Soleana Demapan Villanueva
Soleana Demapan Villanueva
Student of Physical Therapy
Student of Physical Therapy
About Me
My name is Soleana Demapan Villanueva, and I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy candidate at Hawai‘i Pacific University. As a proud Indigenous Chamorro woman from the Northern Mariana Islands, I am committed to advancing equitable, culturally responsive rehabilitation for underrepresented communities across Oceania.
With a background in public health and experience in community health advocacy, I strive to integrate evidence-based care with deep respect for cultural values and traditions. My journey has been shaped by transformative mentorship, the lived experience of parenting a neurodiverse child, and personal encounters with rehabilitation within my own family. These experiences have grounded my belief in meeting patients where they are, fostering inclusion, and building systems that empower individuals and communities to thrive.
Self Directed Learning
My journey to advance rehabilitative practice in Oceania through community engagement and self-improvement.
Research Assistantship
Objective: Professional Development
As a first year DPT student, I was fortunate to serve as a research assistant for the Lanakila Senior Exercise Program. The research project titled: The Impact of Student-Led Community-Based Group Exercise on Strength and Balance in Older Adults saw 1st year DPT students designing, implementing, and documenting outcomes among a target group of seniors over 8-weeks.
Rizing Tide PT Pod
Objective: Professional Development
Through free webinars on rehabilitation, mentorship, networking, and connectivity, the Rizing Tide Physical Therapy Pod has supported my professional goals and the goals of other students from minority and underrepresented backgrounds by creating a safe space to validate our stories, build community, and diversify the profession. In the past year, I have attended 10+ webinars/panels and joined a monthly book club.
Peer Mentoring
Objective: Mentoring
As a second-year DPT student, I designed this mentoring experience to develop my ability to provide structured academic, professional, and psychosocial support to a first-year student, aligning with the mentoring and professional development domains . I applied my experience in an accelerated program to guide time management, build confidence, and connect my mentee to meaningful opportunities such as the Hapalua Half Marathon rehab tent, Go Baby Go, and the Rizing Tide scholarship. This experience strengthened my leadership and communication skills, and I plan to refine it through more structured goal-setting and feedback to better meet individual learner needs.
Teaching Assistantship
Objective: Teaching
Through my involvement in the Aging Adult research project, I contributed to the design and implementation of community health screenings, while also examining student responses to delivering care in a real-world setting, aligning with the teaching domain of the portfolio . This experience required me to translate clinical knowledge into accessible education for both community members and student participants, while modeling effective communication and patient-centered care. It strengthened my ability to adapt teaching strategies to diverse learners and reinforced the role of education in promoting health, prevention, and professional development.
Panel Discussions
Objective: Teaching
Through participation in the HPU DPT Open House and the HPU Graduate Program panels, I contributed to the teaching domain by educating prospective students and parents on navigating the program as a student parent . I provided practical guidance on balancing academic demands and family life while answering questions to support informed decision-making. This experience strengthened my ability to communicate clearly and support diverse learners.
Continuing Education
Objective: Professional Development
Completion of continuing education courses through APTA and MedBridge reflects my commitment to lifelong learning and evidence-based practice. I intentionally selected CEUs aligned with each clinical rotation to strengthen setting-specific clinical reasoning. The vital signs course enhanced safe clinical decision-making in a SNF, while the motor learning course improved my approach to functional mobility in neurorehabilitation.
Bringing Vitality to Vital Signs - Implementing the 2021 Adult Vital Sign Interpretation Guide in Acute Care (APTA - 0.2 CEUs)
Clinical Reasoning and Motor Learning: Bed Mobility, Transfers, Walking (Medbridge - 1.5 hrs)
Volunteering
Objective: Social Responsibility
My volunteer experiences at the Hapalua Half Marathon rehab tent, Adaptive Surf Championship, and Go Baby Go Pediatric Mobility event align with the social responsibility domain by directly supporting community health, wellness, and access to care . Through these activities, I contributed to injury management, adaptive sport participation, and mobility access for underserved populations, including individuals with disabilities and pediatric patients. These experiences reinforced my commitment to service and expanded my understanding of how physical therapy can impact communities beyond the clinic.
2026 Capstone Symposium Presentation
Objective: Professional Development
My presentation at the 2026 HPU Capstone Symposium aligns with the professional development domain by demonstrating the synthesis, application, and dissemination of clinical knowledge gained during my neurorehabilitation rotation. I presented on high-intensity gait training, translating current evidence into clinical practice while engaging in professional dialogue with peers and faculty. This experience strengthened my ability to communicate clinical reasoning and reinforced my role in contributing to the profession through evidence-based practice.
Clinical Education
My Clinical Rotations included:
Hale Nani Rehab and Nursing Center
Inpatient - Skilled Nursing Facility
My first clinical rotation was at Hale Nani Rehab and Nursing Center, the largest skilled nursing facility (SNF) in Hawaii. This was an invaluable opportunity to gain experience in longterm and post-acute care, working largely with a diverse population of geriatric adults with complex comorbidites and severe functional limitations.
Wellness Neuro and SCI
Outpatient Specialty - Neuro
My second clinical rotation at Wellness Neuro and SCI, an outpatient neurorehabilitation clinic, emphasized advanced neurologic care across diverse patient populations. I refined skills in high-level transfers, high-intensity gait training, and the development of innovative, individualized interventions for patients in long-term care. Working with individuals with SCI, CVA, TBI, amputations, and neurodegenerative conditions strengthened my clinical reasoning and ability to adapt evidence-based approaches to complex presentations.
Movement Plus
Outpatient - Orthopaedic
My third clinical rotation at Movement Plus, an outpatient orthopedic clinic with a highly collaborative interdisciplinary team, provided experience across a broad spectrum of musculoskeletal and vestibular conditions. I managed patients ranging from post-surgical rehabilitation to BPPV, work conditioning, and chronic tendinopathies, enhancing my clinical versatility. Additionally, under the guidance of a pelvic health specialist, I began developing skills in internal and external pelvic assessment, laying the foundation for integrating pelvic health into my future clinical practice.
Self Assessment of Core Values
My self-assessments reflect growth toward consistently embodying core values such as accountability, compassion, and excellence in my clinical practice. I have a deep sense of commitment to my community and it drives me to prioritize patient needs, advocate with intention, and act with integrity. However, I recognize that I have ongoing areas for growth, particularly in confronting bias, owning my limitations, and engaging more actively in advocacy beyond the clinic even when it makes others uncomfortable. Moving forward, I will be more deliberate in seeking feedback, addressing difficult conversations directly, and serving the underserbed communities of Oceania. I will continue to strengthen my clinical reasoning through evidence while ensuring my care remains culturally grounded. This reflects a clear commitment to developing not just as a clinician, but as a provider who leads with purpose and service.
Gallery
Photos from my DPT journey: Pinning Ceremony, Working in Lab (2), Working in Hale Nani, Working at rotations (2)
Connect With Me
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
(808) 295-5590
svillanueva4@my.hpu.edu
LinkedIn
