Dr. Gregory Lowe graduated from Daemen in 2018 with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy and since then has excelled in the field. Recently relocating back to the Buffalo area from Greenville, South Carolina with fellow alum MacKenzie (Donahue) Lowe '17, he opened his own Physical Therapy practice called AWAKEN Performance Rehab. The facility is a modern-concept, high-tech, and professional physical therapy and performance clinic. Greg gives thanks to his professors at Daemen who encouraged and inspired him to achieve many of the advanced certifications he holds today.
What brought you to Daemen/Rosary Hill?
I was initially drawn to Daemen because of the well-respected Doctorate of Physical Therapy program and the family-like atmosphere that was very apparent on the campus. All of the faculty seemed to really have the students' best interest in mind and were dedicated to creating a unique environment that was very welcoming.
Were you a commuter or resident?
Commuter
What activities were you involved in as a student?
During my time on campus, I had the honor of competing on the inaugural Daemen Men's Tennis team, I had the opportunity to serve as a team representative in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), I was involved with the Athletes in Action Christian athlete ministry, and I had the honor of being a member of the Trustee Scholars group. These experiences were integral in developing important time management, leadership, and personal communication skills that definitely served me well in my professional career.
Do you have a favorite professor, coach, mentor that impacted your life and experience at Daemen/Rosary Hill?
Two professors in particular who directly impacted my growth as a physical therapist were Dr. Greg Ford and Dr. Ron Schenk. Both of these professors were not only excellent educators but were also expert clinicians who encouraged and inspired me to achieve many of the advanced certifications that I hold today.
What do you remember most vividly from your time at Daemen/Rosary Hill?
While I have so many tremendous memories from my time at Daemen, what I valued most were all of the long-lasting relationships that God brought into my life. Still to this day I am extremely close with many of my classmates, tennis teammates, and professors and I could not be more grateful for that!
What have you been up to since graduation?
After living in South Carolina for the past few years, my wife Mackenzie (also fellow Daemen alum/member of the Daemen Athletics Hall of Fame) and I returned home to Buffalo this summer to open AWAKEN Performance Rehab (www.awakenperformancerehab.
How did your experiences and education at Daemen/Rosary Hill prepare you for life after college?
When considering all of the various experiences that the Daemen Physical Therapy program exposed me to (both in the classroom and in many different clinical situations) along with my experience as a student athlete, I am very confident that Daemen directly prepared me well for both my overall life and my physical therapy career after college.
How are you involved at Daemen as an alum?
Currently, I have had the honor of returning to campus as an adjunct faculty member in the Physical Therapy (DPT) program which has been a dream come true! I was also honored to have served as an interviewer for the Trustee Scholarship on Scholar's Day. I am always eager to stay engaged and give back to the programs that have played such an important role in my life.
What advice do you have for current and prospective students interested in Daemen?
My advice for any current or prospective students is to never stop looking for opportunities to learn and grow throughout your life and never take the people closest to you for granted! Both the education and relationships that I obtained at Daemen have been incredibly valuable for all of the opportunities that I have been blessed with since graduating.
For fun- List 3-5 fun facts about yourself that most people probably wouldn’t know.
- I am the first clinician to bring 3-Dimensional Running Gait Analysis to the Western New York region at AWAKEN Performance Rehab!
- While living in Greenville, SC for the past few years, I had the honor of working with numerous professional athletes including those who have competed in the 2022 World Track & Field Championships, 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and 2020 USA Olympic Trials!
- During college, I also worked as a tennis and pickleball instructor!