Bluffton University

Fostering Trust

07/17/2025

Hannah Wood knows being passionate about what you do directly impacts the care you provide others, especially in the health care and therapy fields.

Meet the 2025-26 President’s Ambassadors

Hannah Wood
Pre-physical therapy major
Wapakoneta, Ohio
Graduation year: 2027

Why did you choose Bluffton?

Bluffton offered small classes for a better learning environment. Along with a better chance to build connections to help with future opportunities. Professors want to know who you are as a student and person; you aren’t just another number in a seat. At Bluffton during my tour, my tour guide interacted with me through the whole tour instead of regurgitating information and facts that I didn’t care about. Overall, people on the campus smiled at me while on the tour and looked genuinely happy. 

Why did you choose your major? Are your classes helpful?

Physical Therapy to me isn’t about telling people how to move their muscles and joints. Physical Therapy is seeing people at their worst in great pain and choosing to help them. Helping them starts at building a trusting connection. No one wants to work with someone who doesn’t care fully about what they are doing. I want to be a person who fully believes what I’m doing. I chose Physical Therapy to help people regain a better quality of life, and my own experience with pain drives me to make a difference. I have been able to take away something from each class to better my future in Physical Therapy. My classes have been helpful for educational and personal growth.

What type of job do you want following graduation? What are your career goals?

Following graduation, I plan to continue my education at Physical Therapy School. While in school I plan to maintain my position as a Restorative Technician in a local hospital. My future career goal is to become a specialized Physical Therapist in oncology, hematology and vestibular pediatric/ young adult patients at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. I would also love to help out with Parkinson patients’ groups in Wapakoneta.

Tell us about Bluffton’s faculty, staff, and coaches. Are they helping you reach your goals?

All faculty and staff have been amazing through helping me reach my goals academically and personality. All faculty and staff have been hugely considerate about my health changes and how they affect my day-to-day. Coaches here have been great to help with the growth of education and athletics. Coaches with growing personally wasn’t a great fit for my life as a college student. I have chosen to step away from sports. 

What student organizations are you part of? Why is it important for you to be active on campus?

I am part of Science Club which helps me grow and share my passion of being in a science field. I used to be a full member of MAC club but due to working more hours I stepped away. I now help with events when I am able to. The more you are around campus the more you can integrate into fully getting everything Bluffton offers. Being active on campus helps build connections that can be beneficial for future opportunities.

Have you completed an internship or other hands-on learning experience? Tell us about it and what you learned from that experience.

I haven’t completed an internship through Bluffton, but I gained valuable experience in high school through the WIN program. That opportunity gave me firsthand insight into the daily responsibilities of a physical therapist. I was able to immerse myself in patient care, build connections, and observe treatment techniques. Currently, I work as a restorative tech (physical therapy aide) at Kindred Hospital inside St. Rita’s, where I gain hands-on experience. Managing a set list of patients has strengthened my time management skills and taught me how to guide individuals through treatment programs. I have also become comfortable working with IVs, catheters, and tracheas. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is developing confidence in working independently with patients and effectively documenting notes for the therapist’s review.

Is there anything else about being a student at Bluffton that you would like to share?

Bluffton is a small campus and from a first look doesn’t seem to offer much or seem to have a lot to do. If you immerse yourself in the community Bluffton offers you can experience so much more that a first look can miss. Bluffton is what you make it, but the ability to grow from an educational and personal standpoint is a huge reason I enjoy being a Bluffton student.