Bilingual physical therapy graduate ready to serve the Spanish-speaking community

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 23, 2024) - Who knew that “The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb” could be part of someone’s journey to a career as a bilingual physical therapist (PT)? For Emanuel Mora, that book and the entire “Goosebumps” series in Spanish was one of many important steps.   

When Mora was a child in Kentucky, his dad, who is from Puerto Rico, would talk to him in Spanish. Little Mora would answer in English. He did not read or write Spanish at the time, but it was important to his parents that he learn. They enrolled him in local Spanish immersion schools — and they bought the “Goosebumps” series in Spanish for him to learn to read.

By high school, Mora was fluent in Spanish, and it came in very handy when he enrolled at the University of Kentucky.

Originally, Mora planned to be a dentist, but though an internship at Samaritan’s Touch, a physical therapy clinic led by Doctor of Physical Therapy students, he became interested in being a PT. He visited the clinic a few times a month, helping patients schedule appointments and interpreting for them.

“Samaritan’s Touch rocked my world,” Mora said. 

One day, he interpreted for a woman who came for an initial evaluation.

“She could not raise her arm even 45 degrees,” he said. “She reported having great pain and an extremely tight chest.”

After a few appointments, she said her pain was gone and she could lift her arm for the full range of motion. When she learned she was finished with physical therapy, she went to every professional and thanked them.

And she personally thanked Mora for speaking for her. 

“If it wasn’t for us, she would not have received care because of the communication barrier,” he said. “While apps can help people, a Spanish-speaking person can be an interpreter, advocate and the provider.” 

Mora said that language builds trust. “I can see shoulders relax when patients hear their health care provider speaks their language,” he said.

Mora entered the UK College of Health Sciences Doctorate in Physical Therapy program in August 2021 and received a scholarship from the PT Class of 1970. He also received the Dwain Robert Rice Memorial Scholarship.

“I am thankful for the scholarship support,” he said. “And I appreciate that UK PT alumni have each other’s back.” 

Mora finished his last clinical rotation this summer, and he plans to work in an outpatient physical therapy clinic. He will live in Lexington with his wife, Taylor, and their infant daughter, Lorena.  

“I feel so invested into my current program that I’ll be going to the staff for advice and clinical decision-making for years to come,” he said. “I’m so grateful that I have professors that I can now call colleagues who also have my best interest in mind along with the patients that I get to treat in the future.”

Last weekend, Mora graduated, and now he says he is ready to serve the Spanish-speaking people in central Kentucky.

“I am grateful for Samaritan’s Touch,” he said. “And I am thankful for the PT program and the clinical rotations. When I meet a patient now, I think, ‘I know how to help you. I am going to do everything in my power to help you.’”