Physical Therapy student earns MLK Community Service Award
By Lin Lofley
Michael Braitsch, a student the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, has received the 2016 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship for Community Service Award in recognition of his many volunteering endeavors while enrolled in the UT Southwestern School of Health Professions.
The award was presented on Jan. 21 during the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration.
By the time Mr. Braitsch arrived on campus in May 2014, volunteerism was already a major part of his life. In Cincinnati, where he graduated from Xavier University with degrees in Business Management and Marketing, he logged “a few hundred hours” of time serving the community through a local chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, in addition promoting health and wellness in the community.
He became a stockbroker with Fidelity Investments while his wife, Dr. Caitlin Braitsch, worked on her doctorate in molecular developmental biology at the University of Cincinnati. During this time, he prepared for a career change into Physical Therapy, completing prerequisite courses for admission at night.
When Dr. Braitsch became a postdoctoral fellow at UT Southwestern in the laboratory of Dr. Ondine Cleaver, Associate Professor of Molecular Biology; her husband successfully applied to the School of Health Professions. He now strives to find ways to combine his experience in martial arts with service and community engagement.
“I’m lucky that this school took a chance on me as a second-career student. I’ve been fortunate to help with student leadership activities both campus-wide and also in the School of Health Professions,” Mr. Braitsch said. “What excites me even more though is the opportunity to combine my PT skills and martial arts experience. My hope is to use that combination to help people enjoy better health and an improved quality of life. I think this is the ‘Light of creative altruism’ that Dr. King spoke about, finding ways to use each person’s passion and skills to help others.”
He signed up for his first martial arts class on his 10th birthday, and after college became active in Kung Fu and Tai Chi. He competed internationally and eventually became an accredited referee in his sport.
In Dallas, he has started Tai Chi classes at the Dallas Public Library, Chapter House, drug and alcohol recovery center; and recently, at Union Gospel Mission, and at Calvert Place Men’s shelter. The class in the latter venue works in conjunction with a smoking cessation program. He also serves at the student-run clinic at Calvert Place.
On weekends, he often teaches classes at Dallas’ Klyde Warren Park, and he’s an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Physical Education at El Centro College.
Recognized along with Mr. Braitsch were MLK Scholarship finalists Grace Gerke, a first-year student in Physician Assistant Studies in the School of Health Professions; Kaitlin Klarer, a second-year student in the Rehabilitation Counseling program of the School of Health Professions; and fourth-year medical student Astrud Villareal.
Ms. Gerke, a Lake Highlands High School and nursing graduate of the University of Arkansas, has benefitted from participation in student-run clinics at the Union Gospel Mission, and at the Calvert Place and Center of Hope, as well as four trips to Zambia with Family Legacy Missions International, where she worked with AIDS orphans and vulnerable children.
Ms. Klarer, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, earned an undergraduate degree in psychology at McMurry University in Abilene. She has been an advocate for those suffering from Huntington’s disease since before her mother passed away four years ago from the disease. She has lobbied Congress for changes in laws that negatively impact affected people. Currently Social Security guidelines, and Medicare guidelines as well, are considered extremely detrimental to people with Huntington’s disease.
Ms. Villareal, who grew up in the Philippines, came to Dallas as a ninth-grade student and later earned a degree in biological sciences, with minors in chemistry, international studies, and human rights, at Southern Methodist University. Her most meaningful volunteerism activities include working with United to Serve and The Monday Clinic.
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Photos from this event can be found on our Facebook page.
