Twin Brothers Overcome Rough Start, Find Passion in Physical Therapy

Tino and Tron Hardy (pictured: Tino on the left) were the first in their family to graduate from high school and college. And they are likely the only twins who have ever enrolled in Samuel Merritt University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.

The brothers are used to doing things together. They played football and ran track beginning in high school, though were careful to choose different positions so they wouldn’t have to compete against each other. Both majored in kinesiology at San Jose State University and briefly considered becoming athletic trainers, but decided instead to become physical therapists.  

“We wanted to do something that involved movement and we’ve always been into sports, so physical therapy was a natural fit for us,” Tino said.

Tron began the DPT program a year earlier than Tino so he is helping his brother with the introductory classes while refreshing his own mind on the class materials.

“We push each other to be the best we can be,” said Tron.

Tino and Tron grew up in south San Jose with their mother and five siblings. They remember a couple of stretches when they lived in homeless shelters, but otherwise lived in two-bedroom apartments. Because of the tight quarters, the two had to share a bedroom with their three other brothers and sleep in a single bunk bed until they were 12 years old.

Their family struggles made them very close.

“We didn’t have too much growing up so we always relied on each other to get us through,” said Tron. “Our mom was often working two jobs to support us so it was up to us to find some direction.”

Unlike their older siblings, Tino and Tron gravitated towards sports and they say it gave them the focus to stay in school. And thanks to receiving SMU Hope Scholarships and federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) scholarships for disadvantaged students, the two were able to attend SMU together.

“I got the sense from the first time I got here that I was home,” said Tino. “Samuel Merritt is like a family. It’s a very tight-knit community.”

Though not identical twins, the 29-year-old brothers share a strong resemblance and similar athletic builds. They say their classmates have no trouble telling them apart, but their teachers often confuse them.

“The DPT faculty appreciate both Tron and Tino for their high, consistent level of engagement with their coursework, peers, and faculty,” said Associate Professor and DPT Co-Chair Nicole Christensen, Ph.D. “They both are relatively quiet but also are not afraid to speak up with insightful comments, even when the topic is not an easy one. When either one of them speaks, their peers listen.”

Tron just completed his first eight-week clinical rotation and said working with patients reinforced his passion for physical therapy.

“It’s a rewarding profession because you get to spend more time with patients than in any other health field,” he said.

Tron and Tino share a small apartment near Oakland’s Lake Merritt, but get together with the rest of their family every Sunday in San Jose to watch or play football.

“Our family is very proud of us and happy that we're doing this and making a better life for ourselves,” said Tron.

The brothers intend to open their own physical therapy clinic eventually, and envision offering a pro bono service on Saturdays for low-income residents.

In addition, Tino said he hopes to someday serve as a mentor for disadvantaged youth like himself.

“I know I want to give back to my community,” said Tino. “Through mentoring I can show that it’s possible to have a bad beginning, but still have a good ending.”