Physical Therapy Student Spotlight: Stephanie Garcia

Geneva resident Stephanie Garcia’s original plan was to study pre-med and attend med school. During her senior year of college at North Central College in Naperville, it all changed. Garcia ruptured her Achilles tendon after colliding with a competitor at a track and field competition. 

She had undergone surgery and went through lots of physical therapy training (PT) after. This experience began her fascination with physical therapy and led her to study PT. Garcia is in her second year of the physical therapy assistant program and plans to graduate in May 2026. 

Growing up, Garcia always knew she wanted to study health care, and many of her family members worked in the career field. 

“The main thing that brought me to PTA is increased patient interaction, because a lot of PTAs like hands-on patient care,” she said. “I like being able to connect with them, build rapport, and just see their recovery.”

Throughout her time at ECC, Garcia has enjoyed how each professor has their own teaching style, and each student has their own learning style. Her professors have been very willing to cater to the different learning styles of her and her classmates, she said. 

“They’re not only focused on your success as a student but also your success as a person, she said. “They consider what's going on in your life, and they try to work with you.”

She has enjoyed working with her specific PTA cohort, who are great at building rapport and connecting, she said. 

Garcia has had an interest in how the body works, how physical activity makes you strong, gain flexibility, and helps patients be able to do functional tasks through PT. She enjoys connecting with her patients, building rapport, and working toward their recovery. 

She is considering doing a bridge program and getting her doctorate in PT, but first wants to settle into her career after graduation and see where it takes her. Garcia’s ideal position would be at an outpatient orthopedic clinic. 

She is currently working at Fox Valley Orthopedics as a rehab technician and would like to continue working there after graduation. Garcia is also the current Student of Physical Therapist Assisting Director for the Illinois Physical Therapy Association Student Special Interest Group.

“I like the pace, being able to see them [patients] after surgery, and seeing how they’re progressing,” she said. “I like the fact that physical therapy is kind of a puzzle. You see what’s going on with them, and how do you treat what you see in that moment?”