Why Coaching at Tufts DPT Is Different—and Why It Matters
My name is Kory Gibbs, DPT26, and I’m a student in the Tufts University Doctor of Physical Therapy Seattle program. Like many others entering a rigorous graduate program, I expected to be challenged academically. What I didn’t expect was how deeply personal and transformative the journey would become—especially through the support of a coach who redefined what mentorship means. I wanted to share how my understanding of coaching evolved, and how one extraordinary mentor helped me navigate one of the most difficult times in my life.
The term “coaching” seems like it would have a basic definition: someone who assists another person in developing and/or cultivating an individual or set of skills. In my experience, coaching has been much more than that. As someone who had played sports throughout grade school, coaching had always involved teaching a skill, helping practice the skill, then giving firm—at times harsh—feedback if the skill was not performed correctly or in a manner that the coach saw fit. I was unaware that coaching could—and should—be more than that. I was unaware until I was accepted into the Tufts University Doctor of Physical Therapy–Seattle program.
At Tufts, students are paired with a faculty mentor who serves as their coach. Admittedly, I was anxious to find out who my coach would be, mainly because I assumed it would be another “coach” who would tell me what to do and then reprimand me once I made a mistake. I can proudly say that I was glad to be wrong. Leiselle Pilgrim, PT, DPT, EdD, MPH, from day one has been an excellent coach. She completely redefined what coaching is to me, and that meant so much. Not only was she attentive and concerned about my status in the program, but about me as a person.
To give a more in-depth perspective: in the fall of 2024, my first semester at Tufts, my wife suffered a stroke due to hyperglycemia and a rare brain disease called Moyamoya, which she had been diagnosed with in 2023. It was her tenth stroke to date, and it left her temporarily paralyzed on the right side of her body. I was in the hospital, then in inpatient rehab with her until I left for the first lab immersion in Seattle, and then for most of my second semester. Once I told Dr. Pilgrim what was going on, she made sure to check in with me every chance she had and helped me manage my assignments while taking care of my wife.
Not only that, but she also constantly encouraged me to continue in the program and helped set up one-on-one tutoring sessions to make sure I didn’t fall behind. I felt supported and uplifted when I thought about giving up. She mixed encouragement with tough love in the best way possible. She allowed me to sulk in my failures and vent my frustrations but then empowered me to create a plan and move forward. Each step of the way, she was there to lift me up and give me the push to become better and strive for more.
Dr. Pilgrim has gone beyond what I could have ever imagined a coach could be. When I was faced with a choice to take a leave of absence or stay in the program, she fully believed that I could get the grades necessary to continue. She has believed in me and my success even when I did not. I can say without a doubt that Dr. Pilgrim is a large part of why I continue to believe in myself and have the confidence to graduate from Tufts and become the best physical therapist I can be.
My experience at Tufts DPT-Seattle has been shaped by more than academics—it’s been defined by the support of a coach who believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself. Dr. Pilgrim’s mentorship showed me the true meaning of coaching, and it’s a big reason why I’m still on this path. For anyone considering Tufts, know that you won’t just find a program—you’ll find people who truly care.
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