In recognition of National Disability Month, ACAPT is proud to spotlight a physical therapist and Associate Professor whose professional journey reflects resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to student mentorship and patient care.
A defining moment in his career came in 2020, when the onset of autoimmune-related symptoms affecting his hands, spine, and eyes eventually led to a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis with associated spinal involvement, known as psoriatic spondylitis. At the time, he was working full-time in a hospital-based outpatient orthopaedic setting while also serving as a clinical preceptor at High Point University’s Pro Bono Physical Therapy Clinic, supervising and mentoring second-year DPT students as they treated patients.
As the symptoms progressed, the physical demands of full-time clinical practice became increasingly difficult. He began using a cane for longer distances, experienced significant lumbar stiffness, and found sustained use of his hands for activities such as manual therapy more challenging.
Rather than stepping away from the profession, he began reimagining what his future in physical therapy could look like.
Because he had long enjoyed mentoring students and had a growing interest in teaching, he started working toward a transition into academia. He gained additional teaching experience through a teaching assistant role and later completed a year of fellowship training under the mentorship of faculty in High Point University’s Department of Physical Therapy before joining the faculty full-time.
Today, Dr. Zoch serves as Director of the Pro Bono Physical Therapy Clinic, where he continues to provide direct patient care each week while also teaching in the classroom and contributing to research. That combination of clinical practice, teaching, and scholarship has created a sustainable and meaningful professional path.
Dr. Zoch's experience offers an important reminder during National Disability Month: disability and chronic illness are not barriers to leadership, impact, or innovation in physical therapy education. In many cases, lived experience deepens perspective, strengthens empathy, and expands the ways faculty connect with students and patients alike.