Alumni Spotlight: Stephanie Strodtbeck Brings "PT For Future Me" to Life

Every October, Bryant & Stratton College joins the American Physical Therapy Association in celebrating National Physical Therapy Month. This year’s theme, PT For Future Me, highlights how physical therapy supports strength, mobility, and resilience across a lifetime by helping people invest in the healthiest, most independent version of their future selves.

We’re proud of all our graduates, and this month we’re excited to spotlight one of them, Stephanie Strodtbeck. As a 2019 graduate from our Parma campus, Stephanie earned her AAS in Physical Therapist Assistant and has spent her career since making a lasting difference in the lives of the children she serves.

A Foundation Built for Real-World Impact

Stephanie’s path into physical therapy began in the classroom, but it was the hands-on nature of B&SC’s PTA program that prepared her for the realities of the field. Her coursework and clinical training gave her the knowledge and confidence to work with patients ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics, across a variety of care settings.

“My education helped me build confidence and apply what I learned in the classroom and clinical settings to real-world patient situations,” Stephanie shared. She credits the program’s small class sizes with giving her space to ask questions, gain more hands-on practice, and receive the kind of personalized feedback that helped her grow into a capable, compassionate clinician well before she ever set foot in her first job.

The Mentor Behind Her Success

Ask Stephanie about the people who shaped her time at B&SC, and one name comes up immediately: Jodi Frank. A faculty member known for her compassion and patience, she was always willing to answer questions, provide extra support, and deliver feedback in a way that built students up rather than tearing them down.

She helped Stephanie push past her own self-doubt and grow into the confident practitioner she is today. Their relationship also didn’t end at graduation. Jodi continues to play a role in Stephanie’s professional life by trusting her to serve as a clinical instructor for current PTA students and inviting her to join the Advisory Board for B&SC’s PTA program. Stephanie also supports the program by educating classes on pediatric interventions, passing along the same guidance and encouragement she received.

Finding Purpose Working in Pediatric Care

While the PTA field offers opportunities across many settings, Stephanie found her calling working with children. As a pediatric physical therapist assistant, she gets to be part of a child’s story during one of the most important stages of their development.

“Every child has a different story,” she explained. “I love being a part of their journey and helping them work toward being stronger and more independent.” What might look like a small milestone to an outside observer, Stephanie knows, can represent a monumental achievement for a child and their family. Being present for those breakthroughs is what keeps her passionate about her work day after day.

That passion also shows up in the way she approaches treatment. Stephanie takes pride in finding creative, engaging ways to help her young patients navigate their environments, build relationships with peers, and steadily progress toward their goals. Watching a child grow more confident, build trust with her, and reach milestones they worked hard for is, in her words, “incredibly rewarding.”

Moments That Stay with Her

Over the course of her career Stephanie has accumulated no shortage of memorable moments; many of them tied to her role as a clinical instructor. Mentoring student PTAs and watching them apply their own knowledge and compassion in real clinical settings has been one of the most fulfilling parts of her career. Two of her former students now work in pediatrics themselves, and Stephanie has had the joy of watching them grow from students into confident, capable PTAs who share her love for working with children.

Her work in school-based physical therapy has also given her something many PTAs don’t get: the chance to work with the same child over multiple years. Seeing a student move through the classroom with more confidence, joining in activities with classmates, navigating the school environment independently, or managing daily routines on their own are the moments Stephanie takes pride in and remembers most.

Reflecting on What It Means to Be a PTA This Month

For Stephanie, National Physical Therapy Month is a chance to reflect on what her role truly means. “Being a PTA means having the opportunity to make a positive difference in someone’s life,” she said. “It means meeting patients where they are, helping them recognize their abilities, and supporting them as they work toward becoming stronger, more independent, and confident.”

It’s about building trust and rapport, finding creative ways to help patients reach their goals, and showing up every day with patience and compassion, the very qualities that define PT For Future Me.

Proud to Call Her One of Our Own

From a supportive classroom experience at our Parma campus to a thriving career shaping young lives, Stephanie Strodtbeck’s story is a powerful reminder of what a B&SC education can lead to. As both a practicing pediatric PTA and a mentor to the next generation, Stephanie continues to give back to the very program that helped launch her career.

This National Physical Therapy Month, Bryant & Stratton College is proud to celebrate Stephanie and everything she represents: skill, heart, and an unwavering commitment to helping others build a stronger future.

Inspired by Stephanie’s journey? Learn more about Bryant & Stratton College’s AAS Physical Therapist Assistant program and see how you could start building a career that changes lives too!