Alumni Profile: Nate Cercavschi C’10

BS, Athletic Training

At least something good came out of a soccer-related knee injury that sidelined Nate Cercavschi C’2010 at age 12. The experience sparked a passion for physical therapy, which Nate had to undergo to rehabilitate the torn cartilage in his knee. When it came time to look into colleges, he found that North Park’s athletic training program offered the hands-on approach, small class size, and clinical affiliations that would help him to achieve his goal of becoming a physical therapist.

Now about to begin his final year of a doctorate of physical therapy degree at Midwestern University, Nate has found his experience on the pre-physical therapy track at North Park prepared him well. “Throughout all my graduate classes and clinicals, I have used my athletic training background at North Park to keep me one step ahead of the curve and concentrate my academics on sports medicine and athletic injuries,” he said.

At North Park, he found support and encouragement from faculty, who helped him select courses and find internships that matched his interests. He credits this individual attention with helping him find opportunities that fostered his passion for athletic training and his desire to pursue physical therapy. In one internship, for example, he learned the foundations of creating an individualized plan of care and how to manage multiple cases simultaneously.

After graduation, Nate plans to begin a career as a full-time physical therapist with a focus on the mechanics of sport and sport-specific rehabilitation. “Without a doubt, I believe that the education and experiences that North Park offered me will always be a part of what I do and what I aim to do in the future,” he said.