Puyallup

Education: 

Undergraduate: B.A. in Pre-Physical Therapy, Trinity International University
Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

Certifications:  WCS--Women's Health Board Certified Specialist 

Clinical Specializations/Interests: Pelvic Health, Men's and Women's Health

Why I love being a PT: Being a PT is one of the most rewarding and challenging professions. I love taking the puzzle pieces of someone's individual symptoms and putting them together to create a unique plan that helps someone return to the activities they are passionate about doing. There is nothing better than seeing a patient's joy when reaching a goal!

How I stay active: In reality, a main part of my exercise comes from keeping up with my active children. However, I do find time to run, hike, ski and snowshoe to be able to keep up with my children. 

Interests: My little bit of free time is filled with playing the piano, crocheting projects for my kids, reading mystery novels, and completing any kind of puzzle.

One word that describes me:  Unflappable

Favorite vacation spot:  Anywhere there is a sunshine and a warm beach. 

 Education:

Undergraduate: B.S. in Kinesiology, Western Washington University

Graduate: Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT), University of Puget Sound

Clinical Specialization/Interests: Vestibular, balance, orthopedics, return to sport

Why I love being a PT: Being a physical therapist is rewarding on many levels. What I love the most is getting to learn from my patients, helping them be heard when others haven't listened, and decreasing their pain while improving their functional abilities. The connections that are made with your patients are priceless.

How I stay active: Lifting weights, running, and exercising my 3 dogs- Copper, Nova, and Paisley.

Interests: Exercising, gardening, reading, spending time with my family, and shopping!

One word that describes me is: Ambitious

Favorite vacation spot: Las Vegas or Hawaii. Anywhere warm and sunny!

Education: 

Associate Degree: of Science from PIMA Medical Institute

Undergraduate Degree: BS, Physical Therapist Assistant from PIMA Medical Institute  

Certifications: LSVT BIG, Autoimmune Protocol Certified (AIP-C), currently working toward PRPC certification (pelvic floor certification)

Clinical Specializations/Interests: Men’s and Women’s Pelvic Health, Autoimmune and anti-inflammatory Nutrition.

Why I love being a PTA: Two reasons. First, I love sitting across from someone who is feeling that they are at maybe the worst moment of their life physically and emotionally and being able to say “Hey! You are not broken! There’s a solution to this”, and then being able to show them in just a few minutes how amazing and resilient they are.  And second, I love the last day I see that same person and they are looking back on that first day and realize that they really are amazing and capable of great things. That the pain is gone or that the problem is not so big anymore and they don’t need me. The look in their eyes when they realize they accomplished independence in health is huge.  

How I stay active: I spend a lot of time at work. 😊 I enjoy spending time with my family cleaning the house while they play x-box or sleep the day away while I dream about going hiking. We do often play Cards Against Humanities, go see live concerts together and I do take my neurotic dog on walks at the off-leash “bark”. We can’t call it “the park” because it causes extreme emotional reactions on her part.

Interests: Simple things: solving world hunger one grain-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-fee cookie at a time. Eating more bacon, planning meals my kids will eat that fit into the parameters of my insane food sensitivities and allergies. Going to live punk rock shows.  Keeping my children alive and interested in school and eventually leaving home. And Bacon.

One word that describes me:  Intuitive

Favorite vacation spot: I haven’t been there yet! Iceland. I’m assuming it will be my favorite. No sand, no sun, beautiful volcano

  Education:

PTA program, PIMA medical institute

Certifications: Myofascial decompression (MFD or cupping)

Clinical Specializations/Interests: Firefighter rehab specialist (recent with central pierce program)

Why I love being a PTA:

I love being able to make an impact on people’s lives and help them return to activities they weren’t able to perform due to injury or lack of motivation. I also love the mental and physical components of physical therapy, both therapies are enmeshed so I like incorporating both into my practice as able.

How I stay active: Hiking, yoga, recently rock climbing (in a gym)

Interests: Manual photography, quality time with family/friends, training with my dog (beagle 1.5 years old), trying new things/adventures.

Trying to get more into reading, although it's a bit of a struggle to find things that keep my interest.

