Nathan Fillman '24

From a young age, Nathan Fillman ’24 knew he wanted to work in health care, inspired by his family members who are in the field.

“My uncle, grandmother, and grandfather were EMTs, and my mother is an ER nurse.”

His mother suggested he pursue physical therapy.

“I’ve always been fascinated with how the body moves— the muscle groups and systems, tendons, bones, and my mom said I’d be a perfect physical therapist because along with my interests, I like to talk to people, and I want to help people.”

When deciding where to intern, Nathan was guided by his advisor, Dr. Mark Kelley. “I knew I wanted to stay in the area and complete my internship this semester, and he suggested SMART Rehabilitation,” which offers physical and occupational therapy at Bradford Regional Medical Center. 

“Dr. Kelley thought it would be a perfect fit for me— they’re professional, smart, and know what they’re doing.”

Nathan enjoys working with a diverse array of patients.

“I work with both older and younger individuals, and it’s interesting to see the differences in the body at different ages.” 

He also appreciates working with different parts of the body.

“Coming to SMART, I wanted to see knee mobility … because the knee is such an intricate part of the body, so you have to be limited in the way exercises and goals are completed.”

The biggest highlight on his internship has been meeting new people and building connections. 

“I love meeting new people. We get on a first-name basis, have good conversations and joke around with each other.”

Nathan is grateful for the hands-on experiences he’s had in the exercise science program, which has helped him flourish in his studies.

“Pitt-Bradford exercise science was the perfect home for me, and that decision has helped in boosting my career and getting experiences I feel I wouldn’t have been able to at other campuses.”