The School of Medicine student stands out as a leader, serving as president of the University Student Government Association and her Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2023.
Over the next month leading up to UMB’s commencement on May 18, The Elm will feature stories on the ceremony’s student speaker and honorees. For more information, go to UMB’s Commencement 2023 website.
Joanna Zhao Ye has taken on several leadership roles since arriving on the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) campus in 2020, including secretary and now president of the University Student Government Association and president of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Class of 2023.
Ye, who will graduate from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) this May, is most proud of leading her class of future physical therapists because of the obstacles they had to overcome in starting their three-year program soon after the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded.
“My class started physical therapy school in May 2020, which was an exceptionally challenging time to be a student, especially since we couldn’t physically be on campus for the entire first semester,” she said. “However, our class remains one of the most tight-knit, cohesive cohorts in the history of the program. Starting from our first semester, I tried to foster a supportive class culture and advocate for the needs of my peers. I know that ‘class culture’ is something that is hard to measure or prove, but it’s truly something I am most proud of.
“I am grateful to have a supportive family including my parents, sisters, and husband, who is an active-duty naval flight officer,” Ye added. “Because of a supportive family life, I have the capacity to participate in activities and leadership roles that I find interesting and meaningful. The motivation behind most of my leadership roles is because I find it meaningful and rewarding to support other students.”
Ye was born in China, and her family came to the United States when she was 1. On her path to UMB, she lived in Iowa City, Iowa; Carlisle, Pa.; and Ellicott City, Md., where she graduated from Centennial High School. She attended Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and received a bachelor’s degree in public health studies in 2019.
As a senior at JHU, she worked as a physical therapy technician at an outpatient clinic in Baltimore, inspiring her to pursue a DPT degree.
“I loved how much one-on-one time physical therapists get to spend with their patients, because it creates unique opportunities to provide patient education and address all aspects of a patient’s life and health,” Ye said.
Ye also has been active in research during her time at UMB, serving as a research assistant in geriatric physical therapy and physical therapy education under UMSOM assistant professors Jason R. Falvey, PT, DPT, PhD, and Cara Felter, PT, DPT, respectively.
“Joanna takes great pride in her experiences as a leader and advocate, and she has excelled in her time as a DPT student,” Falvey said. “She was an author on a peer-reviewed publication during her training and led the presentation of this work at a national conference — very impressive accomplishments for a DPT student.
“She is also a strong voice for health professions students across campus, collecting data from myriad student community members and using her findings as a way to initiate needed conversations with faculty and administration about important and perhaps unrealized student needs.”
Ye has twice received the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Education Award, which is given to military spouses and dependents for higher education, and won the Donald J. Hobart Scholarship, which is awarded to physical therapy students for demonstrating excellence in leadership abilities, academic standing, compassion, humanitarian qualities, and involvement in extracurricular activities.
She has even found time to serve as a consultant for UMB’s Writing Center, advising students from all disciplines on writing essays, résumés, professional publications, and more.
As part of the DPT program, Ye has completed three full-time internships in clinical settings since July 2022, working in Virginia Beach, Va.; Baltimore; and Burtonsville, Md. After graduation, she will be working for Fox Rehabilitation, a physical therapy company that specializes in geriatrics.
“The research I’ve been involved in during physical therapy school has largely focused on improving the health and well-being of older adults, so I am excited to pursue a clinical career that aligns with my research interests,” Ye said. “My career aspiration is to not only practice physical therapy, but also to teach future generations of health professionals. Attending UMB and taking advantage of opportunities to get involved in leadership, research, teaching, and science communication has inspired me to pursue this goal of becoming an educator.
“The mentorship I have received from my professors at the School of Medicine and through the UMB Writing Center has set me up well for a meaningful career.”