MCPHS Students Gain 'Renewed Sense of Service' at Pro-Bono Clinic

MCPHS physical therapy students deliver free care that supports recovery, independence, and dignity.

When second-year physical therapy students from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) arrive at Worcester's new respite center, they don't know what the day will bring. They are there to provide free, hands-on care for patients living at the center.

Patients have been discharged from the hospital and are facing housing insecurity. Many are still in pain and unsure of what comes next, so students and patients take healing one step at a time.

Student-led care for medically complex residents

Students from MCPHS lead the free clinic at the respite center, operated by the Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) and UMass Memorial Health. Twice a week, students visit the center to provide individualized care for current residents and adjust plans as needs change.

Durry Naqvi, DPT '27, and Caitlin Patterson, DPT '27, volunteered—along with classmates—to help launch the pro bono clinic. They toured the facility, selected equipment, built schedules, and supported key decisions with guidance from faculty advisors.

Training that prepares students for real-world practice

The respite center is one of several clinical sites where second-year physical therapy students gain hands-on experience before third-year rotations, and faculty say it is unlike any other site. Students work with people who have complex medical and orthopedic issues, and they take vitals to ensure it's safe to conduct treatment on a given day.

Faculty leaders say the clinic benefits both the community and the students, including a stronger renewed sense of service that students carry into future work. As Dr. Janna Kucharski-Howard, Director of Clinical Education at MCPHS, put it: “The students are leaving with a renewed sense of service and an appreciation for their ability to help.”

Recovery, chronic pain, and support beyond the clinic

Some residents are recovering from major events, including amputation. Patterson described helping a patient build on rehab and inpatient therapy to be ready to receive a prosthesis, while the clinic team also helps connect residents with other support services when needed.

Many residents live with chronic concerns—injuries or conditions sustained years ago that never received treatment. Students often focus on pain relief and function, including posture work to reduce back pain through manual therapy and muscle release.

Looking ahead

The center has added beds to create more living space, and MCPHS hopes to remain part of the center as it grows. Students would like to see the clinic expand to include other disciplines, including pharmacy and occupational therapy.

One year after the clinic began, the students compiled their work, conducted surveys and interviews with participants, and presented the program at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting—the largest physical therapy conference in the country—where they received the Social Responsibility Award.