One word that describes me:

Caring or thoughtful

Favorite vacation spot: Outside of the country so far: Costa Rica

Inside the country: Olympic national forest

  Education: 

Associates in Applied Science Degree: Physical Therapy Assistant Program, Green River College

Certifications: 500-Hr Hatha Yoga YTT

Level 2 Reiki Practioner

Clinical Specialization/Interests: 

Orthopaedics, Neuromuscular, Sports Medicine

Why I love being a PTA: 

Being a PTA allows me to combine my passion for helping others with my knowledge of movement and rehabilitation, making a positive impact on individuals' lives as they navigate their journey towards optimal physical health. I find immense joy in collaborating with patients, their families, and the healthcare team to create personalized treatment plans that promote healing, reduce pain, and foster a sense of empowerment.

How I stay active: I stay active by practicing yoga, going for hikes with my dog, and working out at the gym. 

Interests: Yoga, chakras, nature, surfing, travel, music, and board games.

One word that describes me: Empathetic

Favorite vacation spot:

Any place where I can go surfing. I grew up in Southern California and it is always nice to go home and hit up my favorite beaches, but I have been to Hawaii, Costa Rica, and one of my favorite spots is Mexico.  

   Education: 

Undergraduate: Bachelor's degree of Arts in Psychology, University of Washington Tacoma 

Why I love being a PT Tech:  I love being able to put a smile on people's faces and help as many people as I can whether that be patients or coworkers alike. Helping others motivates me to learn and experience as much as I can in order to make the world a better place.  

How I stay active:  Walking in my neighborhood, working out occasionally, Hiking once in a blue moon.

Interests:  Gaming is a huge part of my life, I game on my free time and I'm always updated with new games and consoles that come out. Cooking is also very fun for me and I love learning new recipes although it can be tiring if you push yourself too far with convoluted recipes. Playing music was a huge part of my life as well so whenever I see and instrument, I'm intrigued to learn how to play it. I love animals so I pet any animal I see and come across. I love spending time with my family and tell them I love them every second I can get.

One word that describes me:  Compassionate 

Favorite vacation spot: Steam Boat Rock/Banks Lake 

 Education:

 B.S. in Physical Therapy, Alma Mater Europaea University (Slovenia), currently pursuing U.S. licensure as a PT through credential evaluation of my Slovenian Bachelor's degree

Certifications: Zensegrity 1 – Pelvis,  Deep Tissue Massage Therapist, Kinesio Taping – all done in Slovenia.

Why I love being a Physical Therapy Technician: I love being a Physical Therapist Technician because it allows me to support patients in their journey toward recovery, improve their quality of life, and witness meaningful progress each day. It is incredibly rewarding to be part of a healthcare team that empowers individuals through movement and functional independence.  Becoming a licensed PT in the U.S. has been my long-standing goal, and working as a technician has further deepened my passion and commitment to this profession.

How I stay active: I stay active by incorporating movement into my daily routine in ways I genuinely enjoy. I go for a walk almost every day, as I find fresh air and time outdoors refreshing and grounding. I also go to the gym regularly and lift weights at least five times a week to maintain strength and overall fitness. In winter, I love skiing, and during the warmer months, I stay active with roller skating, swimming, and other outdoor activities. Staying physically active is an important part of my lifestyle, both for my physical health and mental well-being.

Interests: I love traveling with my husband, especially exploring different countries in Europe, U.S. and Mexico. Writing is one of my passions, and I had the opportunity to publish my first book in 2022. Cooking and baking healthy meals is something I really enjoy, especially when hosting friends and family with my husband. I also have a passion for skincare and love helping my loved ones take care of their skin and feel confident.

One word that describes me: Ambitious

Favorite vacation spot: Zakynthos - Greece.

 Education: Graduate from Graham-Kapowsin High School c/o 2008. After graduating I gained my customer service education through practical, hands-on experience working my way up into management positions.

Why I love being a Patient Services Representative:  Having just recently completed multiple forms of physical therapy myself. I know how difficult and hard pushing forward can sometimes be. One thing that always set the tone for a successful appointment was a kind and positive person on the front end. Having someone who understood and cared about my wellbeing and took those extra moments out of their day to check in on me meant ALOT. I love to be that person for someone else. Loving people has always come easy to me and I am excited to watch people heal and succeed in their PT goals.

How I stay active: I love to stay moving. I love camping, quading and chasing around my two nephews and 2 two god children. 

Interests: My passions mostly include anything that includes my family. I have fun by having weekly game nights, trying new restaurants and finding new campsites to explore. I love the ocean- mainly sharks, the moon and a good book.

One word that describes me: Empathetic 

Favorite vacation spot: My favorite place to vacation would be Alaska. The views cannot be beat.