For second year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students within The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), graduation is over a year away. However, one student in particular has her eyes on the future – even going as far as to already secure her post-graduation employment.
Catie Neel recently committed to joining the United States Public Health Services (USPHS) Commissioned Corps after her expected graduation in May of 2026. Neel applied to the USPHS Senior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (COSTEP) program in August of 2024, which offers not only financial assistance in the final year of PT school but also a job in the USPHS Commissioned Corps for two years after receiving her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.
After she graduates, Neel will work in a hospital under the Bureau of Prisons as an acute care physical therapist. Neel will be placed in one of hundreds of locations around the country served by the Bureau of Prisons in partnership with the USPHS.
“Hospitals are my favorite environment to work in. I know I will learn a lot by being placed there for my first two years after graduation,” Neel said of this exciting opportunity.
With core values such as leadership, integrity, service, and excellence; the USPHS aims to serve the nation by providing healthcare and increasing health equity. “I really liked the mission of the USPHS and how they work primarily to aid underserved communities,” Neel said. “Working with the USPHS will also allow me to transition to policy later in my career, if that interests me,” she added.
GW DPT faculty were essential in Neel’s application process, and ultimately her decision to commit to the USPHS Senior COSTEP program. Neel first learned about the USPHS–specifically the Bureau of Prisons–through a panel hosted by assistant professor Erin Wentzell, PT, DPT. Assistant professor Karen Goodman, PT, DPT helped Neel refine her interest in acute care physical therapy, with specific interests in cardiopulmonary and neurological patient populations. Neel also sought help from associate professor and associate director of the DPT program, Matthew Garber, PT, DPT, MSc, while navigating the application process.
Neel’s passion for public health began while she was earning her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health from the University of South Carolina. In the GW DPT program, her passion has continued to grow through engaging discussions on the social determinants of health and population health in several classes.
Neel believes it is “important to be able to help those who are underserved, or who do not have access to the resources they need. Public health is a great way to spread both resources and knowledge to those in need.”
When asked what she is most looking forward to about her work with the USPHS, Neel said, “I am really excited to jump right into the hospital setting and learn a lot from everyone around me on how I can better serve my community through acute care physical therapy.”