PHOTO: NYAH RODRIGUEZ

No stranger to the spotlight herself, first-generation doctoral graduate Desiree Cuizon DPT ’26 plans to use her experience as a professional dancer to support patients — performance artists, professional athletes and amateurs, alike — while they stay active engaging in the activities they love. 

BY MICHELLE McCARTHY

WHEN DESIREE CUIZON DPT ’26 CROSSES THE STAGE later this week, she will be doing so as a first-generation doctoral graduate — a milestone shaped by resilience, reinvention and a lifelong connection to movement.

Originally from the Bay Area, Cuizon spent much of her early life in Northern California before heading south to attend college in San Diego, where she would remain for 16 years.

Now based out of New York City, Cuizon has built a vibrant career as a professional dancer, performing contemporary and modern dance after first discovering the art form at age 15. Though she began later than many of her peers, dance quickly became central to her identity.

“I thought, ‘Wow, I wish i could have done this sooner, but my family couldn’t afford it,’” she says. “I really loved it.”

Her path to a physical therapy career was not straightforward.

After graduating from San Diego State University in 2008 with a bachelor of fine arts in dance, Cuizon stepped away from academics for nearly a decade, continuing to dance professionally while working in movement-based and somatic body work fields like Pilates and massage therapy.

It wasn’t until 2018 that she began taking classes again, slowly building toward graduate school while navigating the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A pivotal moment came much earlier, however, when a high school injury reshaped her perspective on care. After being told by one physical therapist that she might never dance again if she continued performing after spraining her ankle, Cuizon sought a second opinion from a different physical therapist — and ultimately kept dancing.

“I felt so discouraged after the first physical therapist’s warning’” she recalls. “Isn’t physical therapy supposed to help?”

That experience stayed with her, eventually inspiring her to pursue a career where she could support others in staying active, rather than limiting them.

The Support is Endless

When it came time to apply to DPT programs, USC stood out immediately. Drawn by its high ranking and hybrid learning option,* Cuizon appreciated the program’s flexibility and independence. But, it was her campus visit that revealed her destiny.

“The equipment was state-of-the-art; I was blown away,” she explains, recalling USC’s cadaver lab and immersive learning environment. “It was just so welcoming, and I could tell I was going to get the best up-to-date education.”

Now nearing graduation, she credits USC’s faculty and mentorship culture as one of the program’s greatest strengths.

“Once I’m gone, I still have my community at USC that’s super strong,” she says, noting the lasting connections and professional network she’s built through the Trojan Family.

Cuizon will return to New York City following Commencement, where she has already secured a position with a clinic that offers continued mentorship. She plans to specialize further in pelvic health physical therapy, with long-term goals of opening her own holistic private practice — one that integrates physical therapy, Pilates and support for performing artists and athletes, alike.

Throughout her journey, she has remained connected to her dance roots, serving as co-director and founder of the Queer Mvmnt Fest with Disco Riot and finding creative ways to stay engaged with the community even while focusing on her studies.

For prospective students, Cuizon emphasizes the importance of support. “Grad school is hard,” she says. “If you don’t have a supportive cohort and faculty, it can be beyond exhausting. But here, the support is endless.”

With graduation and a wedding on the horizon, Cuizon is ready to begin her next chapter in New York City, carrying forward the mentorship, training and perspective she gained at USC into a career centered on gender-affirming care, accessibility and continued growth.

*USC’s hybrid pathway option was discontinued, with the Class of 2028 being the final cohort to graduate with that learning option.

The Division’s Commencement Ceremony will take place Friday, May 15 at 4:30 in Bovard Auditorium. For more information, visit our Commencement webpage.