UMH Rehabilitation welcomes Abi Guerra

In August, Uvalde Memorial Hospital (UMH) welcomed Abi Guerra, PT, DPT to the Rehabilitation department. Guerra was born and raised in Eagle Pass.

Guerra graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at Austin in nutritional sciences in 2014. Through career exploration, Guerra found a calling towards Physical Therapy (PT), where she proceeded to obtain her Doctorate (DPT) from The University of the Incarnate Word, Physical Therapy School.

After completion of PT school in 2017, Guerra worked for two years at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. During her career at MD Anderson, Guerra found herself taking great interest in patients with cancer undergoing extensive treatment. Her interest blossomed into taking and completing the necessary steps to obtain credentialing as a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Oncologic Physical Therapy.

While feeling fulfilled in her career, Guerra’s close family ties to the south-west region of Texas continued to call her home, and she felt a position at UMH would be the perfect fit.

Guerra will be developing a specialized cancer program within the rehabilitation department at Uvalde Memorial Hospital. She is currently undertaking the process by working with staff on education and training, as well as working with doctors on program development.

“I am pursuing my passion to serve those going through the toughest period of their lives. There’s a great opportunity with the UMH rehabilitation department to provide my knowledge and experience to an underserved region, which I love,” Guerra said.

Nation-wide, cancer rehabilitation is becoming more of an integral part of comprehensive cancer care services that support psychological and functional well-being after diagnosis. According to the American Cancer Society, the survival rate for all cancers has increased from 49% (1975-1977) to 67% (2006-2012) due to advances in cancer diagnosis and treatments, physical therapy included.

Seeing a physical therapist to learn the best exercise routines for a person during their cancer treatment can help combat a number of potential side effects of cancer and its treatment: fatigue, weakness/atrophy, decreased endurance, balance deficits, falls, difficulty with activities of daily living (ADLs), etc.

For more information on the hospital’s new, specialized cancer program within the rehabilitation department, please contact the department at (830)- 278- 6251 extension 1621.