Connections That Last

By Desiree Holz '23, January 4, 2023

Two IC alumni write "Movers & Mentors" book.

Bryan Guzski ’12, DPT ’14 (left) and Tim Reynolds ’12, DPT ’14, authors of“Movers & Mentors: Leaders in Movement Science Share Tips, Tactics, and Stories.” (Photos submitted)

When Tim Reynolds ’12, DPT ’14, and Bryan Guzski ’12, DPT ’14, met during their time as physical therapy majors at Ithaca College, they had no idea that they were beginning a friendship and professional partnership that would continue to this day and would result in the pair coauthoring a book, “Movers & Mentors: Leaders in Movement Science Share Tips, Tactics, and Stories.”

Published in October 2021, “Movers & Mentors” is a question-and-answer-style book, offering advice to rehabilitation professionals from more than 75 established mentors in the world of physical therapy and movement science.

In September 2019, Reynolds, an assistant professor of physical therapy and exercise science at Ithaca College, and Guzski, an outpatient orthopedic physical therapist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, started sending out emails to everyone, from academics and researchers to clinicians and social media influencers, with a specific purpose: collecting and then disseminating thoughts, stories, and advice. Reynolds and Guzski wanted to ensure that the book featured professionals with a variety of knowledge and unique skill sets. The ultimate goal was to better understand both the professional and personal lifestyles and philosophies of their interview subjects—information that could help to shape the profession.

“Ithaca instilled in me the concept of a growth mindset, and these past two years have really shown me that.”

Bryan Guzski ’12, DPT ’14

Guzski credits the concept of “Movers & Mentors” as being heavily influenced by Reynolds’s and his own time at IC while earning their doctorates. That’s one of the reasons the book includes an interview with the duo’s mutual mentor, Mike Costello, who is an assistant professor of physical therapy at Ithaca.

“He definitely served as a mentor and heavily influenced the way I thought about physical therapy and the way I practiced early on in my career,” Guzski said. “He also introduced us to a lot of the other voices in the book.”

Their work has come together to create a book that both Guzski and Reynolds say they find themselves using regularly. “I keep a copy in my office,” said Reynolds. “During office hours, students will come in and have professional and personal questions. I can open the book up to a chapter and say, ‘I’m going to read this, and then we can talk about it.’ We’re probably looking at a thousand years of combined knowledge in that book.”

As Guzski and Reynolds enter this new chapter of “Movers & Mentors,” they look to continue growing. Since publishing the book, Reynolds and Guzski have been interviewed and appeared on over 40 podcasts, along with their own podcast called “Movers and Shakers,” which breaks down the information they cover in the book.

“Ithaca instilled in me the concept of a growth mindset, and these past two years have really shown me that,” said Guzski.

Looking back, Guzski and Reynolds recognize the special place South Hill has had in their lives and professional careers. “I think just going to Ithaca and being immersed with the curriculum and the professors that we had in the physical therapy program really just set the tone for being engaged with the profession,” said Guzski. “I think the PT program sets a high bar and pushes their students to excel.”