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David Magee and Judy Chepeha (Photo: Supplied)

For more than 40 years, David Magee helped define physical therapy at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ — through his teaching, his globally recognized textbook () and his mentorship of generations of students. But one of his greatest impacts may be the student he once taught who went on to inspire students of her own: Judy Chepeha.

Now, Magee is honouring their decades-long friendship and shared commitment to students by establishing a new endowment in Chepeha’s name to support physical therapy student mental health and wellbeing. It’s a deeply personal gift — one that reflects both his admiration for Chepeha and her legacy of care within the Department of Physical Therapy.

“I wanted to give this money in Judy’s name,” says Magee, “but I wanted her to decide what it would be for. She was always the one students turned to when they needed help. It just made sense.”

The Dr. Judy Chepeha Physical Therapy Endowment for Mental Health and Wellbeing, established in fall 2025, is rooted in the very values Chepeha brought to her teaching and mentoring. A three-time graduate of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ and longtime faculty member, Chepeha is known for her ability to create a safe, supportive space for students, many of whom navigate immense personal and financial pressures.

“I can’t tell you how many hours I spent with students in my office,” she says, having since retired. “Some had experienced trauma. Others were struggling to afford textbooks or access counselling. I wanted them to know there was someone who cared — and someone who could help.”

With Magee’s gift, that support will now be available in a more formal way, providing flexible, compassionate assistance for students facing challenges that interfere with their success. The fund will support everything from access to mental health services and emergency needs to simple morale-boosters — like Chepeha’s much-loved “secret Valentine” initiative to lift spirits before midterms.

“Even something small — a cupcake, a note — can help a student feel seen,” says Magee. “It lets them know somebody cares.”

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Both Chepeha and Magee see the fund as a natural extension of their shared philosophy around mentorship: that knowledge should be passed on freely, that care is a form of leadership and that supporting students isn’t just a professional responsibility — it’s a personal one.

“We don’t own knowledge,” says Chepeha. “We share it. And when you mentor someone, you trust them to carry it forward — and maybe even make it better.”

The gift was formally announced at the 2025 Physical Therapy Legacy Lecture, which Chepeha delivered in collaboration with Magee. For her, it’s a fitting moment to honour the man she calls her “work dad” — the mentor who helped shape her own path, and whose generosity is now helping others walk theirs.

“I hope this fund gives students a sense of safety, of belonging,” she says. “That they’ll know someone understands what they’re going through — and that they’re not alone.”