NEUROLOGIC PHYSICAL THERAPY RESIDENTS

Sophie Rhines, PT, DPT

Neurologic Physical Therapy Resident

Hometown:Houston, TX

About: Sophie grew up in a suburb of Houston and attended The High School of the Performing and Visual Arts for Dance. Upon graduating high school, she made her way to New Orleans where she attended Tulane University and earned her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a Double Major in Dance. Her love for the food and culture of New Orleans informed her decision to stay in the city and pursue her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.

Having been a dancer since the age of 6, Sophie grew to form an appreciation for the human body and what it is capable of. This passion translated into her time volunteering with Neuro patients by helping them reach their new functional potentials and utilizing their bodies in creative ways. That same passion aligned with her interest in Neuroscience from her time in college and led her to pursue the field of Neurologic Physical Therapy.

Sophie chose to pursue the Harris Health Neurologic PT Residency for many reasons, the most influential of which being the unique patient population within Harris Health System. Operating under the theme of “high challenge, high support” demonstrated by the staff and mentors, Harris Health was the perfect opportunity for Sophie to continue to grow as a clinician, an advocate, and as a person.

José Trujillo, PT, DPT

Hometown: Carrollton, TX

About: Jose was born and raised in Dallas, TX (Go Cowboys and Mavs!) and attended The University of North Texas before moving to Houston to earn his Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree at Texas Woman’s University. While he was initially drawn to the PT profession for the combination of rehabilitation and science, it wasn’t until he started his PT school journey that he discovered a passion for working with patients in the neurologic setting thanks to awesome volunteer opportunities, an awesome neuro rehab curriculum, and one of his PT heroes Carolyn Da Silva.

During physical therapy school, Jose was able to stay involved in leadership opportunities as a student government and social committee representative for his class and as a peer mentor and student ambassador for other classes and prospective students. Jose also had the special opportunity to complete three clinical rotations within the Harris Health System. The time he spent treating patients during these clinical rotations helped him realize the passion and desire he has for treating those with less access to healthcare and teaching them to advocate for themselves. This, along with the chance to develop into a well-rounded clinician alongside so many of the therapists he looks up to, made choosing the Harris Health System Neurologic Residency the best decision!

After residency, Jose plans to become a Board-Certified Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy and use his well-rounded experience to continue providing compassionate patient care to medically underserved communities. Outside of the daily residency grind, Jose loves spending time with his friends and co-residents going to the best pho, ramen, poké, breweries, and coffee shops Houston has to offer!