A Yakima athlete turns her passion for movement into a mission for care.
Student Doctor Maya Cunningham’s path to physical therapy began on the courts and fields of Yakima, where she spent her youth as an athlete. A graduate of Eisenhower High School, Maya understands the importance of movement—not just for sports, but for everyday life. Her experiences as an athlete exposed her to the gaps in healthcare access for rural communities, particularly when it came to injury recovery and rehabilitation.
“Being a Yakima native, I have seen firsthand how medically underserved this area is,” she said.
“I have seen my family not receive the immediate care they need. I was also an athlete growing up, and I have seen the challenges athletes have to accessing proper healthcare. I think that is what has driven me to stay here. I wanted to be a part of the changes to healthcare that can be made in a rural area.”
Maya chose PNWU because of its welcoming environment and commitment to student success. From her first interview, she felt at home. The smaller class sizes and supportive faculty created a sense of belonging that has carried her through the challenges of graduate school. For Maya, PNWU is more than an institution—it’s a community dedicated to improving health outcomes in underserved areas.
“I was really inspired through the interview process,” she said. “The DPT program faculty was so helpful in answering any questions I had and made me feel like I would succeed at PNWU.”
Her Yakima roots have shaped her desire to give back. Maya has seen family members struggle to access timely care and athletes go without consistent treatment for injuries. These experiences fuel her determination to stay in Yakima and be part of the solution. Through PNWU’s pro-bono clinics, Maya has already begun making an impact.
“From the very first semester of physical therapy school, we are working with members of the community through pro-bono clinics,” she said.
“It gives our community so many more opportunities to receive care that they wouldn’t otherwise. I love being able to connect with people and practice my skills hands-on.”
Maya’s vision for the future is centered on improving quality of life. Whether helping a patient regain confidence after a fall, recover from surgery, or return to the sport they love, she wants to make everyday tasks easier and more enjoyable. Her education at PNWU has taught her to advocate for greater access to physical therapy and to collaborate with other healthcare professionals to address systemic challenges.
“I hope I can improve all of my patients’ quality of life,” she said. “Whether that be improving in their sport following an injury, gaining confidence after a fall, or recovering from a surgery, I would like to help people make everyday tasks easier.”
As Maya looks ahead to her career, she sees herself not only as a clinician but as an advocate for rural health. She hopes to build strong connections within the healthcare community and use those relationships to expand services in Yakima and beyond. For Maya Cunningham, physical therapy is a way to restore independence, dignity, and hope—and to ensure that no one is left behind because of where they live.