Inspiring Mother-Daughter Duo Overcomes Adversity, Paves Path for Diversity in Physical Therapy
Kimberly Bozart-Dow, a physical therapist in Las Vegas, couldn’t contain her emotions as she watched her daughter, Ravin Rhodes, receive her white coat during the University of Southern California (USC) Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy’s White Coat Ceremony in August 2023.
The moment was a culmination of a journey filled with challenges and triumphs for this mother-daughter duo. Bozart-Dow, a USC DPT graduate herself, had entered the program in 2003 as a single mother to her 3-year-old daughter. Now, 20 years later, Ravin was embarking on the same path, carrying on the family’s legacy.
Overcoming Inner-City Adversity
Growing up in Compton, California, Bozart-Dow faced numerous obstacles, including gang violence and drug-related issues in her community. However, her determined parents ensured that she and her brother had access to private schooling and extracurricular activities, including the unconventional sport of BMX racing.
“My blue-collar parents were determined to have their children be successful and make it out of the inner city,” Bozart-Dow recounted.
These early experiences, including her own physical therapy visits due to sports injuries, ultimately shaped Bozart-Dow’s passion for the field and her desire to make a difference.
Shared Journey and Legacy
During her time as a DPT student, Bozart-Dow’s daughter, Ravin, became an integral part of the USC DPT 2006 class. Ravin would accompany her mother to study sessions, football tailgates, and even the Body Worlds anatomy exhibit, fostering her own fascination with the human body.
“Ravin became the class kid for the USC DPT 2006 class and instantly had more than 90 aunties and uncles,” Bozart-Dow fondly recounted.
After graduation, Bozart-Dow went on to become a Team USA physical therapist for U.S. Figure Skating, treating Olympic-level athletes. Ravin, meanwhile, pursued her own athletic endeavors, excelling in figure skating, basketball, and volleyball, before eventually deciding to follow in her mother’s footsteps.
Celebrating a Defining Moment
When Ravin was accepted into the USC DPT program in 2023, it was a full-circle moment for the family. The timing was especially poignant, as Ravin would be receiving her white coat exactly 20 years after her mother’s class and would be graduating on the 20th reunion of the class of 2006.
“Ravin will have the opportunity to go through the USC program twice, once as a preschooler, and now as an official student!” Bozart-Dow expressed with pride.
The White Coat Ceremony was a deeply meaningful event, not only for Bozart-Dow and Ravin but also for the broader physical therapy community. As Bozart-Dow recognized, the lack of diversity in the profession is a pressing issue, and she is grateful for the support her daughter has received from the USC Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy Black Alumni Association and the National Association of Black Physical Therapists.
Paving the Way for Diversity and Inclusion
Bozart-Dow’s journey and Ravin’s achievements serve as an inspiration for other aspiring physical therapists, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. Through her own clinical practice and the Accelerated Sports Foundation, Bozart-Dow is committed to increasing access to healthcare services for underprivileged athletes.
“I acknowledge the lack of representation of Black people in the physical therapy profession. Only approximately 3% of APTA members identify as Black,” Bozart-Dow noted.
As Ravin embarks on her own physical therapy journey, her mother is confident that she will continue to make a significant impact, both in the profession and in the communities they serve.
