With graduation approaching, College of Western Idaho (CWI) Physical Therapist Assistant student, Austin Davis, is preparing to step into the profession with confidence and a clear sense of direction.
“I’ve already had the chance to interview and connect with clinics during my clinical rotations,” Davis said. “It made the transition feel more real, and it confirmed that this is where I want to be.”
For Davis, the physical therapy field feels like a natural fit. He grew up playing sports and continues to stay active in his day-to-day life, whether that is lifting, snowboarding, playing volleyball, or spending time on the water during Idaho summers.
He is also no stranger to the physical therapy world. Over the years, Davis has dealt with multiple injuries, including shoulder, ankle, and hip issues, many of which required rehabilitation.
Long before that, Davis was already familiar with the healthcare system. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 3, he learned early how to manage a chronic condition and advocate for his own health.
“It’s something I’ve dealt with my whole life,” he said. “It definitely taught me discipline and made me more aware of how the body works.”
All of those experiences have shaped how he sees healthcare and help reinforce his belief that people should not feel limited by injury, pain, or chronic conditions. Whether it was managing his own diabetes or recovering from injuries, Davis learned early how important it is to help people stay active and confident in their daily lives.
“In my career I’m interested in gaining a deeper understanding of how to treat chronic pain, as well as learning which exercises, techniques, and modalities are most effective for different types of injuries,” Davis said. “I want to be able to tailor treatment to each individual and truly make a difference in their recovery.”
Becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant was not a lifelong goal for Davis. It was a path that found him.
After high school, he knew he wanted a career where he could help people, but he was still figuring out what that path would look like. When he graduated in 2020, he did not see a traditional college path for himself. Instead, he worked different jobs and completed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training.
“I liked the information I learned there, but I knew it wasn’t something that was meant for me,” he said.
Soon after EMT school, and while still exploring what he wanted to do, Davis went to a routine physical therapy appointment for his hip and shoulder. While catching up with his therapist, Davis shared about his goals and career aspirations. He knew he wanted a career in healthcare, but he had not found the right fit.
That was when his therapist brought up the idea of a Physical Therapist Assistant role, a career that combined the active environment he enjoyed with the opportunity to help others recover and checked many of the boxes he was looking for. He started exploring the career further and discovered CWI offered a Physical Therapist Assistant program.
“I remember thinking, this is something I could really get behind,” he said. “I’ve always wanted a career where I can help people, and the idea of being active while doing it made it even more appealing.”
That decision changed everything.
“What motivated me is how practical and meaningful the knowledge is — not just for a career, but for everyday life,” he said. “It allows me to better understand how to prevent injuries and help the people around me recover, stay active, and live without pain.”
CWI’s Physical Therapist Assistant program combines classroom learning with hands-on clinical experience, helping students build skills in rehabilitation techniques, patient care, anatomy, and mobility training. For Davis, those clinical experiences were where the work became real.
Through placements, including time at the Veterans Affairs Health Care facility in Boise, he worked directly with patients recovering from surgery, injury, and other medical conditions.
“During clinicals is really when you get to put in the work,” he said. “You finally get to put everything you’ve learned into action, and when patients tell you they’re improving or thank you for helping them, that’s when you know you’re making a difference.”
He found himself especially drawn to outpatient care, where he could focus on helping people return to activity, manage pain, and regain confidence. Watching patients make that progress reminded him why he chose the field in the first place.
“I just want people to stay more physical,” he said. “A lot of longevity is linked to your muscle, your health, and just overall being active.”
Although Davis says growing up he was not always the strongest student academically, his time at CWI helped him prove to himself how much he was capable of. After struggling with grades and social anxiety, he found a new level of focus and confidence in college.
“My grades have improved exponentially compared to high school,” he said. “Taking that time before coming back to college and working on myself definitely helped.”
He credits much of that success to the close-knit environment within the Physical Therapist Assistant program. Classmates supported one another by sharing study materials, preparing for practical exams together, and spending time outside class through volleyball games and game nights.
“I feel like we were pretty tight knit,” he said. “We were always sharing notes or helping each other understand something better.”
Faculty support also played a major role. Davis said his instructors were approachable, patient, and committed to helping students fully understand difficult material.
“They took the time to teach us when we needed it,” he said. “That helped a lot.”
Now, after three years at CWI, Davis is preparing to graduate, complete his licensure, and begin working at Wright Physical Therapy in an outpatient setting. Having started the onboarding process and passing his board exam has made this next step feel even more real.
“Being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel is a surreal and rewarding feeling,” Davis said. “It honestly doesn’t feel like that long ago that I started this journey.”
Reaching this point means more than earning a degree. It reflects how much Davis has grown over the last few years and shows him just how capable he really is.
Davis’ next goal is the same one that drew him to the career in the first place — helping people get back to doing what they love.
“I don’t want people to feel like they can’t do anything because of limitations,” he said. “Even if it’s not 100 percent, they can still get back to doing more than they think.”
For students considering a career in healthcare, CWI’s Physical Therapist Assistant program offers hands-on clinical experience, faculty support, and the opportunity to make a difference in patients’ lives. Learn more about the program and how to apply at CWI.
