Jonathan E. Ripic

Graduate Professional Excellence Award

The Graduate Professional Excellence Award is given to graduate students whose work and leadership during their academic coursework points to a promising career in the field of physical therapy.

This is a photo of Jonathan Ripic. Jonathan is wearing a checkered shirt and is smiling at the camera. Jonathan has short hair, cut close.

I’m from Owego, NY, a small town near Ithaca. I chose to pursue physical therapy after shadowing in high school. I chose my minors to better help me understand the business behind running a clinic and to help me better connect with my patients. Ithaca College stood out to me for the amazing program and opportunities they provide their students, and the pride the faculty and alumni have in the program. After graduation I’m attending a neurologic residency program at the MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital and George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

My most memorable experience at Ithaca College is with a patient in the on-campus Occupational and Physical Therapy Clinic. I had the opportunity to work with a patient with a motor-incomplete-spinal cord injury, using body-weight-supported-treadmill-training. My co-therapist and I also ran him through the College’s 3D motion capture system to track objective data to write a case report with hopes of submission into a therapy journal. This required a lot of work by a lot of individuals within the physical therapy program. Seeing everyone’s passion for the project and the changes our patient made furthered my passion and reassured my choice to pursue neurologic physical therapy after school.

Academic Achievements and Personal Highlights

  • Laurence S. Hill and Adrian M. Newens Scholarship
  • Teaching Assistant, Applied Biomechanics
  • James J. Whalen Academic Symposium, poster (2018, 2020)
  • American Physical Therapy Association member
  • Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy member
  • Ithaca Anglers Club, Treasurer (2017)
  • Ithaca College Republicans Club, Vice President (2018)
  • Physical Therapy Mentor Committee
  • Ithaca College Men's Baseball (2016)
  • Tompkins County Ducks Unlimited, Chapter Chairman
  • Accepted into the MedStar National Rehab Hospital and George Washington University Neurologic Residency Program