Abandoning everything and everyone you have known to follow a dream without a blueprint. After graduation from physical therapy school, I traveled to South Carolina to begin working as a therapist—two suitcases of clothing, a thousand dollars, and a dream. For the first time, I gave myself a chance to heal and grow from a life of hustling and trauma-filled relationships. I used that energy to pursue a second doctorate, a PhD. I'm giving myself a second chance at learning and living; this time for me. I moved from Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to Charleston, South Carolina, alone once again. However, my faith and my firm belief in my purpose allowed me to make it this far. I joined an excellent team of therapists who taught me what a healthy lifestyle and work life look like. I continued my work as adjunct faculty and mentorship to propel my academic skills. As a full-time clinician and PhD student, my work never ends; however, learning to accept help has been a learning curve. My goals as a student include attending conferences, participating in research, creating original research, and giving back to the field of physical therapy. I've learned I could not do this alone. This work is much bigger than myself and will propel the field of physical therapy and rehabilitation sciences. With a scholarship of this magnitude, it would cover my first national-level presentation in February 2025 and the associated commuter cost. The conference's intent lies in educating current and future physical therapists on using electrotherapeutic agents such as neuromuscular stimulation. The education of electrotherapeutic agents has been on a rapid decline, and my charge involves restimulating their use in everyday clinical practice. Electrotherapeutic agents expedite recovery from morbid injuries of neurological and orthopedic origin. Spinal cord injury, stroke, nerve lesions, and orthopedic surgery are a few of the patient classes that benefit most from electrotherapeutics, which has improved clinical outcomes and decreased clinician burnout. Continuing my research in this field with the financial assistance granted by these funds will allow me to enrich my clinical experience and apply my knowledge. Paying it forward. As an underrepresented student, my aim post-graduation involves starting a non-profit for physical therapy and post-professional students to pursue their education based on academic merit and community service. As an alumnus of the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, id like to partner with the institute in providing funds for its students as they traverse from high school to graduate school on the physical therapy track.

My name is DéShawn Fairbairn, a doctor of physical therapy within the orthopedic and acute care settings and adjunct faculty at Tufts school of medicine Doctor of Physical Therapy program. My educational pursuits at this time, involve continuing my education and attending A.T.Still University as a Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) candidate. I've recently been awarded the Tufts School of Medicine Professionalism Award and the Rosen Fellowship Award which allowed me to relocate to begin my career in physical therapy. My goals include, becoming clinical faculty at Tufts School of Medicine after graduating with my DHSc degree , working with the Arthur Ashe Institute of Urban Health to prepare under-served students mentorship opportunities in the field of physical therapy and serving under-served populations by which health disparities are rampant. By applying to this scholarship I can pursue higher education and decrease the percentage owed to this institution. My rationale for applying prior to beginning coursework,included a mentors' recommendation to assist with finances, given my current financial status as a newly minted physical therapist. Healthcare does not assist clinicians well with opportunities to stabilize their finances yet,expect more favorable patient outcomes. Working on student debt while working and attending school will allow for consistent repayment and improve my credit for next life steps. In addition to serving my own needs, i d like to pay it forward by helping student prepare for the financial aspect of post graduate finance management by providing mentorship in this department. Physical therapy is unfortunately one of the few healthcare professions that exhibit a lackluster amount of scholarships for students, professionals and post professionals alike. Outside of physical therapy my interests include singing, writing, working out, cooking , and drawing. My previous endeavors included competitive bodybuilding for five years which allowed me to incorporate my love for the human body, cooking and training under one umbrella. I am a former collegiate fencer for four years at New York University and participated in sponsored artwork via Koh-I-noor USA stationary company. I plan to continue recreational activity throughout my term as a student at A.T. Still to provide balance to the rigor of the program. Thank you for considering my application for this scholarship. I will begin my term with A.T. Still in late July during block one and applying for financial aid as of this month in preparation for the upcoming semesters to ensure enrollment.This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and I am grateful.

