![Carroll DPT Students speak with patients in tent in Ecuador]()
Carroll University’s
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program continued its longstanding tradition of global service this year, sending two faculty members and nine second-year students to Ecuador for an intensive week of hands-on clinical care. The trip, completed in partnership with the nonprofit organization Hearts in Motion (HIM), offered essential physical therapy services to communities with limited access to medical care – while also providing a transformative educational experience for the participating students.
The 2025 trip marked Carroll’s second consecutive year travelling to Ecuador, following a pause in international service work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, the DPT program had built a rich history of providing care abroad, with trips dating back to 2008 in Guatemala and Peru. With strong institutional support and growing student interest, Carroll plans to continue offering these international service opportunities as often as possible.
Renewing a Legacy of Global Service
“This service trip deeply aligns with Carroll University’s mission,” said DPT faculty member
Dr. Ashley Knuth, who co-led the trip alongside
Lois Karnuth, PT. “In the spirit of exploration as Pioneers, students are fulfilling Carroll’s commitment to service in a diverse and global society. This work demonstrates our ethos – community service, social responsibility and institutional stewardship.”
Both faculty members emphasized that the experience is equally valuable to the DPT program itself, reinforcing its mission to prepare compassionate, ethical, and culturally responsive practitioners. By engaging meaningfully with international communities, students develop critical-thinking skills, adaptability and cultural humility – qualities that are increasingly essential in today’s healthcare landscape.
The trip is open to all second-year DPT students who volunteer to participate. For many, including student
Mia Allen, the opportunity is too meaningful to pass up.
“We heard about the trip from the students who went the previous year,” Allen said. “It sounded amazing! They talked about how much they grew their PT skills. I love traveling and learning about other cultures, and I wasn’t sure if I’d get an opportunity like this again.”
Treating Patients with Limited Resources
Throughout their time in Ecuador, the Carroll team worked in local clinics providing physical therapy evaluations and interventions, equipment such as walkers and canes, as well as referrals for critical or emergency medical needs.
“For many, we were the first medical professionals they had seen in a long time,” Allen said. “We weren’t just doing a typical PT evaluation – we had to be aware of global issues or red flags requiring a higher level of care.”
Faculty and students dealt with significant challenges: no access to medical records, limited clinical supplies and the need to pack all essential equipment into just three suitcases. Diagnoses varied widely, and without imaging or advanced tools, students relied heavily on clinical reasoning and resourcefulness. In some cases, patients lacked even basic footwear – and in one memorable moment, Knuth gave a patient her own shoes so she could walk without pain.
“The communities we served have limited or no access to physical therapy due to geographic and financial barriers,” Karnuth explained. “This trip helps fill a significant gap in rehabilitative health services.”