LIVONIA, MICH. – Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Sabadosa wanted to attend a Catholic university that was outside greater Chicago but not too far from home. She felt drawn to Madonna, and after being admitted, was surprised to learn that both her aunt and her aunt’s sister attended Madonna in the 1970s. (Sabadosa is pictured here with the alumni brick in the Path of the Madonna that bears her name and the names of her aunt and her aunt's sister.)
Living on campus, Sabadosa fully embraced college life, excelling in her studies as a biology/pre-medicine major, getting involved in a host of extracurricular and volunteer activities, and working part-time jobs on campus.
She credits her science professors and their unique teaching approaches with enabling her to prepare her mind as a scientist. Especially influential were Veronica Riha, Stanley Ngeyi, Maria Kuhn, Wilson Muse, and Jodi Barta. “They set the foundations for understanding the intricacies of the human body and our surrounding environment, which has enabled me to put on my investigation hat each time I’m with a patient, and to execute problem-solving strategies.”
While at Madonna, Sabadosa studied abroad in a variety of European locales. She found faculty members Ernie Nolan, Deborah Kawsky, Kathleen Edelmayer, and Paul Radzilowski to be outstanding travel companions who brought the classroom learning to life in each country. “We created lifelong friendships and incredible memories exploring the world, culture, and historic locations,” she recalled.
From a young age, Sabadosa was drawn to healing and hospitals. She found her calling in rehabilitation and therapy during a summer volunteer job on the Physical and Occupational Therapy floor of a local hospital.
“Each week, I saw patients get remarkably better – one week arriving in a wheelchair and the next week using a walker,” she remembered. “Who were these miracle workers helping patients reach all of these milestones? Physical therapists.”
Sabadosa researched the prerequisites for a Doctor of Physical Therapy (PT) degree and realized it was an attainable goal, and applied only to the University of Illinois (UIC) at Chicago. “I decided that if I was meant to become a physical therapist, I would get accepted at UIC.” What she learned, after her application was complete, was that UIC had a five percent acceptance rate! Understandably, she was ecstatic when, a week before Christmas, she received an acceptance letter.
Now, seven years into her career, she is a senior physical therapist at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, a world-renowned rehabilitation hospital in Chicago, where she loves working with patients to achieve life-improving results. “This career provides opportunities for me to tangibly change people’s lives. It requires creativity, collaboration, adaptability, and integrity in the workplace.”
Outside of work, Sabadosa volunteers in her community, is active in her church, and enjoys traveling.
While firmly rooted in Chicago, she is drawn back to Michigan and Madonna, her “home away from home.” For example, her first job out of PT school was at an Illinois outpatient clinic based in Michigan, and in 2023, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab began a partnership with Henry Ford Health in Detroit.
An active member of Madonna’s Alumni Board since 2023, Sabadosa enjoys engaging with other alumni and attending events on campus. “Every trip back to Michigan is a little reunion with my Madonna friends, who are like family.”