Mental health is defined as "a person's condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well being." Importance is defined as " a state of being of great significance or value." Health, especially mental health should be of value in any facet and or avenue. If we as a society value physical conditions of health as important, we must value the mental, which guides choices and outcomes that shape generations. As a man of color, my mental health is of value because it allows me to change the course of generations that follow me. I grew up in a culture where mental health, was second rate to physical health and tertiary to financial health. As a first generation college student, growing up in a household where the capacity to work to earn an income held precedent over cardiovascular and metabolic health warped my own mental health regarding success . I became comfortable with the idea of obtaining an education to work in a system that did not view black men's health as important and i vowed that i would invest in my own mental health to change my family's culture and my own legacy. I obtained access to healthcare via my undergraduate time and enrolled in psychotherapy. Investing in my mental health allowed me to unlearn family trauma,inferiority complexes as a man of color in America, and deal with culture shock as a traditional male. Investing in myself, allowed me to make more sound decisions regarding: education, lifestyle and financial choices. Mental health and the lack of investment in such ,has statistically led black men to: poverty,metabolic disease, addictions, domestic violence, high drop out rates and a plethora of injustices that are criminal in nature. However, an investment in mental health has allowed me to enroll in a Doctoral Program at Tufts School of Medicine, invest in a financial advisor, continue therapy, participate in sports throughout my life and currently engaged to the woman of my dreams. Maintaining this, requires ongoing work in the mental health sector and i wish that more black men can understand it leads to success. My next work includes enriching black students of color to maintain mental wellness via bodybuilding and health seminars. To accomplish this, as a physical therapist, my role is to create more like minds who value seeking out healthcare for learned traumas within our community,enriching their bodies through health lifestyles, and educating men. In do so, i am uplifting men to be better citizens who contribute to better care instead of feeding into the stigma of the "statistically mentally unwell black male." Mental health is community effort and feed into societal success. The amplification of black voices in mental health create generational success and create opportunities for black men such as myself to pay it forward.

Becoming a doctor has been a lifelong dream and the secret to breaking a generational curse of poverty and failed pursuits at higher education. Physical therapy has allowed me to give back to people from many walks of life. As I undertake my clinicals, I've been encouraged to remove student loan debt as soon as possible to begin a life that focuses on helping others rather than slaving to pay a "neverending bill". By focusing on living to serve, I can readily invest in my community in Brooklyn which is underserved in the health professions. As an Arthur Ashe and Rosen Fellowship scholar it is my duty to remain in the health field to provide care and serve as a face to patients who look like myself. The Brooklyn health disparities initiative assists in this cause however, it is geared towards practitioners who have residency within the field for at least five years with allotted time for pro bona services. I'd like to contribute my skillset as do many others who may look like me however, it's not responsible with a huge debt hanging over my head and a family to financially support. My goal is to continue to support my family without concern for added debt and begin residency which isn't covered by financial aid nor loans. As an aspiring electrophysiologist ,my residency tuition would be no less than 10k USD and that's not really accessible from savings nor current student assistance from my program. Physical therapists amongst other doctoring professions receive the least financial aid and or scholarships which bar many students of color from applying to programs. I'd like to change that statistic by giving back and starting my own fund for minority students who wish to become physical therapists. The current statistic for black males for example in the medical field is four percent and 2 percent of all students who apply get accepted. Needless to say we need more diversity within the doctoring professions, however, we also require more people who are willing to help. By paying it forward through starting my own fund, assisting students within my alma mater minority STEM focused programs and applying to my residency program, I know I can make the change needed. The Fairbairn Fisical Therapy Fund will be the first scholarship that serves students of color and would consider a full semester worth of textbook, travel cost,clinical cost, living and personal stipend. The goal , would be to grant this to students to provide a full ride for up to three years of schooling. The fund will also guide students into preparing for residency and or teaching opportunities to give back and encourage more minority students to apply and become therapists as well. Thank you for listening

Live within 60% of your income, save 20 and invest 20. Another tip would be don't invest what you need within the next six months. We often believe in living paycheck to paycheck until we make our big break post-grad landing our dream job. First, it's been taught living paycheck to paycheck is inefficient, but it's difficult with school and even worse without a stable income stream ( not work-study). Second, within a stock/crypto-heavy world, we are taught to strike it big with penny stocks and investments such as Dogecoin, but many of us have monthly bills and cannot afford it. Living below your means allows you to save for emergencies and invest when able in a mutual fund that can earn income while you're in school without concerns of losing money to ETF's. Bonus points are with mutual funds; the money is locked in for a minimum of 90-180 days; therefore, you'll incur penalties for attempting to withdraw money early, so invest wisely. The more you live below your means, the more you can invest for your long-term goals, such as a trust fund or Roth IRA; however, if you need money in the short term, focus on building your checking account first and building credit. In short, money for speculation isn't money well spent when you aren't financially stable. When you save money, focus on a savings account that will add a good percentage such that by the end of undergrad ( for example), you can begin to move your money into a bank that provides better benefits not offered to students.

Epicurus once said, "...the pleasant life is produced by sober reasoning examining motives for every choice and avoidance, driving away beliefs which are the source of mental disturbances and being content with little..." The best way to live a long and healthy life, don't drink or smoke or add substances to your body that are harmful. Focus on keeping life simple and carefully thinking about choices such as how you spend your time and with whom you spend your time. Choose to understand where your energy lies and the focus of your life. Living long requires more time, less sickness, less stress more happiness. To achieve less sickness eat healthy food and move daily. To be less stressed focus on the bare necessities of life and max out on their efficiency. For more happiness serve others, keep life simple, laugh more and focus on things that you can control and less about what you cannot. Unfortunately, control in this world is also tied to money and thus focus on having a career which grants you more control over the simple aspects of your life.

