Soon-to-be Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), (John) Chandler Allred, DPT '26, traces his passion for service back to a moment when he watched his parents go above and beyond the call of duty.
In middle school, his stay-at-home mom decided to obtain her Certified Public Accountant degree and then pursue her master's degree in Occupational Therapy. All the while his father, also named John, was serving in the military, one deployment in Iraq and another in Afghanistan.
“I’ve never seen my mom work as tirelessly as when she was in her OT program,” he said. “It was so inspiring. I constantly think about how much harder she had it compared to me and my program, as she was also raising three kids at the same time.”
His father underwent physical therapy after multiple surgeries, which further inspired Allred to pursue a path in physical therapy and rehabilitation.
“I saw the relationships he developed with the physical therapists treating him. They listened and developed their rehabilitation plan to his specific goals as he’s a super active person. It turned everything around for him and, in a way, gave him his life back,” he said.
As a future physical therapist, Allred aspires to provide that same level of whole-patient care. He plans to become an acute care physical therapist, with the goal of either serving on active duty in the armed forces or working with the VA.
“I see it as my way of giving back to the community that gave so much to me and supporting veterans like my dad and helping them achieve their rehabilitation goals,” he said.
As for advice he bestows on his fellow students, he says: “Never get too comfortable and always try to put yourself in situations you haven’t been in before so that you’re always learning.”
PCOM Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), PCOM Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. Graduate degrees are offered in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus joins PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, PCOM Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the community. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit pcomgeorgiahealth.org.
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