Tell us about your practice.
I am a board-certified pediatric specialist who mainly provides contract services to the local Early Steps agencies. (Early Steps is Florida's early intervention system for eligible infants and toddlers who have or are at-risk for developmental disabilities or delays). Working with Early Steps agencies, I see and treat children from birth to age 3 in their natural environment. Aside from my work with the Early Steps Program, I also provide hands-on services to older children in their homes, outside of a clinic setting, which assists in reducing anxiety and allows me to make the biggest possible difference in their lives.
What led you to want to become a PT?
My parents are nurses and met in nursing school in the early 1960s, so I grew up around the western model of medicine. I knew I wanted to be "something" in a medical field. When I was in high school, my mother suffered a neck injury and was down for over a week until she finally saw a physical therapist. That day, she was back on her feet, making dinner and helping with homework! The difference PT made for my mother in just one session really caught my eye and made me interested in becoming a PT. With my father being in the Navy, I had the chance to go to the Navy clinic and see the setting, which led me to join the Air Force after PT school. While on active duty, I was trained in pediatrics and orthopedics. Once I got off active duty, I decided to do pediatrics PT full-time, and I love it.
What’s your favorite thing about being a PT?
I love the personal nature of my physical therapy practice, and truly bonding with my patients and their families. I love watching the children I treat grow up and knowing I had a part in their success story. Truly, the best part of PT is helping children and their parents navigate life a little differently and giving them skills to be more successful. After 36 years, I STILL love being a physical therapist!
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