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By Mary Westbrook and Doug Gardner

As an undergraduate student, Kaitlin Hardy competed in gymnastics at the highest level of collegiate sports, achieving a lifelong goal. Then, suddenly, her world came crashing down.

Hardy began having epileptic seizures. The condition brought her athletic dreams to an abrupt end.

Rather than let these obstacles define her, Hardy used her experiences to fuel her passion for helping others who face similar struggles.

“As a coping mechanism, I started working with young people in the community with epilepsy and eventually expanded my interests and began working with children with neurological and intellectual disabilities,” said Hardy, now a medical student set to earn her medical degree in May.

During her medical studies, Hardy created Adaptive Gymnastics, which combines gymnastics and adaptive learning for children with disabilities. The program at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School at �鶹��ý has transformed the lives of children with disabilities and set a standard for community-driven healthcare initiatives.

Starting with a group of four children, Hardy developed and expanded the program, partnering with Excalibur Gymnastics in Virginia Beach. Today, Adaptive Gymnastics serves more than 60 children, offering a space where children with different disabilities can experience the physical, social and emotional benefits of gymnastics.

Under Hardy's leadership, the program has grown to include more than 25 volunteers from the medical school and �鶹��ý’s Pre-Health Club, who she trains and mentors. These volunteers assist with providing individualized, therapeutic instruction, focusing on motor skills, coordination and social integration.

While the program is beneficial to the athletes and their families, it’s also a great experience for the student coaches, providing them with insight into living with disabilities and a chance to explore the benefit of sports in childhood development.

“Through this program, I have learned so much about empathy,” Hardy said. “I’ve also learned how to tactfully navigate discussions, set realistic goals and work with caregivers.”

Hardy’s work extends beyond direct interaction with the children. As a dynamic leader, she has raised awareness about adaptive sports. Her keynote address at the U.S. Olympics Gymnastics Trials in May 2023 exemplifies her ability to advocate for inclusive sports on a national level. Speaking to an audience that included Olympic gymnasts and influential gymnastics leaders, Hardy shared her insights on the profound benefits of adaptive gymnastics.

This platform allowed her to educate a wider audience about the importance of making gymnastics, and by extension, all sports, accessible to all children, regardless of their physical or neurological challenges.

Hardy’s impact is also reflected in her ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between community engagement and scientific research.

She has collaborated with Sonia Khurana, Ph.D., from �鶹��ý’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program (DPT) on a project aimed at improving motor development in children with autism. This collaboration highlights Hardy’s commitment to integrating evidence-based practices into her work with Adaptive Gymnastics. Her ability to merge practical programming with scientific inquiry ensures that her initiatives are not only innovative but also grounded in research and data.

Hardy learned in March that she will continue her medical training in Norfolk. Her residency training to be a future pediatrician will take place at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, home of the EVMS Pediatrics Department.

“Originally, I did not have any ties to Hampton Roads. I moved down here from Washington, D.C., and over the years, we just put down roots here... we feel supported here. We want to stay,” Hardy said. “There are plenty of people here that need to be seen, that need care, and I want to be part of providing that care.”

Her innovation, leadership and impact on the lives of children with disabilities recently caught the attention of judges with the Healthcare Heroes awards presented annually by Inside Business magazine. At a recent ceremony in Virginia Beach, Hardy received the Healthcare Hero award for Community Service.