August 29, 2025 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu

Growing up in Barnwell, South Carolina, Makenzie Anderson and her dad had to drive nearly 90 minutes North to Columbia for physical therapy after she tore her ACL playing high school volleyball. Joining the profession didn’t cross her mind, however, until she was studying clinical kinesiology at Charleston Southern University.

“I knew I wanted a job that allowed me not to sit behind a desk all day and to make an impact on people’s lives in some of their more vulnerable moments,” Anderson says. “Many of my undergraduate professors were physical therapists, and they were mentors to me, so with their guidance and working as a rehab technician at an MUSC hospital and in private practice, I decided to purse my Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT).”

After narrowing the myriad of DPT programs down to her top three, Anderson ultimately chose the one offered by the Arnold School’s Department of Exercise Science due to its small class/cohort size, rich interactions between faculty and students, and vast array of clinical opportunities. A lifelong Gamecock, she also loved the idea of attending USC and living in the state’s capitol city.

“It’s been amazing!” Anderson says of her time in Columbia. “I have spent much of my time tailgating and attending USC football games, taking walks at the riverwalk, enjoying Soda City, studying at so many different coffee shops in the area, and attending local events like the Five Point’s St Patrick’s Day concerts.”

In addition to gaining teaching experience with the program’s human gross anatomy and dissection course for first-year students, Anderson honed her clinical skills with placements at Prisma Health, MUSC and Lexington Medical Center. She found mentors in her supervisors and professors, particularly Alicia Flach and Sheri Silfies.

“Dr. Flach helped me find opportunities in the neurological field to learn and grow while sharing her expertise in many ways,” Anderson says. “Dr. Silfies was the professor over the courses I was an instructional assistant for and helped me to truly grow as someone who wanted to pursue education in the future.”

After graduating this month, Anderson will join Encompass Health as a physical therapist in their inpatient rehabilitation hospital. Based on her positive experiences at the Arnold School, she also plans to pursue teaching opportunities in the future.

“I believe the beauty of how the human body was created in its grand design is remarkable, and my passion for subjects I enjoy make it easy to share my love for knowledge with others,” she says.

When asked about advice she might pass along to others applying to USC’s DPT program, Anderson says it’s all about balance.

“Take the time you need to study and prepare, but do not neglect time to enjoy all Columbia and USC has to offer,” she says. “Whether it be strolling down main street, enjoying nature at the riverwalk, or taking a few hours from your Saturday to tailgate and dance at Williams Brice, it’s vital to make the most of your time here because three years truly flies. It’s so easy to throw your spiritual, mental, and relationships to the back burner when you are in a very time-consuming, challenging graduate program; but to be the best future clinician, you also have to take care of yourself.”

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