Growing up, were you interested in sports and physical activity?
I grew up dancing and running. I danced for many years, primarily doing jazz, ballet, and tap. I started running track in middle school and then started cross country in high school. It was always important to me to stay active and push myself in my activities. Through dance and running, I started to learn about how the body worked and how to prevent injuries, which later helped me on my journey to becoming a PT.
When did you know you wanted to be a physical therapist?
The first time I was exposed to physical therapy was as a patient myself, after spraining my ankle in dance when I was 16. I didn’t enjoy my experience and didn’t think I would ever want to be a PT! It wasn’t until later when my grandmother was hospitalized that I saw how impactful physical therapists could be. Seeing my grandmother go through daily therapy to relearn how to walk after being in a coma was an inspiring experience for me. I knew that I wanted to help people regain movement and improve their quality of life, like the PTs that had helped her.
What is your educational background?
After graduating high school, I attended Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY. I studied biology and psychology with a concentration in health professions. I decided to pursue physical therapy during my sophomore year, after shadowing PTs in a variety of settings. I attended Daemen University in Buffalo, NY for 3 years and earned my doctor of physical therapy degree in 2020.
What is the best part about being a physical therapist?
The best part about being a PT is seeing the progress that my patients make after putting in hard work session after session. It is very rewarding to see people reach their goals and do things they didn’t know they were capable of.
What do you like about working at Engage?
I love the patients that we get to work with at Engage! Everyone is so friendly and I love to get to know my patients on a personal level. It is also really unique that we get to work closely with speech therapists and occupational therapists in an outpatient setting. I think this collaboration allows us to provide the best level of care to our patients.
What kind of patients do you work with?
I work with patients with a variety of diagnoses including Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, dizziness and vestibular disorders, and stroke.
What is one thing you want new patients to know when they start working with you?
Communication is key! It is really important to me to know what your goals are, how you are feeling during your exercises, and what is working best for you. I am here to help you find the tools to get you moving better and help you continue doing the things you love to do.
If I have more questions, where can I learn more?
Visit our website, engagebrainbodybetter.com, or call us at 315-810-2423.
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