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Danny Soto knows physical therapy is about more than recovery exercises and rehabilitation plans. For many patients, especially those who don’t speak English, it’s about finally feeling understood. (Danny and Chief Brian Joschko at graduation on May 16.)

Years of injuries from running cross-country and track in high school and community college first introduced Soto to the field. As he worked through rehab himself, he began paying close attention to the physical therapists around him. “Experiencing how the PTs cared for me and others inspired me to pursue it as a profession,” he said.

But Soto, whose first language is Spanish, also noticed a gap in patient care. He believes language barriers can prevent patients from building the trust and connection that are essential to recovery. “Often, people who speak a different language may not receive the same quality of care or build a similar relationship with their therapists as English speakers do,” Soto said. “The ability to communicate effectively is so important in rehab. That trust leads to better care.”

That commitment to communication was tested during a weeklong clinical experience in the Dominican Republic last May, where Soto and fellow physical therapy students worked in a local clinic. “For every patient, we completed evaluations, reviewed medical histories, developed treatment plans, and explained home exercises entirely in Spanish,” Soto said.

The experience challenged both his clinical and language skills. With limited resources, the students often had to get creative, sketching exercises by hand for patients to take home because professional printouts weren’t available.

“This trip was a rewarding and challenging experience,” Soto said. “My PT and language skills were definitely tested.”

 

A ������ý��Ƶ Connection

Soto earned his degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences from ������ý��Ƶ in 2022, and he just completed his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. He also wrapped up a 10-week clinical rotation at Rock Valley Physical Therapy, where one of his patients turned out to be Brian Joschko, chief of the ������ý��Ƶ Police Department.

Joschko suffered a serious injury to his right quadriceps, tearing two tendons in his knee earlier this year, requiring surgery followed by months of physical therapy. While he expected rehab to be difficult and painful at times, he was pleasantly surprised to discover his therapist was a ������ý��Ƶ student.

The connection helped the two quickly build rapport. Both are from the Chicago area, and their therapy sessions often include conversations about family, Chicago sports teams, and, as Soto joked, “passionate discussions about minivans.”

Over the course of rehab, Joschko has made significant progress. “Exercises have ranged from simply bending my leg at the beginning to now bicycling, leg presses, and squats,” Joschko said. “Danny is constantly pushing me, and I’ve looked forward to seeing him twice a week for our workouts.”

For Soto, the experience reinforced exactly why he chose the profession.

“When I first started working with Chief Joschko, he was wearing a hinge brace that restricted how far his knee could bend to protect the tendon repair,” Soto explained. “Over these seven weeks, we built a strong working relationship, and our ������ý��Ƶ connection made an immediate impact. He still has a ways to go, but he’ll be back up to speed this summer.”

Joschko credits Soto not only for his clinical knowledge, but also for making the recovery process more manageable. “Danny has the technical expertise and academic acumen, but what impresses me most is his demeanor and outgoing personality,” he said. “Great physical therapists make a real difference in recovery, and Danny has been extraordinary.”

As Soto prepares to begin his career later this month with in Chicago, he hopes to continue combining physical therapy with something he believes every patient deserves: the ability to feel heard, understood, and supported throughout recovery.

—Emily Potts