Hear From Dana Dichiara, Program Director, Physical Therapist Assistant Program, Pima Medical Institute
On this episode of Voices of Vital Care, host Nohelani Graf sits down with Dana Dichiara, Program Director of the Physical Therapist Assistant associate degree program at Pima Medical Institute’s Houston campus. Dichiara traded a finance degree for a 30-year career in physical therapy, and she has spent the last 14 years helping students find the same fit she did.
In this episode, Dichiara breaks down what a physical therapist assistant actually does, why the field draws people who want hands-on connection with patients and how it is possible to build a meaningful career at any age. Her story will be especially valuable if you have ever wondered whether this path could be the one for you.
Physical therapy isn’t just about rebuilding strength and movement; it’s about meeting patients at some of the hardest moments. Dana Dichiara, Program Director of the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Pima Medical Institute’s Houston campus, put it simply:
“You are working with patients at some of the most vulnerable times in their lives, when maybe yesterday they could walk and today they can’t. It’s very meaningful to accompany somebody as they go through that journey.”
-Dana Dichiara, Program Director, Physical Therapist Assistant Program, Pima Medical Institute
That connection, Dichiara explains, is what separates a job from a career in this field. Physical therapist assistants work alongside physical therapists to help patients regain movement after everything from a sports injury to a stroke or spinal cord injury, and the role calls for as much empathy as it does technical skill.
Physical therapy might look physically demanding from the outside, but Dana Dichiara, Program Director of the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Pima Medical Institute’s Houston campus, says it’s less about muscle and more about method:
“You can look at me. I’m not a bodybuilder, I’m not super muscular, but I’m mighty. It’s not really a matter of strength, it’s a matter of technique.”
-Dana Dichiara, Program Director, Physical Therapist Assistant Program, Pima Medical Institute
In this episode, you will learn:
- What a physical therapist assistant does day to day, and how the role differs from an occupational therapist assistant
- Why proper body mechanics and technique matter more than physical strength when helping patients move
- The range of settings PTAs can work in, from hospitals and outpatient clinics to home health and sports rehab
- How a Physical Therapist Assistant associate degree at Pima Medical Institute’s Houston campus can be completed in approximately two years
- How the program can serve as a stepping stone toward becoming a licensed physical therapist through bridge programs
- Why setting realistic, small goals with patients helps them measure progress and celebrate wins along the way
- Why physical therapy is a career open to people at any age or stage, not just students straight out of high school
- How clinical externships give students real-world experience before they graduate
Who this episode is for: Anyone weighing a first career in health care or considering a career switch later in life. If you are drawn to hands-on, patient-focused work, this career could be a great fit for you.
The opinions expressed in the podcasts are not those of Pima Medical Institute.
Watch Episode 3: Movement Is Medicine: Inside the World of Physical Therapy with Dana Dichiara
Beyond the Episode
While Dichiara leads the program in Houston, Pima Medical Institute offers the Physical Therapist Assistant program at several campuses across the country, including Mesa and Tucson, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Las Vegas, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; San Marcos, California; and Seattle, Washington.
Demand for physical therapist assistants continues to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics*, the median annual wage for physical therapist assistants was approximately $60,050 in May 2024, and employment in the field is projected to grow 16 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. As Dana shared, the career offers flexibility across settings, from hospitals to outpatient clinics to home health, so it is possible to change specialties throughout a career without starting over. That range is part of what makes the role appealing to career changers looking for more fulfilling, human-centered work.
Ready to learn more? Learn how to apply or reach out to the Pima Medical Institute admissions team to find out if the Physical Therapist Assistant associate degree program is the right fit for you.
