To finish his studies, graduate Jason Ezzy DPT ’25 had to balance his DPT studies with unimaginable loss, including the destruction of his Altadena home.

By STEPHANIE CORRAL

FOR MOST STUDENTS, earning a doctor of physical therapy degree takes years of discipline, focus and commitment. For Jason Ezzy DPT’25, it also meant experiencing the unimaginable.

In January 2025, just days after losing their first pregnancy, he and his wife lost their Altadena home in the Eaton Fire (pictured above with what is left of his home).

“The loss of our first pregnancy and, four days later, the loss of every childhood keepsake, family heirloom, as well as the home we had been building for both of our extended families, was beyond devastating,” Ezzy says.

Despite that monumental loss and grief, Ezzy kept going — thanks to the support of his USC classmates, clinical instructors and community organizations. At times, he was juggling 16 hours of class and more than 30 hours in the clinic, while simultaneously trying to replace food, clothes, transportation and other basic necessities.

“If not for the support of my classmates, our friends and the dozens of organizations that popped up to meet basic needs of fire victims, I would not have been able to complete this program,” Ezzy says. “I do not know if I will ever fully be able to express how grateful I am for this support.”

More than An Income

Ezzy’s seven-year journey toward a DPT degree started when he realized he wanted to make a bigger impact as a massage therapist.

“I saw physical therapy as the best combination of being able to improve my patients’ medical literacy, support healthy communities through positive movement experiences that will scale with their abilities and use whatever modality will help people to recover,” the Maine native says.

Ezzy knew he had chosen the right career path during a wound care clinical internship at Keck.

“This placement showed me a level of creativity within our profession and actively exposed me to the physical therapists who were expanding the frontiers of patient care,” Ezzy explains. “Before working with the clinicians at Keck, I had mostly seen physical therapy as a job that provided an income, but after working with Dr. Monroy and Dr. Kwan, I saw a chance to be part of the next chapter in health care.”

Out of the Darkest Moments

After graduation, Ezzy is taking time to rest and help support the Altadena community.

“In my time at USC, I have found that I feel most like myself when I am working with communities that I could also see myself living in,” says Ezzy, who plans to work in a hospital-affiliated clinic. “I believe physical therapists will have a growing role as directors of patient care, and I am excited for the increased responsibilities that our profession is getting ready for.”

Looking back on his journey toward graduation, Ezzy says he is proud of himself for making it through.

“Through everything, I have seen that when people are in their darkest moments, they will show their true colors,” Ezzy says. “I am ready to be the type of healthcare provider who is curious, adaptable, gentle and ready to push when the time is right.”