When MaeKenzi Dixon stepped to the microphone to address the Rutgers School of Health Professions Class of 2025 as student convocation speaker, she knew full well the power and importance of using her voice.

Dixon fell in love with the field of physical therapy after taking an introductory course in high school, but wasn’t always convinced it was for her. She was overwhelmed by anxiety and fear even before orientation over whether she belonged. Her uncertainty was compounded by a noticeable shortage of women in the field who looked like her.

MaeKenzi Dixon, 2025 Convocation Speaker

Now, having joined the roughly 2% of Doctors of Physical Therapy who are African-American women, she is proud to serve as an example for future students. “This is more than a personal milestone,” Dixon said to the graduates. “It’s a reminder that representation matters, especially where we’re overlooked.”

Beyond celebrating the accomplishments of the Class of 2025, Dixon spoke to the responsibility she and her classmates hold as future healthcare providers. She shared her own experience of finding her voice as a provider during a clinical rotation on Navajo Nation in Arizona.

While working with a therapy-resistant patient, Dixon visited the home and found that the patient was struggling in silence with challenges that the resources being provided couldn’t address. By speaking up and advocating for modifications to make the home more accessible, she improved the patient’s ability to care for herself.

“Healthcare doesn’t always start with a diagnosis,” said Dixon. “Sometimes it starts with listening, showing up, seeing people and advocating for them when they can’t do it for themselves.”

In her speech, Dixon challenged the other graduates to speak up when it’s uncomfortable and address the disparities and injustices they may face in an uncertain world.

“We’re not just entering the workforce; we’re stepping into people’s lives. Let’s be the ones who disrupt what is broken and rebuild what is needed,” she concluded.