For more than a decade, Yashvanth Nagarajamurthy Kuderu, DPT, has been a trusted and compassionate presence in Lucy Corr’s Rehabilitation Center. Now in his 11th year with the organization, Yashvanth brings over 18 years of physical therapy experience, blending advanced clinical expertise with a genuine passion for helping older adults regain their mobility, confidence and independence.
Originally from India, Yashvanth earned both his bachelor’s degree in physical therapy and a master’s degree in musculoskeletal and sports medicine before moving to California to complete his Doctor of Physical Therapy at Loma Linda University. After graduating in 2012, he relocated to Virginia and worked in several Richmond-area health care settings before joining Lucy Corr in 2015.
Yashvanth’s journey into physical therapy was inspired by a simple but powerful observation. “Back in India, I observed how rehabilitation can significantly enhance a patient’s recovery following surgery,” he said. “Seeing the impact that physical therapy can have on a person’s ability to return to their prior level of function inspired me to pursue this career.”
Although he specialized in sports medicine, Yashvanth soon discovered a deeper calling in senior care. Working with older adults presents unique challenges, as many residents manage multiple health conditions and medications simultaneously. For Yashvanth, this means every treatment plan must be individualized.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach,” he said. “Each resident has different goals, different medical histories and different challenges. Our job is to find the right path forward for each person.”
At Lucy Corr, a Continuing Care Retirement Community, Yashvanth provides care across the full continuum of services, including Independent Living, Assisted Living, long-term care and skilled nursing. Whether treating a stroke or a severe fall, he focuses on restoring safe, foundational movements — like standing balance and stair navigation — while rebuilding a patient’s emotional confidence.
To Yashvanth, recovery is about more than physical strength. Mindset often plays an equally important role. One resident in Assisted Living serves as a memorable example. After becoming seriously ill, she was placed on hospice care. During a routine screening, however, her determination revealed a different possibility.
“She said, ‘I’m not ready to kick my bucket yet. If you can help me, I want to get out of the bed and start moving,’” Yashvanth said.
That mindset became the foundation of her recovery. With therapy and perseverance, she improved significantly, returned to Assisted Living and regained her ability to walk.
Stories like this reinforce a lesson Yashvanth carries with him every day, one he learned from a World War II veteran who wore a pendant engraved with the letters “P.M.A.”
“He told me it stood for ‘positive mental attitude,’” Yashvanth said. “When people are ready to participate, work hard and help themselves, they can make tremendous progress.”
The collaborative environment at Lucy Corr helps make those successes possible. Weekly interdisciplinary meetings, close coordination among care teams and the presence of on-site physicians allow residents to receive timely, comprehensive support throughout their rehabilitation efforts.
For Yashvanth, the most rewarding moments come at the end of that journey.
“Sometimes a patient comes from the hospital unable to move,” he said. “By the time we discharge them, they’re up and walking with a walker. Seeing where they started and how far they’ve come by the end of therapy is incredibly rewarding.”
