Scholarship Application

The Story Behind Our Scholarship

On May 1st, 2020 David Reichman collapsed in his bathroom. After three hours, he managed to crawl to the phone to call for help. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC where he was diagnosed with a brain abscess. When standard treatment was unsuccessful, he underwent brain surgery to remove the abscess. The procedure saved his life but left him with a long road of rehabilitation ahead. David required comprehensive rehabilitation focused on neurological re-education to  regain skills such as standing, walking, and performing activities of daily living. With the help of his rehabilitation team at Kessler Institute for Rehab, David progressed from requiring maximal assistance just to stand to walking independently and returning to his prior lifestyle. The David Reichman Scholarship for PT and OT Students was created to honor his therapists. Their skill, dedication, and care changed his life. Through this experience, David learned the integral role therapy plays in healthcare.  This scholarship was developed to alleviate the financial burden of school thereby allowing graduate students to focus on becoming impactful therapists. David was inspired by the occupational and physical therapists by his side as he progressed from his first steps, to jogging on the sidewalks of New York City 5 weeks later, and dancing with his daughter one year after the event.

The application for 2024 is now closed. Thank you to all those who applied. Winners will be announced June 15th 2024.