Samahja Murry’s path to physical therapy started on the courts and fields of Memphis Business Academy. As a multi-sport athlete, he learned early that showing up for his teammates meant taking care of his mind and body. When yoga before basketball practice sparked a deeper curiosity about movement and recovery, he began searching for ways to keep himself at “110 percent” through overlapping seasons. That personal pursuit eventually grew into a professional calling.
Now, as a member of the University of Memphis Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program’s inaugural cohort, Murry sees his journey coming full circle. The Memphis native is building a career that lets him give back to the community that shaped him, helping others regain confidence, movement and hope through physical therapy.
Finding Purpose Through Movement
Murry’s interest in physical therapy took root his senior year of high school, when he realized that “the best ability is availability.” The demands of competing in multiple sports taught him to pay close attention to how the body adapts, heals and performs. “Each sport required different combinations of strength, mobility, coordination and endurance,” he said. “That made me curious about why the body moves the way it does and how performance changes when something is limited.”
His experiences also shaped how he thinks about recovery, not only as a return from pain, but as a process of rebuilding strength, confidence and quality movement. “Seeing teammates sit out with injuries showed me the toll it can take,” Murry said. “I wanted to control what I could to avoid a setback.”
At Tennessee State University (TSU), where he earned a degree in Exercise Science and maintained a 4.0 GPA, Murry found the academic framework to match his lived experiences. Classroom lessons in biomechanics, anatomy and exercise physiology clicked with what he’d felt as an athlete. Shadowing physical therapy students in a campus clinic further confirmed that he wanted a career helping people move better — athletes and non-athletes alike.
Education, Discipline and Growth
For Murry, TSU was as much about personal growth as academic achievement. Maintaining a perfect GPA required discipline, consistency and strong time management, but it also taught him the value of applying knowledge beyond the classroom. Through a campus organization, he shadowed physical therapy students and learned how clinicians build trust with patients. “It showed me the importance of relationships in healthcare,” he said. “Sometimes the therapist is the only person a patient has for motivation and support.”
Those experiences shaped the kind of physical therapist he hopes to become — one who meets people where they are and helps them feel capable again. “Whether it’s an athlete returning to competition or someone trying to move with less pain, I want to help them regain confidence and get back to what gives their life meaning.”
Choosing Memphis, Giving Back
When the University of Memphis launched its new DPT program, Murry saw a unique opportunity to help build something from the ground up. “It was a chance to be part of something new while staying connected to the community that raised me,” he said. Conversations with faculty — including the founding program director — underscored a shared commitment to developing clinicians who serve and uplift their communities.
Being part of the inaugural cohort means helping set the tone for everything that follows. “We’re making history,” Murry said. “The way we carry ourselves, support each other and represent the program will establish the standard for future students.” He hopes his class is remembered for creating a culture rooted in collaboration, professionalism and service.
The program’s emphasis on serving diverse, rural and underserved communities also aligns with Murry’s values. Long-term, he is interested in sports physical therapy, but he wants his skills to benefit anyone striving to be their best, from young athletes to older adults who want to stay active.
“Not everyone has the same access to resources,” he said. “I want to be a therapist who understands those barriers and provides high-quality care regardless of someone’s background.”
Looking Ahead: Impact Through Care and Education
Murry’s vision for his career is grounded in both compassion and education. He wants patients to leave physical therapy with an understanding of their bodies, what contributed to their injury and how to stay healthy moving forward. Most of all, he hopes people remember how he made them feel.
“I want them to know I genuinely cared, listened to their goals and encouraged them when things were tough,” he said. “If people look back and say I helped them become stronger, more confident and more knowledgeable about their health, that’s the impact I want to leave.”
For Murry, physical therapy is a way to serve the city that helped shape him, inspire others to keep moving and build a legacy of hope, resilience and growth.