Epicurus once said," Not what we have, but what we enjoy constitutes our abundance, and being happy is knowing how to be content with little." The simple pleasures in life encapsulate these two phrases concretely. Food, shelter, water, a companion, a career/job, family, friends, and the means to engage with life on a meaningful level in accordance with your purpose are the simple pleasures of life. I enjoy my career of coaching, being with my companion, learning in school, and living comfortably such that I needn't worry about food, shelter, clothing nor necessities for success are beautiful. Moving through life without systematic racism as an African American male is a simple pleasure in and of itself. I value being at home with my partner and not worrying about what we're going to eat nor live and can engage without our careers is fulfilling because we are able to help more people. My partner enjoys teaching the next generation as she focuses her efforts on high school students while I teach my patients and fellow students on becoming better movers and clinicians respectively. I value providing relief to those who are injured and helping others discover new strengths. Throughout my career I'm able to eat well, travel to new places, learn new things, sleep with relative ease, and provide for my family. As a person who heavily relies on routine to be happy living simpler and cleaner is the secret to my success..

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be restored. (Proverbs 11:25) Giving a part of the circle of life. To receive, we must provide and live; we must give of ourselves and our talents. Without the principle of giving, there is no life, and the world would cease to exist. Science will no longer move forward, and most importantly, humankind will have no bearing. I believe giving starts with what you can do without money, and eventually, it comes to becoming philanthropic through both deeds and gifts. I've learned to embark on a journey in both coaching and medicine. I give by teaching others about their bodies and how movement is medicine and a way of life. When I began coaching, I gave of my intelligence and eventually gave my heart and passion to my craft, and when I did, it changed people's lives permanently. I learned the quality of life could change through training and fostering movement daily. Likewise, I learned through medicine that movement heals the body and the mind. In doing so, I sacrificed time to pursue physical therapy licensure and specialize in electrophysiology and sports science. I give my purpose, and I give my time to help others regain a better quality of life and do things they enjoy. Through that, my is fulfilled, and I can feed my family and meet great people along the way.

Growth and Reclaiming my life. For the first time, I applied for unemployment. I began working at the age of fifteen years old and hadn't imagined a pandemic could cause a gap in employment. However, it was the moment were applying to graduate school and restabilizing my finances became the utmost important thing. It motivated me to provide more for my family and my future. The first order of business during my unemployment period was eliminating credit card debt, second beginning to invest money for retirement in a Roth IRA. Two things my parents never taught me about. I attended lots of free seminars via TDAmeritrade and began to increase my financial literacy. Within a few months, my credit cards were clear and my credit score stabilized. Without a job, i couldn't think about retirement benefits so i started to learn how to trade in my spare time while applying to school. Accepted to Tufts School of Medicine during my birthday and began to take my coaching business online. I refocused on my purpose and was able to provide for my family and begin a life with a new partner. I am grateful for life.

Self-care is self-edification. Your body is a temple. (1 Corinthians 6:19) and your mind is your mantle. If you do not care for these two the soul is lost. During CV-19 and the last decade, there has been increasing importance drawn to self-care in the forms of mindfulness and wellness. A core principle shared is simplifying life, feeding your soul, and fulfilling your purpose. Self-care starts with what you feed your body nutritionally, wellness/fitness, and extracorporeal i.e. medications, supplements, herbs etc. As an aspiring physical therapist and coach, I practice bodybuilding and powerlifting to feed my body motion every day. I maintain a healthy nutritional lifestyle and supplement only as needed to ensure proper function. According to Lee Haney, one cannot " train like a horse and eat like a bird" and expect to succeed so too is true for the mind. One cannot expect to grow and develop proper health if you "overwork the mind without periods of reprieve." Self-care for the mind starts with what kind of media do you feed it? Is consumption based on binging TV shows or reading books and attending seminars or learning via Khan Academy? Is Instagram or Meta your source of news and guide to life or are your faith and your moral code and values your mind's eye? I value a routine life involving church, reading, school, training, my partner, family, and friends who all provide much-needed jumpstart to rough patches in life. Vacations are a great addition to self are but are infrequent, what matters more is caring through feeding my mind, body, and soul as I fulfill my purpose in life.

