MinerAlert
MinerAlert
September 2026
By Alexandra Sanchez ’17
Originally from Mexico, Ovidia Chacon, DPT ’16 moved to El Paso after high school to begin her college journey. UTEP's location on the border allowed her to stay close to her family while building a new community of her own.
"I was reluctant just because I didn't want to leave my hometown," Chacon said. "But it was an easy transition since UTEP is right there on the border, so I started to meet people and I felt more at home."
She began her UTEP journey in business, thinking she might pursue an administrative career. Her interests, however, leaned heavily toward math and science. After meeting with a counselor and completing a career assessment, physical therapy was suggested as a possibility.
At the time, Chacon knew very little about the profession. She decided to explore it by volunteering at a physical therapy clinic, where she was offered a position as a physical therapy technician after just one week. She quickly discovered that she enjoyed working in the clinic setting and had found her calling.
“I loved it. I was like, ‘Oh, this is fun,’” she said. “I like to interact with people and just be part of something important for people.”
Chacon earned her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from UTEP before pursuing her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Although the journey took almost a decade, she looks back on her time at UTEP with gratitude.
Some of the people who influenced her were professors who brought science to life, including anatomy and biology professors who inspired her through their passion and expertise. Their enthusiasm helped reinforce her own love for science and motivated her to pursue a career where she could make a difference.
UTEP also offered Chacon an advantage: an affordable education close to home. She ultimately chose UTEP’s physical therapy program over other opportunities, knowing she could remain near her family while significantly reducing the cost of her education. That decision continues to shape the way she approaches her career today.
After graduating, Chacon worked as a physical therapist in Arizona for nearly five years. But she had always dreamed of traveling. Once she learned that physical therapists could work on temporary assignments around the country, she knew she wanted to eventually combine her career with her love of travel and exploration. That dream eventually took her to Alaska.
Five years later, Chacon continues to work as a travel physical therapist, taking assignments in different communities while embracing the flexibility her career provides. She has worked in small Alaskan towns where she was the only physical therapist in the community, experiences that have allowed her to connect closely with patients and make a meaningful impact.
For Chacon, the greatest benefit of travel physical therapy isn’t just seeing new places. It’s creating a life where work fits around her life.
“I plan my year based on my life,” she said. “Work goes around my life, not my life around work.”
Today, Chacon typically works eight or nine months out of the year, using breaks between assignments to travel internationally, visit family and explore new destinations. Alaska has remained a favorite because of its close connection to nature and the opportunity to be part of smaller communities.
Her journey has also taught her the importance of being intentional about career and financial decisions. Her advice to other students and alumni is simple: have a plan, avoid taking on unnecessary debt and find a path that allows you to build the life you want, not just a career.
Chacon’s story is a reminder that finding your passion and career path isn’t always linear. Sometimes, it takes a change of direction, a little curiosity and the courage to try something new.