Yashna Lakhani ‘13 is grateful that her parents were looking 20 years into her future when they decided to move from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to Toronto so she could finish the IB program in Canada. Her mom and dad knew that completing Grades 8 to 12 at The York School and obtaining Canadian citizenship would give their daughter career opportunities that weren’t available in East Africa.

Yashna will never forget the relationships she had with her teachers at York. They were always there to support her, whether she was worried about her future or needed extra help to grasp a concept that was covered in class. “They knew me and they knew how hard I tried and how much I studied. If I got a bad grade, they would say ‘Let’s break it down. What did you have trouble with? How can I support you?’ I never felt like I was just another number in class,’” she says.

Dissecting a frog’s heart in Biology class helped Yashna realize that she was interested in hands-on, real-world aspects of science and wanted to find a career where she could use her knowledge to help people. After graduating from York, she got a degree in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behaviour at UC Davis and went on to complete a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Columbia University. During the final year of her clinical doctorate program, Yashna specialized in neurological physical therapy to gain the expertise she needed to work with patients recovering from strokes and living with conditions like Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.

Today, as the only neurological physiotherapist in North Bay, Ontario, Yashna helps people rewire their brains so they can improve their mobility and regain some of their independence. 

“When it comes to neurological conditions, you aren’t necessarily aiming for full recovery, but it’s really rewarding to see people make small improvements,” says Yashna. Her strategic rehabilitation sessions made it possible for a woman with spina bifida to walk with one cane instead of two, and empowered a man to regain the use of his arm four years after he’d experienced a stroke.

At York, Yashna’s teachers recognized her potential and provided the support she needed to succeed. Now she’s doing the same thing for her clients. “It’s not all hands-on therapy, there’s a huge psychological component to my work. I encourage them to push themselves a bit. I say ‘Let’s change our mindset. I might not be able to get you to your goal, but it’s worth a shot to take steps toward it,’” says Yashna.