities signals a stronger competitive pipeline for its honors students. - Holmes framed the program as both a technical learning opportunity and a personal test of independence, confidence and adaptability.

What’s next: - Holmes plans to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. - He said he wants to build the skills needed to serve patients from diverse backgrounds. - Albany State’s Honors Program is likely to continue using selective summer placements to expand student opportunity and raise the university’s profile.

The bottom line: - For Holmes, SHPEP turned interest in physical therapy into a clearer graduate-school path, while underscoring how Albany State prepares students for high-level academic opportunities.