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After completing a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Hampton University, Kyla Formey could have launched straight into practice. Instead, she chose to level up, enrolling in �鶹����AV’s Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program to deepen her focus on sports medicine.

“Some people think I’m crazy for going back to school,” Kyla said, laughing. “But at the end of the day, I really want my own sports clinic. I’m refining my skills to get there.”

Sports have always been central to Kyla’s life. A former basketball player at Long Island University Post (LIU Post), she saw physical therapy and athletic training as ways to stay close to the game, but in a different role. “This lets me be part of the sports world in a meaningful way, while also having the option to branch out if I want.”

She’s well on her way. With a 3.95 GPA and a standout research presentation that earned top honors at the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers' Association Annual Meeting, Kyla has made the most of her �鶹����AV experience. Her research on how concussion history may influence risk-taking behaviors in collegiate athletes blends academic rigor with personal insight.

“When you get into it and see the numbers working out, it can be addicting!” she said. “Clinicians were genuinely interested, which made all the time I spent feel worth it.”

Kyla recently completed a clinical placement with the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA, a professional opportunity she called transformative. “I learned that if you have passion for something, it’s not going away. You’ll do it for free.”

Growing up in Brooklyn, Kyla saw firsthand how access shaped opportunity. “I saw kids who were talented but who didn’t have the support to play outside of like a park,” she said. “It’s something that sits in the back of my mind as like my ‘Why.’ People are counting on you. Kids who look like me look up to me.”

That early perspective continues to guide her. Kyla has completed clinical rotations with �鶹����AV and Hampton University Athletics, Virginia Beach City Football Club, and the Harlem Globetrotters, and she volunteered for the Shamrock Marathon. She also serves her community through Delta Sigma Theta, her sorority, in non-athletic volunteer efforts. And she currently works as the physical therapist at Norfolk State University, where she plans to transition into an athletic training role with the football team after earning her MSAT.

That drive doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Kyla has excelled in all phases—academically, clinically, and in research,” said Ryan McCann, clinical coordinator for the MSAT program. “She brings passion, talent, and a spirit of service to everything she does. Her future in sports medicine is bright.”

Kyla credits her success to her faith, her family, and the community she’s found at �鶹����AV. “This has been a great cohort. A great support system,” she said. Her tattoo, “Mind over matter,” reminds her to stay the course when things get tough. “School is challenging and demanding. You’re going to miss out on things. But if you keep going, it’s all worth it.”