Starting as the first-ever volunteer at Grand Valley's pro bono physical therapy clinic, Barb Hoogenboom has given decades of experience serving patients who are uninsured or underinsured. She is also passionate about mentoring the next generation of physical therapists. Today, her commitment continues through a legacy gift that will help sustain the clinic's mission for years to come. 

"If I had one word to describe this clinic or what it means to me, I think the word might be accessibility," Hoogenboom said. "Accessibility for patients to care that they wouldn't normally receive, and accessibility of students to both faculty and other licensed physical therapists for learning opportunities." 

That focus on accessibility has guided Hoogenboom throughout her career. As a physical therapist and educator, she regularly encountered individuals who needed therapy but were unable to receive it because they lacked adequate insurance. When the opportunity arose to volunteer at Grand Valley's newly established pro bono clinic, the mission immediately spoke to her. 

"There was something that really resonated with my heart because people needed physical therapy care but did not have access to it," she said. 

The clinic, founded in 2000 by three Physical Therapy students, provides free physical therapy services to community members who would otherwise struggle to receive care. Each week, student volunteers work alongside community physical therapists and faculty members to evaluate and treat patients, creating a unique environment that serves both the community and student learning. 

"What a privilege it is for Grand Valley to have supported this clinic for many years," Hoogenboom said, "and now to try to get it to a place where it's more self-sufficient." 

Answering a Need  

When considering how she wanted to make a lasting impact through philanthropy, Hoogenboom reflected on the people and places that had shaped her life. Coming from a family that valued generosity and having spent much of her professional career at Grand Valley, supporting the clinic felt like a natural choice. 

"For a clinic that operates pretty much on a dime, it doesn't have a lot of financial backing," she said. "To be able to give money via an endowment to something that would help in perpetuity to support this mission and these pro bono clinics just really meant something to me." 

Forming Future Caregivers 

Her support creates a ripple effect that reaches not only patients, but the students who are learning alongside the clinicians. Since beginning her volunteer service, Hoogenboom estimates she has worked alongside 75 to 100 student physical therapists, helping them gain hands-on experience while developing a deeper understanding of the barriers many patients face.  

Laurie Stickler, faculty advisor of the pro bono clinic, sees that impact every day. "All of our students are volunteers," Stickler explained. "They're learning more than just their hands-on skills. They get an awareness of societal needs and become able to recognize patient adversities and the challenges many people face in accessing care." 

That perspective has shaped students like Josie Buckingham, a second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy student who volunteers at the clinic. "While in class, we learn a good set of foundational skills," Buckingham shared. "The pro bono clinic is where we actually get to apply them and expand in ways that we would never get in the classroom. We get to make a big impact on individuals' lives who may not otherwise get the care and health care that they deserve." 

A Legacy in Motion  

For Hoogenboom, that combination of service and experiential learning is what makes the clinic so special. Patients receive care that can improve their quality of life, while students gain meaningful experiences that prepare them to become compassionate health care providers. 

"So many of our patients come to us in pain or with a disability or with things that are really bothering them on a day-to-day basis," Hoogenboom said. "If they can even get education or information from a licensed physical therapist and a student as to how to manage that, that can be life changing." 

Through her years of volunteer service and her legacy gift, Hoogenboom is helping ensure that life-changing care – and the opportunity to learn through serving others – remains available for generations to come. 

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