COL. (RET.) REBECCA STOREY HOOPER, P.T., PH. D. (Gamma Nu-Miami University) With more than 30 years of active-duty military experience and civilian work under her belt, Col. Rebecca “Becky” Storey Hooper (Gamma Nu-Miami University) understands what it takes to be a leader. In fact, she originally planned to become an architect, but fate had other plans. “I went to Miami University to study architecture, but I didn’t fit in,” Becky recounted. “I changed my major to physical education, which sparked my interest in physical therapy. It was the Army, actually, that helped me realize what I had learned in physical education could be carried over into the medical field. My mentor at the time even told me, ‘You’re going into physical therapy, and that’s just physical education on a one-on-one basis.’ I just fell in love with that.” After graduating from Miami University in 1974 and joining Alpha Phi's Gamma Nu Chapter, she entered the U.S. Army-Baylor University Graduate Program in Physical Therapy. Upon earning her master's, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant. She fulfilled her Army commitment at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, before pursuing private practice for several years. Those opportunities have afforded great experiences for Hooper along the trajectory of her physical therapy (PT) career, including many chances to tackle both the administrative and practical sides of medicine. For example, she served in South Korea for a year as the only American physical therapist on her post (and in the entire country). “I learned a lot about myself and a lot about physical therapy in that environment,” Becky expressed. “When you’re in a situation where you’re the only one, you have to rely on yourself.” That sense of self-reliance propelled Hooper through her other clinical and staff assignments and led to her position as the 15th Chief of the Army Medical Specialist Corps in 2000. In this position, she was charged with the responsibility of overseeing more than 1,000 army occupational therapists, physical therapists, dietitians and physician assistants worldwide. She served in that capacity for four years and finished her time on active
Becky embracing her Gamma Nu sister, and former roommate, Bonnie Don Watcher, at their 50th reunion.
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