CHS Announces Fall 24 Commencement Honor Roles: Brianna C. Rizo, Undergraduate Student Marshal

Published November 27, 2024
By Darlene Muguiro
UTEP College of Health Sciences

This December, three CHS students will serve in honorific roles at the Fall 2024 commencement ceremony at the Don Haskins Center. These students were selected for their positions based on academic achievement, extracurricular participation, and community and University service. Our first story features Brianna C. Rizo, Undergraduate Student Marshal for the College of Health Sciences.

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Brianna C. Rizo, a candidate for the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences degree (concentration in Occupational Therapy), recalls the early life encounter which opened her heart to a career in helping others to participate fully in life.

“I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and lupus in high school, which turned my world upside down. During this time, I met a medical student who also had fibromyalgia. Seeing her succeed despite her struggles made me realize that I could turn my pain into purpose,” she said. “I firmly believe that God uses specific circumstances that happen in our life for our benefit. I’m now able to look at life through a lens of opportunity instead of pessimism.”

Relying on her strong faith and the unwavering support of her family, Rizo graduated from Canutillo High School and enrolled at UTEP, where she later joined the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences Program. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she balanced her academics with meaningful extracurricular experiences, including volunteering in the UTEP NeuroExcel laboratory, led by Dr. Camila Torriani-Pasin. As one of the few Spanish speakers in the lab, Rizo was able to provide a space for the Spanish-speaking research participants to communicate freely during their time in the lab’s study on physical activity and sedentary behaviors among stroke survivors.

“Dr. Torriani-Pasin really helped to push me, to go further than my own expectations during my time in the lab, including presenting at the COURI symposium about our work,” she said. “This experience really helped me to see how essential research is for the future of health care and patient treatments, but it also highlighted the importance of cultural competence in health care.”

As Rizo neared the end of the BS-RHSC Program, she began shadowing an occupational therapist specializing in hand therapy. The setting allowed her to explore the human side of therapy and how to connect more deeply with patients.

“One patient who was recovering from tendon surgery shared her anxieties with me. I could relate to her on a personal level due to my own experiences with joint pain, and this connection helped me understand that therapy isn’t just about physical recovery – it’s about emotional healing,” she said.

After graduation, Rizo will begin a new phase of her academic journey, joining the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at Baylor University. Ultimately, she foresees herself exploring specialties in either equine or hand therapy settings.

“My goal is to create authentic, personal relationships with my patients, understanding their unique stories,” she said. “I will strive to create a space where they feel heard, supported, and one step closer to regaining control over their lives.”

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Go Miners!

For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences Program, please visit: https://www.utep.edu/chs/bsrhsc/