Physiology senior Mark Scarber reflects on growth, mentorship and next steps in physical therapy

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On track to complete his physiology degree this year, Mark Scarber reflects on his journey in the program and the people who helped shape it.

Originally drawn to physiology as a foundation for physical therapy, Scarber also saw it as an opportunity to explore something new. He wanted to better understand his body — both for his career and personal growth.

“I’ve learned more about myself in the past five years than ever before. A big part of that came from being surrounded by a community of people striving to grow, improve and build a solid future.”

His studies in physiology deepened his understanding of body function and health.

“I initially thought I’d just be memorizing bones or learning what happens when you get a cut. But it’s also about understanding drug interactions and developing intuition when processing new information. It’s been incredibly rewarding. I’d definitely recommend giving physiology a shot!”

Scarber joined the SALT Center for academic support, recognizing the rigorous demands of the coursework. He emphasizes that while physiology is a challenging major, it provides a strong foundation for students pursuing physical therapy, occupational therapy or medical school — covering essential prerequisites like physics, anatomy and physiology.

Now, he’s part of the first cohort of the University of Arizona Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, currently in development at the College of Health Sciences.

Scarber credits many mentors for shaping his academic experience, including physiology lecturer Matthew Klass, PhD; Jonathan Lee-Confer, PhD, from the DPT program; Lucinda Rankin, PhD, associate professor of physiology; and instructional specialist of physiology Matt Lujan, MS. 

“One thing all my professors have in common is they truly care.”