Bryan Collegiate High School grad discovered her pathway to a career in physical therapy through Blinn College's Health Sciences Summer Camp

Now a Blinn freshman, Sarah Denman was the first camp alumna to enroll in a Blinn Health Sciences program

February 26, 2024

As the daughter of a nurse, Bryan native Sarah Denman thought she was aware of everything a career in the health sciences had to offer. Her participation in the Blinn College District’s annual Health Sciences Summer Camp as a seventh grader changed her mind.

“The Health Sciences Summer Camp introduced me to a bunch of different things that were all really interesting,” she said, “but when we went to the physical therapy lab something clicked. I like being physically active and helping people and it just seemed like a combination of the two and it seemed fun.”

Now a first-year student in Blinn’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program, Denman credits the camp with introducing her to a field she may not have considered.

“I didn’t expect to learn what I did, but it was very interesting,” she said. “The camp covers a broad scope and I would definitely recommend it to anybody.”

Offered at Texas A&M-RELLIS in Bryan, Blinn’s three-day camp introduces seventh and eighth graders to high-demand careers in various healthcare fields such as Associate Degree Nursing, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Science, Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technology, and Veterinary Technology.

“Sarah is a wonderful example of the impact our Health Sciences Summer Camp can have on young students, and I hope she’s just the beginning,” said Sami Rahman, Director of Simulation and the coordinator for the annual camp. “We want to engage these young minds and open them up to careers in the health sciences they may never have heard of before. Of course, we love to get our campers thinking about Blinn’s programs, but even if we just get them more excited by science or healthcare, it’s a win-win.”

For Denman, walking into the PTA Program’s lab made a lasting impression, inspiring her to dig deeper.

“I liked all the technology and equipment that they had in the lab,” said Denman. “I did look into other schools, but Blinn’s program has such high accolades it seemed like a winner to me.”

Blinn’s Division of Health Sciences is based at Texas A&M-RELLIS in a facility that features 16,000 square feet of space dedicated to clinical simulation laboratories equipped with the latest technologies.

In addition to state-of-the-art equipment and small class sizes that create better faculty-to-student ratios, Blinn’s PTA Program features a 100% employment rate and a 94% first-attempt pass rate on the national licensure examination.

“One of the biggest reasons I chose PTA was getting more hands-on contact with patients,” she said. “When you’re treating patients, you grow with them. They start and they can’t walk, then you get them to sit up in bed, and then the next week you get them to stand up. Eventually, you get them to walk. You get to grow with your patient and see how beneficial you are. I think it’s beautiful.”

PTAs help people of all ages with medical issues or health-related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist, PTAs teach patients exercises to improve mobility, strength, and coordination.

Although she’s still considering various specialties, Denman hopes to harness her experience as an athlete to help her patients.

“I was a swimmer growing up, so I’m interested in aquatic therapy, research physical therapy, and potentially getting my bachelor's and becoming a physical therapist.”

She also would love to use her new role as a PTA student to inspire future Blinn Health Sciences Summer Camp participants.

“I would love to return to the camp and serve as a mentor,” Denman said. “I think it would be really encouraging for them to see what is possible from someone who’s been in their shoes.”

To register for this summer’s Health Sciences camp or to learn more, visit www.blinn.edu/health-sciences/summer-camp.html or email sami.rahman@blinn.edu.

For more information about Blinn’s PTA Program, visit www.blinn.edu/physical-therapist-assistant. The deadline to apply for fall 2024 program admission is March 1.