Hometown: Irvine, TX, but an Arkansan for 30+ years now
Briefly describe your role:
A: I treat patients of all ages with pelvic health concerns - bladder and bowel control; pelvic pain; musculoskeletal and nervous system complaints during and after pregnancy; post abdominal, pelvic, abdominal, hip, back surgery complaints; and bladder, bowel, pelvic, hip, abdominal and low back pain complaints.
I help to manage, mentor, and train other pelvic health therapists within the company as the lead pelvic health PT. I coordinate continuing education classes for employees.
I also help coordinate student clinical experiences for students from PT or OT schools both within the state and also from schools in surrounding states. I coordinate with the schools, the students, and the clinical instructors at our facilities to make sure each student gets the right fit for their learning objectives.
Q: Is what you’re doing now what you always pictured you would do?
A: I had no idea I would have a pelvic health focus in my practice in an outpatient setting. I always pictured working in a hospital or rehab with people with stroke and other neurological diagnoses. My pelvic health focus started in 1997, and I have learned and grown in the field ever since.
The great thing about the physical therapy profession is that there are so many different ways you can go with your career. Pivoting to a different area as needed is a great option. For example, when my kids were born and it was hard for me to have a full time job, I held my pelvic health career and pivoted to contract work in a hospital for several years. Then as the opportunity presented itself, I took on the role of PT director within a hospital. Then, as my kids got older, I pivoted back into the pelvic health arena which I have been back in for 14 years now. Presently, I plan to be in a pelvic health PT related role until I retire.
Q: What do you see as the greatest challenges for women in your chosen industry? What are the greatest opportunities?
A: The sky is the limit for women in the PT profession, especially the pelvic health specialty. So, being a women in this field is more of an advantage than a challenge. There are so many opportunities within the pelvic health specialty. There are opportunities in inpatient hospital settings, assisted living/nursing home settings, outpatient clinics, and pediatric clinics. There are even subspecialties within the different settings.
Q: Who has inspired you in your life/career?
A: My parents have always been my life inspiration. I am one of 4 children, and I am the only college graduate in my immediate family. My parents have shown me that you can do whatever you want to do and to never worry about what other people tell you you should or shouldn't/ can or can't do. Even if they didn't know what path I needed to take to help me reach my personal and professional goals, they never doubted me for a second and always did whatever it took to help me through any personal or professional challenges. They have always been examples to me of how you can do anything you want and to not let anyone set unrealistic boundaries as that is what they have done in their own lives.
Professionally, all the pelvic health therapists and educators that have furthered the field and shared their wealth of knowledge are always what I aspire to do and be for others. So many course instructors, including Jamie DiAndreth, PT, Hollis Herman, PT, and Beth Shelley, PT inspired me to look further and do and learn more over the years.
Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring professional?
A: Although pelvic health therapy is "in" now and having a moment, those professionals that are interested in the pelvic health therapy training need to take the extra classes to learn the field and strengthen their skills. You can't get out of school and be a pelvic health therapist, unless you do a clinical internship and/or take the extra classes while you're in school. Look for a workplace that is supportive of continuing education and find mentor(s) that can help guide you with your educational and professional goals.
Q: What's been the secret to success?
A: Have patience and be persistent. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Be a lifelong learner.