The path to Ph.D.: The unique appeal of MUSC Health and Rehabilitation Science Ph.D. program

The Ph.D. in Health and Rehabilitation Science program at MUSC is designed to accommodate diverse academic backgrounds and emphasizes a foundation of mentorship throughout the academic journey. Students benefit from the program’s flexibility and the support of dedicated faculty mentors, making it an ideal environment for adult learners and professionals seeking to make a meaningful impact in their fields. Current Ph.D. student Maxwell Cutty, PT, DPT, shared how his path led to CHP.

What’s your academic background and what drew you to CHP’s Ph.D. program?

I've made a couple major career switches, so my academic background is anything but linear. It includes an undergraduate degree in Physical Geography from UC Berkeley and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from MGH Institute of Health Professions with lots of community college prerequisite courses in between. CHP's Ph.D. program appealed to me because it caters to a wide variety of backgrounds—both clinical and non-clinical—is relatively small, and operates under an apprenticeship model that is I think a better fit for adult learners such as myself.

What’s your current research focus and why is this work important to you?

Currently, my focus in in health services research and involves large dataset analysis of nationwide Medicare claims. My specific interest is in leveraging these data to quantify access to and effectiveness of home and community-based care services for aging populations with chronic conditions, especially those at or near end of life.

How did you initially connect with your mentor, Dr. Sara Knox, and how has she helped shape your experience in the program? What does mentorship mean to you?

My initial connection with Dr. Knox goes way back, almost a decade in fact, to 2016 when I was starting my coursework at MGH Institute for Health Professions in Boston. At the time, Dr. Knox was a professor in the PT program, and she was also the lead faculty member for the Geriatrics content in the curriculum. Since I had already had an interest in the aging population, I quickly sought her out to be my mentor on a capstone project where I was introduced to her research on dementia. After graduation, I moved to NYC to gain clinical experience practicing in an inpatient setting.
Ultimately, my plan was to pursue a Ph.D. at some point in my career, and after about 4 years of clinical practice, I felt like I was ready to take the plunge back into academia. Around the same time, I found out Dr. Knox had relocated to Charleston to work at MUSC, where she was continuing to build her research career and had recently received funding for a Ph.D. student. She asked me if I was still interested in research and, well, long story short here I am! She's been great, she's alleviated all of my doubts and concerns about pursuing a Ph.D. in the first place and has been an extremely supportive and encouraging mentor.

What’s been your favorite part of the program so far?

The flexibility of the program has been my favorite part. And the wide range of research interests and passion of my fellow Ph.D. students is both eye-opening and inspiring.

What are your goals once you earn your degree?

This is the million-dollar question! Honestly, my goal is simply to figure out how to leverage my skill and experiences (both those that are existing and those that are still under development), within an organization or role that makes a positive impact on healthy aging and end of life experiences in communities and spaces where those outcomes are typically harder to come by due to social and environmental determinants of health.