Written by: Danielle Au, Class of ‘25 Community Service Representative

I got to spend my CE 1 experience at Hawaii Sports and Balance Center in Kauai, Hawaii. It is one of the most reputable outpatient clinics on the Kauai, and the clinic uses evidence-based practice to provide individualized care. Both Meynard Enriquez and Kimberly Tada have built such a remarkable physical therapy clinic there, and I was so fortunate to have gotten to spend my CE 1 experience with them. 

Dr. Meynard Enqriquez, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, was my clinical instructor (CI). He actually did his Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (FAAOMPT) at Regis University and was the recipient for the 2023 Regis University Fellowship Award for education and advocacy. His credentials and expertise are unmatched and stands for itself, but I took away from CE experience the intangibles from him and others in Kauai, which I know will make me a better physical therapist. 

My first year in Colorado at Regis University was really hard for me emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. Being over 1500 miles away from home, I struggled to find a community like what I had back in Georgia. Oftentimes I also felt like I was an imposter in the PT program, so I was nervous going in to my first clinical. 

But I had made a goal in my CE I experience to be intentional with community, especially since I was only in Hawaii for 6 short weeks, so when I saw some locals playing pickleball a mile away from the clinic, I knew I had to stop by. There I found my pickleball ohana (family). 

They found out I was a student physical therapist, and I was constantly asked by the pickleball community about exercises to help their injuries. I really resonated with Hawaii Sports and Balance philosophy to promote wellness and injury prevention in the community, so I knew that I wanted to facilitate a community pro bono pickleball injury prevention clinic after my 1^st week. Weeks later, the pickleball physical therapy clinic was a hit with a turnout of 25 people, and it focused on education regarding the benefits of an active RAMP warm-up and therapeutic injury prevention exercises. A follow-up program was also created that included videos and educational material covered from the clinic.

Each week I grew in my relationships with the local pickleball community and other patients, accepting invitations to beach bonfires, surfing, hiking, and pa’ina. I felt so cared for as a person, and have told others that Kauai has my heart. Locals would not hesitate to make me food and share their life with me, once even asking my CI to allow me to miss 8 hours of the day to go with the patient to their Silver Sneakers Class, play pickleball, and share a meal with them. One of my dear friends that I met and cherish, Debra Wakuta, always told me I had so much mana (inner strength), but honestly the hospitality and kindness I was given by the community and Hawaii Sports and Balance fostered my growth as a person and future physical therapist. It was the place I gained my mana and I will forever cherish my experience there.  

Mahalo nui loa! (Thank you very much)