From Afghanistan to the Clinic: A Physical Therapy Grad’s Journey
When Jena Burkhart DPT’24 stepped into her first class for her doctorate in physical therapy at the , she was on leave from active duty in the U.S. Army. While deployed to Afghanistan just eight months before, she had written down a New Year’s resolution: go to school for physical therapy.
In August 2021, that goal became a reality, though the transition wasn’t easy. Not long after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Burkhart found herself adjusting to a new pace of life and a different kind of classroom.
“We were coming out of the longest war that this country's ever been in, the Global War on Terrorism, which had defined my entire adult life up to that point,” Burkhart said.
Jena Burkhart DPT’24 (center) at her graduation from the U.S. Army Ranger school.
Though she faced challenges many veterans encounter when leaving the military, she was supported by a team of faculty that includes fellow veterans, even some like her with a background in special operations. That shared understanding helped ease the shift from military to academic life. And unbeknownst to her, Burkhart became an inspiration for those around her, including her professors.
“Unassumingly and maybe unknowingly, Dr. Burkhart is a role model for everyone who knows her,” said Jason Steere, a clinical assistant professor of physical therapy who served as a contract physical therapist for the U.S. Army Rangers for more than a decade. “The humility she embodies is awe-inspiring given her achievements. She has proved to be an exemplar for veterans navigating the challenging transition from military culture to the civilian world. She maintained the strict self-discipline that was essential for her military career, while being attentive and accepting of others with different life experiences.”
Jena Burkhart DPT’24 (third row, center) and her Puget Sound cohort at the annual PT Olympics.
In 2021, Burkhart was also selected as a Tillman Scholar, joining a prestigious network of student veterans, service members, and military spouses empowered to carry on Pat Tillman’s legacy of service and impact. Local Tillman Scholars provided a supportive community of peers that helped her settle into graduate school.
Physical therapy has always appealed to Burkhart. With a background in kinesiology and a passion for movement, she values the way PT uses exercise as medicine. “I'm not going to lie,” Burkhart said with a laugh. “I love fitness. Olympic weightlifting, running, biking, snowboarding — I love it all.”
Jena Burkhart DPT’24 at the 2024 Commencement Ceremony.
A misdiagnosed knee injury during her time in the Army continues to shape her desire to ensure patients feel heard and understood.
“It was the most serious injury I’d had in my life up to that point, and I felt dismissed,” Burkhart said. “My previous experiences really influence how I treat my patients now. I want them to feel valued and heard; I want them to understand what’s going on within their own body.”
Though she applied to a range of programs, Puget Sound’s School of Physical Therapy stood out for the opportunity to work with patients in the community from the beginning of the program, the electives in specialized topics, and the service trip to Guatemala, which spoke to Burkhart’s values and allowed her to continue the service that had shaped her adult life. The university’s on-site, pro-bono clinic provides valuable hands-on experience for students, contributing to the program’s record of high passing rates on the professional licensing exam.
Now Burkhart works in an outpatient orthopedic clinic in North Carolina where she treats patients of all ages for everything ranging from musculoskeletal pain to stroke recovery. She credits Puget Sound with preparing her to meet each person in the clinic with empathy and a commitment to their well-being.
Jena Burkhart DPT’24 leads a women's gym orientation.
Reflecting on her journey, Burkhart emphasizes that success in PT school isn’t about chasing grades — it's about mastering the skills needed to make a real difference in people’s lives.
“In healthcare, nothing is clear-cut,” Burkhart said. “The tests and the exams are just a way to measure if you know the material. But at the end of the day, you're going to be responsible for helping a real human feel better and potentially changing their life.”
“As one of her professors, I feel extremely fortunate to have learned with a person of such high character,” Steere said, “and I look forward to all that she will do in the future.”
