Scholarship is Legacy of Physician’s Passion for Pain Relief

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As they celebrated the launch of their careers in physical therapy, Aleana Fowler and Natasha Saunders marveled at how profoundly their education was impacted by Dr. Terry Jackson, whom they never met.

Aleana and Natasha received the Terry L. Jackson, M.D. Memorial Scholarship, which was established in 2007 and supports two students annually in the Great Falls College MSU Physical Therapist Assistant program.

Dr. Jackson specialized in pain management, physical medicine, and rehabilitation. He wanted to assist students interested in medicine, too.

“Education is important, and this is a critical field,” Paula Jackson said. “My husband was a compassionate doctor and dedicated to his practice. He knew physical therapy makes a great impact to patients. It’s a very rewarding field to be in.”

PTAs have a huge role in rehabilitation, and the Jackson scholarship helps them with tuition, books, even the gas they need to drive to clinicals, said Brad Bechard, GFC MSU’s Physical Therapist Assistant program director.

“There is a need for PTAs, and they get the opportunity to profoundly help people, to see someone who can’t walk after a stroke get up and moving,” he said. “PTAs have a huge role in rehabilitation.”

Natasha quit her job to go back for the PTA program. Her husband, who serves in the U.S. Air Force, and she have four children. The scholarship made her feel less “selfish” about going back to school.

She is a runner and injured her Achilles tendon. It’s helped fuel her passion for sports medicine.

“The human body’s abilities amaze me,” she said. “To work with people as they get back into activities after an injury is meaningful to me. I’m so excited to be in the working environment and put into practice what we’ve learned.”

Aleana was frequently injured in high school, which led her into physical therapy as a career. She especially is passionate about women’s health and sports injuries.

“The scholarship meant everything,” she said. “It helped a bunch. I have been successful through the program even though I couldn’t have a full-time job while doing my schooling. It was an instant relief when I learned about the scholarship.”