Returning to school: USask Physical Therapy students pursue their dreams

University of Saskatchewan (USask) students Jordan Boone, Landon Riekman, Josh Ramsden, and Laura Lewis are in their first year of the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) program. They are all parents, had full-time careers, and were inspired to return to school to follow their passions for physical therapy and to provide meaningful service to their communities.

Here is what the students had to share about their decision to return to school and their experiences in the program.

After 15 years working as a carpenter, Boone experienced an injury at work that changed his life and led him on the path to becoming a physical therapist.

“I had to rehabilitate a broken heel bone for two years. I spent a lot of time with a team of physical therapists and took a genuine interest in the profession,” Boone said. “Once I made the decision to become a physical therapist six years ago, I’ve never looked back.”

He returned to school in 2019, earning an undergraduate degree in the College of Kinesiology before pursuing his MPT.

“The span of time had been so long from when I was in high school it really felt like a whole new world. At first it was overwhelming, but I started to figure out what worked for me as a student. As I became more comfortable, I excelled, which was a welcome surprise that built my confidence.”

He said returning to school as a mature student has its challenges, but he overcomes them through time management and with the support of his wife and family.

“To balance my time as student, parent and spouse, I have to be very strategic. It feels like every moment of the day is accounted for and I do my best not to lose sight of the important things like spending time with my young children or having quality time with my wife while keeping up with my studies.”  

When asked about physical therapy and the road ahead, he expressed his excitement for the future.

“My path was very different but I’m grateful the university provided an avenue for someone like me to apply and succeed. I’m looking forward to starting my career in a new field that excites me and positively impact people’s experience in the way that I was impacted when I had my injury.”

Riekman (BEd’16) is a former middle school teacher who made the decision to pursue a career in physical therapy.

“When I first started to consider the idea of returning to school, all I could focus on were the obvious barriers in front of me like managing kids’ schedules, leaving a full-time job, and impacting overall stability. When I decided to take the courses required to apply to the program, it provided me and my family the opportunity to test and measure how returning full-time would affect our family.”

Riekman noted that returning to school full-time would not have been possible without the continued support of his friends and family, especially his wife Allison.

“She works full time in health care while managing schedules and our home. She is truly incredible.”

Teaching provided stability for his family but with the new occupational therapy and speech-language pathology programs coming to USask, Riekman was excited to become a student again. 

“With the two new programs launching next fall, the interdisciplinary learning opportunities between the three programs are going to be extremely valuable and unique for students. These opportunities reinforced my decision to attend here.”

Although older than most of his fellow cohort, he enjoys being one of the “seasoned students.”

“Our opinions as older individuals may offer a different perspective on a topic that may not have been considered through a younger set of eyes, similarly to how that younger generation may have a better understanding with certain areas that we are not as familiar with. I haven’t found it difficult connecting with my fellow classmates. Everyone has been so welcoming and genuinely nice. Being a professional program helps as I feel everyone is very like-minded in terms of wanting to do their best and wanting the best for everyone else.”

Looking ahead, Riekman is excited to learn and grow as a person and as a student.

“I am very excited to continue this journey, learn directly from physical therapists, and get a glimpse into all the incredible directions this great career can take me.” 

After 10 years in professional theatre and 13 years in sales, Ramsden’s experience forged a strong sense that he would move into a health-care profession, and choosing physical therapy at USask was the best decision for him and his family.

“I was born and raised in Saskatoon and my long-term goal has always been to work and raise my family here. Studying physical therapy at USask allows me to pursue a career I'm passionate about while remaining grounded in the community that means the most to me.”

Ramsden emphasized that every family situation is different and the decision to step away from a career to pursue something new is never easy.

“There were real obstacles—financial considerations, the time commitment, and the long path of pre-requisites, but I believed it was important to follow a path that felt meaningful, even in the face of uncertainty.”

When asked about what the biggest adjustment was returning to school, Ramsden mentioned the amount of time needed outside of class.

“That shift impacted everything for me including helping coach my daughter’s soccer team, being home for bedtimes, drop-offs and pick-ups, and general family routines. There are days when I need to meet with group members or stay on campus longer to study which causes me to lean on my partner, friends and family for support. They have helped us navigate this season, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”

As a fine arts student, Ramsden never considered himself a science person and took both in-person and online courses to apply to the MPT program.

“The combination worked well—the flexibility allowed me to move at a pace that fit the realities of my life at the time.”  

He is looking forward to becoming a physical therapist and continuing to learn every day.

“Physical therapy is a profession grounded in staying current and continually growing is something that really excites and motivates me. The prospect of helping people regain function, confidence, and quality of life feels incredibly meaningful.

“Every person brings a unique story, and being able to walk alongside them during some of their most challenging moments is something I don’t take lightly. I’m looking forward to building the skills and being able to bring them back into my community.”

Lewis graduated from the University of Alberta with a bachelor’s degree in commerce in 2017. She worked in the oil and gas industry in Calgary for several years and started to develop a passion for endurance sports.

“My time in Calgary helped me understand the importance of physical activity, ergonomics, and long-term health, especially while working in a sedentary office environment. But the most influential period was pregnancy and postpartum. As a former athlete, the physical and emotional changes were overwhelming, and physical therapy played a huge role in helping me regain strength, confidence, and mobility. The support I received from my physical therapists inspired me to pursue the profession so I could help others through similar life transitions.”

This experience motivated her to complete the required pre-requisite courses to apply for the MPT program. She took online courses during maternity leave and returned as a full-time student in 2023 to finish the requirements.

“I underestimated the chaos of having a two-month-old more than the difficulty of the courses themselves. However, my family made it possible—helping with childcare, meals, and constant encouragement while I completed anatomy and physiology courses during my first maternity leave. The pre-requisite online course options were a game changer.”

Lewis highlighted that her family went through a major shift when she started the program.

“Both of our kids started attending daycare, my husband began a new job, and my schedule changed overnight. The biggest adjustment was carving out study time—early mornings and late nights after bedtime quickly became the new normal.”

“As a parent, your day doesn’t end at 5 pm, so balancing school with toddlers means studying whenever the house is finally quiet,” she added. “I am so thankful for my husband for taking on extra childcare at exam times. Parenting really is a team sport.”

She also mentioned her gratitude for her program’s clinical co-ordinators for their support.

“As the primary caregiver for two young children, the support from the school helped make the logistics and demands of the program, and future clinical placements, feel manageable.”

Being in her first year of the program, Lewis feels fortunate and has built strong relationships with her fellow students.

“Our cohort includes several parents and many students who had careers, so it was easier building new relationships. The diversity of backgrounds has made the class incredibly supportive, and everyone comes with a strong “why” for being here. Despite the challenges life has brought this fall, I feel energized every day because I’m truly passionate about what we’re learning and grateful to be part of this program.”

Overall, Lewis is excited for the future as her career change has been years in the making.

“It feels like a privilege to sit in class each day and learn material that directly connects to future patient care. I love the mix of classroom learning, hands-on labs, and upcoming clinical placements. I’m especially looking forward to discovering different areas of physical therapy practice, developing strong clinical skills, and ultimately supporting patients in ways that have been so impactful in my own life.”