Like many students entering the healthcare profession, Chelsea White, MS (’21), CEP, EIM didn’t begin her career with a perfectly mapped-out plan. Her path came into focus while earning her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Georgia State University and completing observation hours for physical therapy school.
“I fell in love with pediatrics, then found myself falling in love with cardiac rehab too,” Chelsea said. “Everything about the heart—EKGs, diagnostics and rehabilitation. My work in pediatrics was a combination of cardiopulmonary rehab and exercise physiology”.
Rather than choose one interest over another, Chelsea discovered a field that would allow her to do both. She went on to earn her master’s degree in Sports Science & Rehabilitation (MSSSR) from Logan University.
Chelsea describes her experience in Logan’s online program as supportive and personal.
“From the harder classes where you felt stuck, to the ones where you were more confident working independently, the faculty and staff were always available by phone or email” Chelsea said. “Even the administration interacted on a personal level. Logan was welcoming from the application process all the way through graduation.”
The MSSSR program also allowed Chelsea to tailor her coursework to her passion for pediatrics, helping align her education with her long-term goals.
Chelsea’s career spans nearly two decades in healthcare, including 13 years as a clinical exercise physiologist. Her experience includes roles as a senior cardiac tech, catheterization lab tech and cardiac rehab professional, where she supported rapid response teams, performed advanced diagnostic testing and worked closely with physicians across care settings.
After completing her MSSSR degree, Chelsea transitioned into inpatient pediatrics and adult care, where she found some of her most meaningful work.
“Watching long-stay patients go from barely able to move to walking more than a mile inside the hospital was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had,” she said.
What keeps her motivated is the flexibility of exercise science. “It’s an all-encompassing field,” she said. “We’re not cornered into one role. We can work in rehab, diagnostics, nutrition, education, research or even open our own centers. There’s no cookie-cutter care here.”