FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER: Bro. Ben Greene Gets One Step Closer to Achieving A Huge Academic Goal

When Gamma Pi Brothers do big things, they don't always happen locally. Case in point -- Bro. Ben Greene, who was initiated at Gamma Pi in 2017, left the area more than two years ago to further his studies some 800 miles away from the DMV, at Alabama State University in Montgomery. Today, Bro. Greene has reached a milestone that puts him very close to achieving his goal, which will be marked with a formal ceremony upcoming on Friday, April 24. The program will be livestreamed.

On that date at 4 p.m., Bro. Greene and fellow Doctor of Physical Therapy program classmates will be honored in a white coat and pinning ceremony at Alabama State University, in the Ralph D. Abernathy Building. Because his ceremony is this year, it means that Bro. Greene is in the Class of 2027. Showing off his Omega leadership skills, Bro. Greene is the class president for 2027.

"This is like a rite of passage ceremony as I go into my last year of the program. I'm excited about being one year away from being done," Bro. Greene said in a recent interview. "This accomplishment means I am one step away from my ultimate goal."

Bro. Greene is a 2011 Morehouse College graduate with a B.A. in Kinesiology.

The Physical Therapy program is a three-year academic endeavor which makes one eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. A license is needed to practice physical therapy.

Black physical therapists remain significantly underrepresented in the United States, comprising only about 3.6% to 5% of the workforce. This disparity is driven in part by systemic barriers, including limited access to educational pathways and the high cost of training, which restrict entry into the profession. The lack of diversity has meaningful implications for patient care, particularly in communities where culturally competent care and provider trust are essential to improving health outcomes.

The impact of this underrepresentation is reflected in both the pipeline and patient experience. Recent data show that only about 3% of physical therapy graduates are African American, reinforcing the ongoing gap in representation. At the same time, Black patients are up to 44.8% less likely to attend physical therapy for conditions such as arthritis, due in part to structural barriers and longstanding mistrust in the healthcare system. Efforts by organizations such as the American Academy of Physical Therapy, the National Association of Black Physical Therapists (NABPT), and the USC BKNPT Black Alumni Association are working to address these challenges by supporting Black professionals and strengthening pathways into the field.

Gamma Pi sends a huge congratulations to Bro. Greene way down in Alabama, and all the Brothers of the Super Chapter look forward to the day we can call him doctor!