Our Team
Alvin Dike, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS Co-Founder, Executive Director
Alvin Dike is a New York State Licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy, earning his degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY.
In undergrad, Alvin was a McNair scholar and was fortunate to become a co-author for two publications: 1. Measuring Community-based walking Activity in People with Stroke; 2. Constraint Induced Movement therapy for a young adult with Hemiparesis as a result of Cerebral Palsy. With his athletic and academic background, he realized that his passion was working with people.
Alvin is the ED of One Step Ahead. He started the foundation because he understands how integral the mentor and mentee relationships are to the success of BIPOC student-athletes and Pre-Physical Therapy Students. Follow Alvin on Instagram: @dralvindike
Laurence V. Agénor, PT, DPT, CSCS Director of Programs
Laurence is a New York State Licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy at Cynergy Physical Therapy who specializes in performance training and dance medicine. As a former elementary school teacher and dance educator, Laurence has witnessed and experienced firsthand how beneficial it is to have a mentor that guides you through your journey to your endeavor of choice.
The idea of starting the PT Pathway program came during summer 2020, at the height of the BLM movement. She wanted to address the systemic barriers that have led to a lack of diversity in the field of Physical Therapy. This is how the PT Pathway program was born.
An educator at heart, Laurence is passionate about providing support and guidance to the PT Pathway mentees to help them become the best clinicians they can be. With the help of her incredibly skilled colleagues, Laurence aims to share valuable knowledge, wisdom and insight into the world of Physical Therapy with all participants of the program.
Through her work with the PT Pathway program, Laurence hopes to leave a legacy of BIPOC Physical Therapists equally passionate about helping future generations of bright clinicians come.
Dominick Vilsaint, PT, DPT, CSCS Director of Operations
Dominick is a New York State Licensed Physical Therapist who received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from SUNY Upstate Medical University, graduating with the Dean's Outstanding Student Award. Dominick's clinical affiliations and experiences at Upstate Medical University have provided him with a background in conducting and staying current with research and treating various conditions, including sports, orthopedics, and neurology.
“The America Physical Therapy Association (APTA) reports Black or African Americans make up 1.2 percent of all physical therapist members in the U.S. Representation is confirmation that opportunities are available, and this is why One Step Ahead (OSA) is important to me.
When I became interested in Physical Therapy, I didn't have peers or family members who were physical therapists or who were able to provide mentoring throughout my academic journey. It wasn't until I entered my Physical Therapy program in college that I found mentors. Being the only minority student in my cohort, I became aware of the importance of representation, validation, and affirmation. I am proud to be in the position to impact patients' lives, represent the Physical Therapy profession and to mentor young people from marginalized communities. OSA will play a pivotal role in providing mentorship and guidance for young BIPOC students and student-athletes. The support the team and I give to our mentees is exactly what I needed in my youth."