As Washtenaw Community College prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, we recognize
the thousands of alumni who turned opportunity into achievement. For six decades,
WCC has opened doors to education, careers, and brighter futures — and these 60 Stories that will be compiled over the year reflect that enduring mission.
Clinical rotations are a key part of Washtenaw Community College's Physical Therapist Assistant associate degree program. For Maysa Fontoura Barbosa, one of those rotations turned into the opportunity of a lifetime.
Fontoura Barbosa, 51, graduated from the PTA program in 2020, launching a career in one of the nation's fastest-growing fields.
"I picked WCC because I live in Ann Arbor and it was the perfect situation for me," she says. "It was close to home and had a great reputation. I also knew I would have a rewarding job when I was done."
Fontoura Barbosa says she particularly appreciated that students in the PTA program interacted extensively and that the instructors were "always available at any time for questions."
During her third clinical rotation at Milan Physical Therapy, Fontoura Barbosa transitioned from intern to part-time employee and, eventually, to full-time owner of the practice.
In 2022, she and her husband purchased the business. It employs seven staff members today and is continuing to grow.
"The entire business philosophy drastically changed when we took over," Fontoura Barbosa said. "These changes came with all the knowledge I learned at WCC and from my background in engineering."
Originally from Brazil, Fontoura Barbosa moved to the United States in 2006. Though she holds bachelor's and master's degrees in civil and construction engineering, licensing limitations in her new home led her to go back to school to pursue a new career path.
"I picked physical therapy because I liked the idea of helping people," she said. "WCC is a great school with a great environment. The staff really cares."
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This story first appeared in the Fall 2025 edition of Launch magazine. See the full edition.
Tags: 60 Stories, 60th Anniversary, Alumni Profile, Physical Therapist Assistant