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At the Faschini Wallach Center for Restorative Therapies at Old Dominion University, health is more than recovering from illness—it’s about finding ways to keep moving, building connections, and regaining pieces of independence that last long after discharge. One of the clearest examples is the Fitness and Mobility Exercise (FAME) program, where stroke survivors work side by side with physical therapy students in twice-weekly classes.

The program began in 2019, when Leslie Prom, DPT, a clinical assistant professor in the doctor of physical therapy program, recognized a gap. She discovered a model from Canada that was adaptable for community settings and brought it to ����������. Since then, FAME has become a routine that participants and students alike depend on.

For many, that routine is what makes progress possible. “I love the program. It motivates me and it reiterates what I do at home,” said Luv Greene, who joined this semester. Paul Burk, who has participated since 2020, added that what keeps him coming back is the camaraderie of the class. “Mack makes me laugh. He inspires me.”

Barry Pollara has been part of FAME since its earliest days, before the Faschini Wallach Center was even built. A former Naval officer turned artist, Barry was already an accomplished painter when a stroke affected the right side of his body. For a time, he thought he might never return to art. But with persistence, he taught himself to paint with his left hand. Today, he has completed hundreds of works, including a vibrant scene of the Marching Monarchs, which he donated to hang just across the hall from where FAME classes meet. For him, the program has been essential. “We get a lot of good exercise,” he said. “ ButI like the people—the students and my fellow compatriots.”

Mack Hagans, a Vietnam veteran, describes cycling through four rounds of therapy in other settings before finding the physical therapy program at Old Dominion University. “After about two weeks of being here, I started to feel revitalized,” he said. What keeps him motivated is knowing the students learn from him as much as he learns from them. “They were devoted to us getting better. That’s when I realized, in order for me to get them to succeed, I had to do better. I had to apply myself.”

That reciprocity between students and participants is at the heart of FAME. “The banter with the participants, the atmosphere—they’ve been through a lot and the challenges they’ve overcome—it just melts my heart,” said Erin Hartnett, class of 2026. Xena Simpson, class of 2027, added, “I like the community, and being able to see the patients and their progress, seeing them with each other.”

The program is growing beyond its stroke-specific roots. Dr. Prom adapted the structure into a seated fitness program designed for people with spinal cord injuries. Becky Riley, DPT, a clinician in the Faschini Wallach Center, helps guide the classes alongside students. Participants who are still receiving physical therapy are currently piloting the adapted program, coming to the community room each week to train together. For them, it’s more than exercise—it’s camaraderie, confidence, and a chance to push their limits.

“It’s a way to connect with other people,” said Cody Bennett, a high school athlete who also trains at an adaptive CrossFit gym. “The way I work out there isn’t like everyday life. Here, it’s functional.” Another participant, Max Williams, said what keeps him coming back is more than just the extra workouts, it’s the people. “Hanging out with the dudes. The therapists.”

Whether standing or seated, the classes are about more than physical progress. They are about wellness and belonging. Participants talk about staying in touch with former students around the country, joking through tough workouts, and encouraging one another in ways only they can. As Hagans put it: “This is where I got my movement back. And I look forward to being here.”

The Faschini Wallach Center was envisioned as a place for restoration in every sense of the word. These programs show what that vision looks like in practice: wellness that is structured, safe, and woven into community life. Here, recovery is not an endpoint but a springboard. Each session is a reminder that health care can be more than treatment—it can be a pathway back to strength, independence, and connection.