How Rehabilitation Science is Preparing Me for Medical School

Sahana Katakol is a student in the University of Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Science program, slated to graduate in spring 2027. After graduation, Katakol intends to attend medical school, expanding her research interests and the knowledge she gained from the program for this next chapter in her career.

Read on to learn more about Katakol’s experience in the program and how it is preparing her for medical school.

Finding Rehabilitation Science

I found this program while searching for a curriculum that offered hands-on exposure to applied anatomy, physiology and human performance. I fell in love with human movement back in high school after developing runner’s knee during track. My coach, who I owe so much to, transitioned me into strength training for rehabilitation, and made me love the process. She always explained the “why” around certain movements and entertained all my questions. I remember thinking, “I wish I could never stop learning about this.” Choosing Rehabilitation Science felt like a natural evolution of that curiosity.

A woman with long dark hair wearing dark glasses and yellow and orange traditional Indian clothing, a woman with dark hair pulled back wearing lime green Indian dresswear wrapped in a cloth with red, purple and tan colors, and a man with silver glasses wearing pale yellow Indian dresswear. — Sahana Katakol (BS’27) on vacation with her parents.

Since Rehabilitation Science is an upper division program, I spent my first two years in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences completing prerequisites before I had to apply into the program for my junior year. I considered several other paths, including neuroscience, emergency medicine and even engineering. While those are all incredible programs at Pitt, knowing I was working toward that transition into Rehabilitation Science kept me focused. It didn’t feel restrictive; it felt like the opposite.

That exploration ultimately reinforced my decision, and by the time I applied to Rehabilitation Science, I felt confident in my choice. Even as I continued to pursue other interests through minors and certificates, I remained grounded in Rehabilitation Science as my primary path.

A woman with dark hair pulled back wearing a dark green sports bra and black shorts while on a rowing machine. — Sahana Katakol (BS ‘27) competing at the Mid Atlantic Collegiate Classic Competition with the CrossFit club at Pitt.

Program Experience

In SHRS, my favorite courses have definitely been Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Lab because it was our first taste into the intense details of our body, from knowing all the muscle origin-insertions to knowing consequences of nerve damage from a specific injury. I’ve also been loving biomechanics because it is so heavily focused on application and patient-facing lab work.

One of the SHRS classes that I truly enjoyed more than I thought I would, was the Human Physiology course. Since it’s a common prerequisite that many pre-health students need to take, I imagined it would be similar to the other underclassmen STEM classes I had taken. But the way it was taught was so interesting. Dr. Bridget Deasy’s style of teaching, where she would draw out these big-picture diagrams of complex mechanisms and systems that we would draw along with her in class, made it very intuitive to understand intricate concepts about human physiological processes. This set a baseline of understanding that made it easy to come onto questions outside of the core content and think about real-world context and applicability of these systems!

Certificates

A woman with dark hair wearing a black blazer over a white collared blouse standing next to a poster presentation. — Sahana Katakol (BS ‘27) presenting her geriatric research at the Frederick Honors College Symposium.

I’m doing the Pathokinesiology in Rehabilitation certificate because I wanted something that specifically catered to my interests in human performance, the pathology of disorders and clinical diagnosis. It’s a great way to dive deeper into the mechanics of how movement can be used as a tool for recovery.

I’m also doing a Global Health certificate through the University Center of International Studies because I want to study the applicability of medicine. Problems and solutions change based on who is looking and where they are located. My research in geriatrics at the Pepper Center for Older Adults has shown me that research focused on one population doesn’t always apply to another. For example, we know that micro-impacting plyometric jumps can grow bone, but you can’t recommend that to an arthritic patient with weakened bones because they might break before they make it stronger. The Global Health certificate helps me navigate those nuances, and I’m looking forward to creating the final portfolio of my works and reflections on what I’ve learned.

Building Connections

All the SHRS faculty here are so supportive and passionate. They don’t just know their subjects; they know how to teach them and inspire passion for these subjects in us too.

Dr. Andrea Hergenroeder, the Rehabilitation Science program director and assistant professor, also embodies how approachable this department is. One day, I didn’t even have an appointment or her office number, but I had a small gap between classes and just wanted to talk to her. She happened to walk by as I found it, and even though it was unplanned, we had a 20-minute conversation about my summer plans and resources. Being able to have that kind of easy, direct access without back-and-forth emails is something I really value here.

A woman with dark hair wearing a green hat and a tan shirt over a white t-shirt, a woman with dark hair pulled back waring a tan tank top, and a woman with dark hair pulled back wearing a maroon hat and a navy blue sweatshirt over a white shirt standing together holding gloves while dishing out food. — Sahana Katakol (BS ‘27, first from right) alongside fellow members of the Food Recovery Heroes student organization packing meals for distribution.

I also have to mention Dr. Steven M. Albert in the School of Public Health; he’s been a genuinely great mentor for my independent research on assistive device onset, acting as an amazing support structure as I’ve navigated this work, which I am so grateful for!

Coming from huge general biology or chemistry classes where everyone is there for different reasons, the Rehabilitation Science atmosphere is totally different. Everyone genuinely loves the subjects, and since we’re all looking at things from different angles, participation in class is much more collaborative. It never feels like a competition; it’s more like a community where you learn from each person’s niche interest.

Before even coming into SHRS, I built strong connections with peers both one-on-one and in group settings. It’s been really nice to have people to study with and even casually join when you spot someone working with a skeletal model. Honestly, at this point, we’ve bonded over brachial plexus drawings on a Hillman whiteboard far more than what’s considered normal.

A woman with dark hair pulled back wearing a royal blue t-shirt over a black long sleeve shirt and gray sweatpants holding her arms up with her hands as peace signs with other people in the background. — Sahana Katakol (BS ’27) as a coach, volunteering with the CrossFit Competitive Sports Club at Pitt as they host their annual “Snowball Showdown” fundraising competition.

Preparing for Medical School

I think I’m drawn to medicine for the same reason I’ve always loved rehabilitation science: the cause-and-effect logic of how the human body works. The physical systems-level thinking you build in rehabilitation science translates naturally into the internal systems thinking that medicine requires.

The Rehabilitation Science curriculum gives you a very clinical way of thinking. We have so many hands-on opportunities: the cadaver lab for technical internal anatomy, the applied exercise physiology lab for biomarker testing and the biomechanics lab for measuring things like goniometry and manual muscle testing. We also have interdisciplinary classes like Issues in Healthcare where we learn about electronic health records, accessibility and international health care systems from guest speakers. As a future clinician, this program supports me by giving me familiarity with real-world applications and interdisciplinary collaboration before I even begin medical school.

A group of women stand together, each of them with long dark hair wearing summer clothing while standing on a balcony. — Sahana Katakol (BS ’27, second from right) on the coast of Goa, India.

If you do happen to be someone who’s exploring majors and paths right now, and you want to dive into something that’s more than just textbook biology, where you get to go deeper and understand the “hows” and “whys” behind the human body, the Rehabilitation Science program is an amazing place to find yourself in.

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