Lauren Wu

1016 S University
Mount Pleasant MI 48858

Dear ____

My name is Lauren Wu, and I am a first year doctoral student in physical

therapy at Central Michigan University. I hope this letter finds you well. Its
tough being a graduate student at times, but I remind myself that the daily
challenges and small successes are well worth it. As a rising professional in
the field of physical therapy, my goals are to empower members of my
community by helping them regain what they feel they have lost, be it
independence, strength, quality of life, and more.

As a future member of the health field, I am learning that my presence will

not only be important directly in the clinics or hospitals, but also indirectly in
regard to legislation concerning physical therapy. That is why I am a
registered voter and a member of your district and I plan to expand my
involvement in the political world.

With that said, I am requesting your support for a particular bill that would
benefit both physical therapists and the populations we treat. The Physical
Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act (H.R. 2342/S. 1426) is legislation
to include physical therapists in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
Loan Repayment Program. This would increase the physical therapist
workforce and promote greater access for patients to rehabilitation services
in rural, underserved areas in the United States.

Physical therapists play a huge role in managing chronic diseases and

conditions, and can positively impact an individuals quality of life. With an
increased workforce in underserved areas, physical therapists can thereby
alleviate demands on other primary care providers. Indeed, most physical
therapists tend to live and work in suburban areas across the country.
Additionally, while the physical therapy profession is growing, there are still
shortages across the country; the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the
demand will continue to grow, which is linked to the aging baby boomer
population staying more active later in life. The NHSC Student Loan
Repayment can help these two factors by ensuring that rehabilitation
services are available to underserved communities.

Your support in such important legislation will enhance rehabilitation for

many vulnerable individuals, especially any elderly members and their
families who may be in your constituency. I urge you to support the physical
therapist workforce and increase patient access in underserved areas by
cosponsoring H.R. 2342/S. 1426. Its our passion, our inherent nature, and
our dream to help others. By helping physical therapists, you help the needs
of many more.

Thank you for your time,

Lauren Wu, SPT
Wu1l@cmich.edu