On November 15, the College of Health and Human Services will host the 2019 Health and Human Services Hero Awards to recognize the unsung heroes in our community whose actions, thoughts and words have had a transformative impact in our region. We will highlight the ten honorees in our Heroes Blog Series.
Name: Dan Barrows
Occupation: Owner and Physical Therapist, Barrows Physical Therapy
Nominated by: Department of Physical Therapy
A serious motor accident in 1984 changed the course of Dan Barrow’s life. At the time, he was in college pursuing a degree in political science and was an avid soccer player. In order to regain his strength, he was required to attend weekly physical therapy. A few sessions later led to him discovering his true calling – and a new career goal.
Barrows went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from Fresno State in 1987 – and has been practicing in the Central Valley region ever since. He and his wife, Julie, opened Barrows Physical Therapy in Madera in the early 90s, and later a second practice in Fresno. The Fresno State pride is apparent in his practice, where a majority of the physical therapists are Fresno State alumni.
In addition to hiring local, Barrows regularly gives his time and expertise back to the University, where he has served as a mentor to physical therapy students for nearly 30 years. In 2013, he began as a lecturer for an orthopedic lab, and later grew into clinical experience courses in the Musculoskeletal Care Clinic, which he currently teaches. His keen skill in clinical education earned him the Northern California Clinical Instructor of Excellence award in 2014.
Barrows believes he gains more than he gives. As such, community work is essential to him. Aside from his profession, he has volunteered with the Leukemia Society’s “Team in Training” for the past 14 years. He also works with the high school ROP programs and offers clinical observation hours for students in the program.
“Dan’s 30-plus year commitment to the field of physical therapy, as well as Fresno State, is exceptional. His ability to see the bigger picture and to truly invest in the growth of others is rare. His tireless dedication to his pursuits, as well as his calm and warm demeanor have made him a true success.” – Dr. Jenna Sawdon Bea, Department of Physical Therapy
The 2019 Health and Human Services Hero Awards, which celebrates heroes from each of the seven departments, as well as centers and institutes within our college, will be held on November 15, 2018 at Fresno State. For more information on the event, contact Beth Wilkinson at 559.278.3603 or bwilkinson@csufresno.edu.
Fresno State College of Health and Human Services 