“Not only did our students learn compassion, but they also learned the importance of taking a holistic view of an individual to understand how presenting difficulties or impairments impacts their goals, dreams and desires," Wruble said. “This experience also allowed them to recognize different learning styles and modify instruction accordingly; these are all very transferable skills for PT students as they set off on their careers.” 

Bhagwat learned to be flexible.

“You can plan to work for an hour, but you have to adjust in the moment and navigate any challenges based on how he’s feeling,” Bhagwat said. 

Yu said the experience helped her build empathy. 

“I learned to let the patient guide their goals,” Yu said. “PTs, at times, can push their own agenda, and I never want to be that kind of PT, so this experience will always be in the back of my mind as I treat patients.” 

But Wruble also watched her students grow as human beings.

“Our students laughed and cried along with Allen and dealt with the ups and downs of life together,” Wruble said. “It showed them that when times are tough, and when health is not the best, it’s partnership that gets you through — it’s your village.”

Wruble wants to see this successful peer-to-peer model replicated by a national organization with the PT profession.

“Zoom traverses the distance,” Wruble said. "While this started as a tutor-student relationship, it quickly evolved into a friendship. Tutoring wasn't a 'job' for the DPT students; they were helping a friend, and that’s what life is really all about — helping others in times of need. The DPT students were passionate about seeing Allen succeed academically and realized the great privilege of being part of his journey. 

“We would love to see other health professions programs engage in activities such as this,” Wruble continued. “Offering support not readily available to individuals and communities near and afar helps solidify the social responsibility of health providers in helping maximize the wellbeing of all people.”

These hour-long Zoom calls also meant the world to Allen’s mother. 

“Allen and I do a lot together, and this experience allowed him to venture out to care for himself,” Yvette Roberson said. “He can do it, but he needed people his age to build on his confidence and show him that brain cancer doesn’t define him.” 

And Allen can back that up.

“It’s almost indescribable how much they’ve helped me; it’s life-changing,” Roberson said as he got choked up. “They gave me effective study strategies, and some days, we just got on Zoom and chatted about our day to decompress; it was so necessary to find the normal in my life at that time. We reshaped bad days into good days, and I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done for me. It’s hard to put into words how grateful I am.”

The gratitude Allen feels, DPT students feel, too. 

“Allen encourages me to focus on the good, spend more time with family and have a more positive mindset,” Welsh said.

While they’ve never met in person, the trio has formed an unbreakable bond with Roberson. 

“I’d love it if we could go to happy hour and have a margarita with Allen,” Welsh said. “That would be so much fun. I bet he’d start dancing!”  

Wruble said seeing her students grow and become so deeply invested in this relationship was gratifying.  

“They celebrated successes together, they rallied together when times were tough, and Allen was the source of inspiration,” Wruble said. “PT school is hard, and when you have someone like Allen cheering you on, your motivation only increases. Our students walked away from every meeting feeling appreciated. Allen always expressed his gratitude, and his positivity was palpable. He was the greatest and loudest cheerleader for our DPT students, and they were for him as well. They touched each other's hearts and souls — and, in the process, are earning some pretty amazing academic credentials."