Major: Exercise Physiology (BS)
Graduate Program: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Jeff Taylor Jr. ’11, ’15 DPT said he wouldn’t be where he is today — head physical therapist for the Philadelphia Flyers professional hockey team — if it wasn’t for the lessons he learned at the University of Lynchburg.
More specifically, Taylor credits Dr. DuAnn Kremer, associate professor and chair of the exercise physiology department, for helping him realize his full potential as an undergraduate.
“She challenged me in more ways than she probably understands, as far as deeper thinking, wanting more,” he said.
At the time, Taylor, an exercise physiology major and baseball player — who’s since become an inductee into Lynchburg’s Sports Hall of Fame — said he was more interested in playing sports and attending classes than spending hours in the library studying. Kremer changed that.
“Dr. Kremer had this way of … teaching more than just studying,” Taylor said. “It was more discipline, to prioritize what you need to do to … set yourself up for success. I remember being in her Advanced Exercise Physiology class thinking, ‘Holy moly, I feel like I’m in a doctorate program for exercise science.'”
It was several years later, while pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Lynchburg, that Taylor really understood the value of those lessons and how well those undergraduate classes had prepared him for exercise physiology coursework at the graduate level.
“That was my best overall grade in grad school, and I remember emailing her and just thanking her for challenging me early on, even though I didn’t see the full picture then,” he said. “Her excitement in class and just challenging individuals really spoke to me as I grew older into this career.”
