From Volunteer to Doctor of Physical Therapy: The Transformation of Tomas Guerra

By the fall of 2014, Tomas Guerra had spent a year immersed in the prerequisite math and science classes he needed to complete before applying to graduate school to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

This was also the moment when he decided to quit. The unrelenting mental stress and demanding nature of the classes overwhelmed him, draining him of all the enthusiasm and focus he had when he started.

At this low point, exhausted and despondent, he went to see his mentor, Dr. Miguel Salazar, Jr., a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist at Adventist Health White Memorial, to confess that he was giving up.

“I’m struggling in these classes,” Guerra confided in Salazar. “I don’t think I’m going to keep going. I just can’t pass these. I’m just struggling here.”

Sensing the gravity of the moment and its possible impact on Guerra’s future, Salazar responded, “Come talk to me after we’re done working.” He intended to give the conversation his undivided attention.

Like Guerra, Salazar was from East Los Angeles and had similarly humble beginnings. He knew the challenges Guerra faced.

True to his word, Salazar met with Guerra later that day. Guerra listened intently as Salazar laid out some academic strategies and the mental approach he would need to succeed. He also encouraged him to persevere, especially now that he felt compelled to quit. As the conversation concluded, with a tone of reassuring firmness Salazar added, “Hey, if you ever need help, just call me. I don’t care. Just call me.”
Salazar’s words were exactly what Guerra needed to hear. With a renewed sense of determination, Guerra decided to keep going.

Guerra’s journey to becoming a physical therapist began in the summer of 2013 as he approached his graduation from California State University, Northridge, with a degree in hospital administration and on a completely different career path. However, a painful shoulder dislocation he suffered in 2010 requiring physical therapy caused him to question if he was making the right career choice.

Although nearly three years had passed since he received physical therapy, he was still intrigued by the hands-on healing he experienced and all his conversations with attending graduate students during his therapy sessions. So before committing to an administrative job after graduation, he chose to explore an alternate career path.

Guerra sought guidance from a college advisor, who encouraged him to join the Healthcare Workforce Development Program (HWDP) at Adventist Health White Memorial where he could delve deeper into the field of physical therapy.

Heeding her advice, he became a volunteer with the HWDP, marking the beginning of a transformative period in his life. His responsibilities included shadowing physicians, assisting with patient care and managing supplies, all of which demonstrated his dedication and ability to handle challenging tasks. Recognizing his potential, the Adventist Health White Memorial Charitable Foundation soon offered him a part-time job as a lead mentor to help new volunteers acclimate to the program, a role Guerra eagerly accepted. This volunteer and work experience gave Guerra the opportunity to observe and speak with physical therapists, solidifying his dream to pursue a career in physical therapy.

Motivated by his newfound passion, he researched physical therapy graduate programs. However, he soon discovered that his undergraduate education had not covered the required science and math subjects. Determined to fill these gaps, Guerra enrolled in classes anywhere he could — at East Los Angeles City College, Pasadena City College and Los Angeles City College while continuing his work as the HWDP lead mentor.

Within one year, Guerra found himself in that conversation with Salazar, which helped him continue. But there were others Guerra leaned on for support in the following years, such as Alicia Roman, HWDP Program Manager. She facilitated continued learning in the Physical Rehabilitation Department so he could stay connected with his dream and ensured he received time off work to focus on his studies when needed.
Guerra’s persistence, strengthened by this supportive network, paid off in 2018 when he completed his graduate school prerequisites and was accepted into the prestigious University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and San Francisco State University joint Graduate Program in Physical Therapy.

“Continuing working at the hospital and seeing my dream every day and talking to all these people who were inspiring me, like Miguel … that’s why I kept going,” Guerra said.

Graduate school was a new chapter in Guerra’s journey that brought unexpected challenges.

UCSF exposed disparities in his educational background, access to resources and, at times, the lack of diversity left him feeling isolated.

“Not only was I the only Latino there, I was also one of the only people that came from such a low socioeconomic status,” Guerra said. “When they were struggling, they hired their own tutors outside of school.

Guerra, on the other hand, could not afford to hire private tutors. This economic chasm extended to other areas of life. While his peers received financial support from their families to cover meals, Guerra subsisted on government assistance for his meals.

This extra layer of stress affected Guerra’s first semester studies. He received a C in his anatomy class and was placed on academic probation, with just 30 days to improve his grade. This time, however, he never thought about quitting. Instead, he exercised those perseverance muscles he had developed during his time in the HWDP and utilized UCSF’s resources — resources he had never had access to.

“At UCSF, they tie us up with mentors,” Guerra said. “The professors are always so approachable and they give you all these different one-on-ones. And so, it brought me back up to the level I had to be and made me better. I started exceeding expectations, beating the people who were from UCLA.”
Guerra also excelled during the clinical rotations in the latter half of his graduate studies. Working directly with patients with his lived experience and cultural background, he received heartfelt endorsements in Spanish, affirming his skills and community support.

“I want you as my therapist. You’re such a great therapist. Keep going, especially here in the community. This is the community that will support you. I’m going to support you,” they would tell Guerra. “You’re going to be the first one in our community.” This feedback was evidence of the community’s backing and recognition of his efforts.

In early 2023, Guerra graduated as a Doctor of Physical Therapy. He spent the remainder of the year studying for and passing his National Physical Therapy Examination. Then, in December 2023, Tomas Guerra, DPT, began his career as a physical therapist at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, California, realizing a dream 10 years in the making.

The Healthcare Workforce Development Program was instrumental in Guerra’s journey. It offered him crucial access to medical professionals and mentors who could guide, inspire and support him through his fears, struggles and insecurities. He was surrounded by people who saw his potential and gave him the confidence to dream beyond the perceived limitations of his background.

“Having all these people in high positions of power telling me, no, you can do it, you can be that person, I believe you, I see it in you, I see your dedication. I’ve never had that,” Guerra reflected. “I love my family but my cousins were the first to ever have a bachelor’s degree. I wholeheartedly believe, had I not shown up here in 2013, I would not be a physical therapist.”

Tomas Guerra’s story highlights the profound impact of supportive educational programs and mentorship in achieving dreams that may seem out of reach to young people in East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights and Montebello.

If you are inspired, we invite you to join us in bridging the gap between potential and success by making a gift today to support Adventist Health White Memorial.