Chosen family. Bonded by unbreakable ties beyond blood. According to Proverbs 17:17 ", a friend loves at all times" and "a brother is born for a time of adversity." When I think of how these apply, I emphasize that friendship is created and maintained out of love. In today's society, we often trivialize friendship into a mutual benefit or transactional situation, but this is simply due to a lack of love and tied to materialism. Friendship is first a foremost a choice. Choices have consequences, and thus who you choose to ally yourself with defines you. (Proverbs 13:20) In short, if you select wise friends, so will you become wise, and if you choose foolhardy ones, eventually, your choices will reflect that of a foolish person. Your chosen family should be filled with intelligent, loving, reliable, and trustworthy individuals similar to a cabinet or knights of the round table. Building each other up, especially in difficult times. A brother is born through adversity, and love conquers all. In friendship, life may be difficult for a partner, yet we remain loyal and life each other up in love. Love; meaning tough love and nurturing love to persevere. Lastly, friendships should be like the roots of a tree. The roots must be strong, enduring through drought, storms, surplus, and neutral times to thrive, striving throughout life, not for a reason or for a season. Lest we forget, so too must you be for your friends. Quality over quantity and filled with love.

Intravenous therapy. Gone are the days of relying on slower means of medication administration and blood transfusion. This life-saving tool has changed how medicine is practiced due to its progressing accuracy over one's lifetime. As a paramedic, patient care has been expedited with an IV in place. Access to the human body in sickness and in health provides priceless information into intuitive care. In the late 1700s, it was used between a husband and wife to save their partner post bleeding and childbirth. Today blood transfusions are widespread and save a variety of patients ranging from cancer to blood disorders. In the 1800s, iv therapy via a bag to administer medications became familiar with metal catheters being standard in the 1960s. Nursing staff, physicians, paramedics, hematologists, and other medical staff rely on the technologies of IV caths made by companies such as BD to main quick and efficient blood draws for labs and medication administration. My favorite experience was assisting nursing staff in running a blood transfusion while medication was running. The patients disposition changed in a matter of hours and that was rewarding enough for me.

Tools are only as efficient as the wielder. Innovation is mustered forth when the wielder of said tools never had the opportunity to perform. Wielders come in varying races and creeds and with that varying cultures. We often learn that culture impacts how tools are used and received. It is imperative, therefore, that the wielders are amassed from varying backgrounds to promote innovation. As a Caribbean male, the internet has provided such a profound change in thought and approach to education. In addition, compounding knowledge procured during studies with youtube videos or podcasts has solidified many concepts which may be foreign culturally. Medicine, for example, is treated as a luxury within the islands; however, within America, it is a commonplace commodity. Pharmaceutical companies have capitalized on this fact and put many lives at risk for profit. My role is to prevent unnecessary medication use through physical therapy technologies. My clinical area of interest is in clinical electrophysiology, whereby neurological disease and orthopedic disease can be treated with electrical current and exercise. One application method is muscle reeducation post-operatively to regain lost function and control in the said muscle group. I am taking this further by utilizing electrical current to maximize performance and learning during the first ten weeks of rehab. Additionally, the dependence on opioids for pain management during this rehab process can be mitigated with electrical stimulation Prior to gross movement wound management can be applied using iontophoresis where medications work with the patient's natural healing mechanisms. Technology as provided for in medicine often treats the symptoms or is used to identify morbidity however, rarely is it used to treat the patient holistically. Electricity is such a renewable source of energy and isn't dependent on procuring rare earth metals and the like for transmission. Using biochemical sources of electricity via liquid medicine and current will revolutionize the way we treat. With patient-centered care, a patient can have a device preset by the physician and can be modified remotely if the patient is unable to come into a clinic for example. With telehealth, teaching a patient how to dress wounds at home and perform exercise is critical to improving circulation in addition to varying systems such as the lymphatic system. In addition to multi-system treatments, the familiarity of electricity will prove to change the mindset of patients. We will focus less on how many pills to take and focus on education and movement.

I am breaking the generational curse of poverty and poor health outcomes. As a first-generation college student and first-generation doctoral student, I must perform well for my immediate family and my future family. Within my community, black males must be exposed to students In healthcare to inspire and motivate the younger generation to pursue higher education. As an alumnus of the Arthur Ashe Foundation and STEP program, my work within the Brooklyn Health Disparities Coalition (SUNY Downstate) will assist in breaking down health outcome barriers. Physical therapists should be a primary care health service, as discussed in the virtual webinars. However, the cost of care and lack of diversity plagues this system, and this way, more minorities are subjected to unnecessary interventions. Finances should not be a barrier to care nor education when medicine as a whole constitutes a large margin of profit alongside higher education. Nevertheless, this barrier proves true. To tackle the gaps in diversity, we must pay it forward by financially backing students like me and inspiring them to draw like-minded individuals into the fold to reverse this generational curse.