Support MU DPT’s Central America Service Learning Trip

Marymount Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students are driven, compassionate, skilled professionals formed by an education grounded in intellectual curiosity, service, and global awareness.

The Physical Therapy program’s annual service learning trips to Central America allow students to apply their clinical expertise in underserved communities. These transformative experiences challenge students to think critically, adapt creatively, and confront global healthcare disparities, inspiring them to grow personally and professionally while making a lasting, meaningful impact.

helping hands icon Helping hands with a heart Helping globe icon
15
Years of service learning
in Central America 		400
Students who have supported
underserved populations 		2011
First service trip to Costa Rica 


Service Trips
Support MU DPT’s Central America Service Learning Trip  2011–17 Costa Rica  |   Support MU DPT’s Central America Service Learning Trip  2017–20 Nicaragua  |  2021 Cancelled due to COVID  |   Support MU DPT’s Central America Service Learning Trip  2022–24 Guatemala

“One small interaction can go such a long way. Since we only got to work with each of our patients once, we had to learn how to leave them with something valuable in a single interaction. For some, it was an exercise program or education of lifestyle modifications. But for others, it was simply being present and validating their concerns.” — Robin Zhao, student

Donate Today to Support the DPT Service Trip

Make a Lasting Impact—Support the 2025 Service Learning Trip!

Your generosity can transform lives. By supporting Marymount’s Doctor of Physical Therapy service learning trip, you enable students to provide essential care in underserved communities while growing as compassionate, skilled clinicians. This life-changing experience equips them with critical problem-solving and cultural awareness, fostering a commitment to healthcare equity. Your donation helps create a ripple effect—uplifting students, improving healthcare access, and changing lives in communities that need it most. Will you join us in making this possible?

Our goal is to raise $70,000 to continue our work in Guatemala.

Support MU DPT’s Central America Service Learning TripThe newly launched “Diana Venskus Scholarship” financially supports Doctor of Physical Therapy students, helping them participate in life-changing service learning trips to underserved communities. By easing the financial burden, this scholarship enables more students to apply their skills in real-world settings, gain invaluable clinical experience, and contribute to the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations.

Diana started the MU Physical Therapy global service learning opportunities in 2011 with a group of 24 students traveling to Costa Rica. That led to 6 more years of service trips to Costa Rica with groups ranging from 16 to 35 students. The hospital facility that Diana started working in back in 2011 grew from having no physical therapy services, to employing 4 full-time therapists by the time the team returned in 2017.

Diana moved the target of this service trip north and started leading full teams in Nicaragua in 2018 before being forced to stop serving that location due to Covid-19 and ultimately political unrest in Nicaragua. 

Unfazed, Diana looked further north to Guatemala where MU DPT students have provided physical therapy services to underserved people since 2022 and will continue to serve for many years to come. 

The Diana Venskus Scholarship supports full-time students in good academic and judicial standing in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and participating in a service-learning opportunity for underserved populations. A current FAFSA must be on file in the Financial Aid Office, and a Marymount DPT faculty advisor should recommend the recipient(s).

Donate to the Diana Venskus Scholarship today

“Going on the service trip has increased my clinical reasoning and confidence as a clinician. I have further developed my skills and ability to instruct others. But most importantly, this experience further fostered a desire to help others and care for my future patients.” — Sabrina Bishop, student

By supporting the MU DPT service learning trip to Guatemala, you contribute to impactful outcomes that transform both students and the communities they serve.

Marymount faculty at Solola Hospital in Guatemala Service Trip 2023

Personal and Professional Growth

  • Students gain hands-on experience applying their knowledge in real-world settings with limited resources.
  • They learn to adapt, think creatively, and provide physical therapy with greater independence and confidence.
  • The trip deepens their passion for helping others and strengthening their commitment to the profession.

A Global Perspective

  • Exposure to different healthcare systems enhances students’ cultural competence and understanding of global healthcare disparities.
  • They return with a renewed appreciation for the privileges of the U.S. healthcare system and a commitment to serving diverse populations.
  • The experience broadens their worldview, making them more empathetic, flexible, and open-minded clinicians.

Marymount students exercise with residents in Guatemala
marymount physical therapy students helping others

Commitment to Service

  • Students witness the transformative power of physical therapy in underserved communities, inspiring future service work.
  • They are motivated to participate in more service trips and contribute to improving healthcare access for marginalized populations.
  • The trip strengthens their dedication to making a meaningful impact abroad and within their local communities.

Donate Today to Support the DPT Service Trip

 

“Our students applied their knowledge to care for those who lack access to rehabilitation services, and shared evidence-based, contemporary practice with physical therapists and other providers in Guatemala. They left the trip with improved problem-solving skills, better self-efficacy and progress in intercultural development.” — Dr. Megan Moran, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy

 

Previous Guatemala Service Learning Trips (Instagram – @marymountphysicaltherapy)