Meet The Team at Runners' Edge Alaska

I started studying Biomedical Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and had dreams of breaking diving school records, competing at NCAA Diving National Championships, and being RIT’s first female All-American diver. The summer prior to starting my college career, I have sustained a near career-ending injury from a diving accident, flipping and twisting from high platforms, I torn my long head of triceps brachii muscle and 75% of my labrum, and I was mis-diagnosed at that time. Did I stop diving at that time? Nope. I kept going to qualify for the Junior Olympics Regionals, Zones, and National Championships. I wanted to continue as I started college, but I had to step out of the RIT’s diving team; and my dreams were crushed, my identity was stolen, my passion was lost.

One year later, my surgeon was surprised by how much of the labrum was torn yet I was still climbing with pain (silly me climbing, hanging from the wall or in a cave with my unstable shoulder). I had Superior Labrum Anterior Posterior (SLAP) and Bankart (anterior-inferior labrum) tears, that’s the whole front 75% already! The surgeon was able to fix that for me with intensive surgical intervention yet there was nothing we could do with my triceps muscle. Then, a whole year of physical therapy rehabilitation followed, and I had to stay out of diving for another year.

My physical therapist inspired me and was dedicated to my recovery and prepared for me to return to high-impact sport with hands high above head, hands and shoulders hitting onto the water, arms flinging in the air, and performing handstands.  My physical therapist knew what had to be done. I returned to diving, got all of my records, became undefeated in my senior year, went to National Championships and became RIT’s first female All-American diver. I lived my dream, and I could not be more grateful for my therapist.

Fast forward to studying at University of Maryland Eastern Shore to obtain my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, I was lifting weights, climbing, running, always training and shockingly not eating enough.  I have over-trained to a point where my female health compromised as my hormone levels were out of sync, my menstrual cycle abrupted for 4 years, and I never did anything about it until at the end of my Orthopaedic Clinician Specialist Residency at University of Rochester Medical Center.  I learned the balance of training, playing, resting, eating properly, and practicing self-care. Soon enough, my female health bounced back, and I became stronger, healthier, and happier!

After my residency in Rochester, NY, I resided in Aspen, CO, where I have witnessed and treated numerous traumatic and post-operative injuries, most from skiing.  While being in Aspen, the mountains were calling me, I looked, and found my path cleared toward Alaska. 

Retired from diving, I continue to find my new passions and optimize my performance in numerous physical activities including running, hiking mountains, rock climbing, skiing, and exploring the great outdoors.  I learned that with proper training and understanding physiology, we are fully capable of optimizing our performance and our bodies can do amazing things!  I learned to train for physical feats ranging from rock climbing an overhanging wall to hiking for 26.5 miles in the Adirondack Mountains in one day to skiing down the 40 degrees drop at Highlands Bowl in Aspen, Colorado to running a half-marathon trail race in Alaska. The human body is powerfully malleable just like that.

Now, it’s YOUR turn to get inspired and return to YOUR favorite sport! As an orthopaedic specialist and female athlete physical therapist, I am passionate for human movement, performance, and education. The world is so big.  Alaska is also our big playground, and there’s always a reason to be active outside.  If your pain or injury is stopping you from doing your activity that you love, I will be dedicated to help you solve the problem, help you recover, and watch you make a comeback, running and playing again.  As a female athlete, I am not a small man!  Whether you are a female or a male athlete, I will help you train optimally with your physiology, what you’re made of, and how your body performs.

My goal is to coach and educate the community of Alaska how to optimize their recovery, be active again, and prevent further injuries. My goal is to empower female athletes that we are not small men, and we are fully capable of being the healthiest and strongest we can be, doing the activities we love, and living our dreams.

When you don’t see me treating patients, you will find me in the weight room, climbing walls, running on trails, hiking high mountain peaks, skiing alpine, cross-country and back-country, taking road trips to new places, and cooking delicious food!  I am excited to be a part of the amazing community in the beautiful Alaska.  

Employment

• Runners’ Edge Alaska – Lead Female Physical Therapist – Anchorage, AK (June 2021 – Present)
• Aspen Valley Hospital – Orthopaedic/In-Patient Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation – Aspen, CO (Jan – May 2021)
• University of Rochester Medical Center – Sports & Spine Orthopaedic Rehabilitation – Rochester, NY (December 2019 – December 2020)
• Leadbetter Rehabilitation Clinic – Orthopaedics & Sports Rehabilitation – Frederick, MD (May-June 2019)
• Anne Arundel Medical Center – Neurological Outpatient Rehabilitation – Annapolis, MD (October-December 2018)
• University of Maryland Rehabilitation of Orthopaedic Institute – Baltimore, MD (August 2018-May 2019)
• University of Maryland, Baltimore Washington Medical Center – Glen Burnie, MD (January-February 2018)
• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center – Physical Therapy & Prosthetics/Orthotics – Bethesda, MD (May-August 2014,2015)
• Montgomery County Diving League – Head Dive Coach – Rockville, MD (May-July 2012-2015)

Education

• University of Rochester Medical Center – Orthopedic Clinician Specialist Residency – Rochester, NY (January – December 2020)
• Doctor of Physical Therapy – University of Maryland Eastern Shore – Princess Anne, MD (September 2019)
• BS in Biomedical Sciences with Minors in Exercise Sciences & Psychology – Rochester Institute of Technology – Rochester, NY (May 2016)

Past Teaching & Academic Involvements:

• Teaching Assistant & Clinical Instructor at Nazareth College’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program – (January-December 2020)
• Teaching Assistant for entry-level first year students in Doctor of Physical Therapy program – (August 2017-August 2018).
• Teaching Assistant for Anatomy & Physiology, Tutor for Math & Physics, and Student Ambassador for University Admission Office – Rochester Institute of Technology (August 2013-May 2016).

Areas Of Expertise

• Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) 
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
• Shoulders and Upper Extremity Manual Therapy
• Rock-Climbing
• Running Assessments & Return to Running Rehabilitation
• Female Athletes of all ages
• Adolescent Athletes
• Master Athletes
• Sports injury prevention, Upper and Lower Kinetic Chain
• Sports rehabilitation, return to play
• Post-operative shoulder rehabilitation and recovery
• Post-operative lower-extremity rehabilitation and recovery (including but not limited to ACL repair, meniscectomy/repair, lower extremity fractures, and total joint replacements)
• Cervical and Lumbar Spine pain and movement disorders
• Chronic Pain

Achievements And Awards

• Recognized in American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) for story in overcoming challenges – March 2022
• Recognized in National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) for a story in overcoming challenges – May 2022
• Recognized in Democrat and Chronicle newspaper for overcoming challenges – Rochester, NY – March 2016
• RIT Varsity Athletics ‘Comeback Athlete’ Award – May 2016
• RIT’s NCAA Division III Varsity Swimming and Diving Team Captain & Records Holder – August 2014 – March 2016
• All-American Honor, Placing 5th at NCAA Swimming and Diving Nationals Championships – March 2016
• NTID Outstanding Graduate Award Recipient – May 2016
• RIT Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Award Recipient – December 2014
• Placed Nationally in US Diving Junior Olympics Nationals Championships – Summer 2012

Professional Memberships And Certifications

• Alaska, Colorado, and New York licensed Physical Therapist
• Certified Orthopedic Clinician Specialist (OCS) – July 2021
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) – December 2017-Present
• American Heart Association – Basic Life Support (CPR/AED) Certified – December 2020
• American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) – Member 2016-2017, 2017-Present
• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) – Member 2017-Present

Languages Spoken

• English
• American Sign Language

Hobbies

Rock-Climbing & Skiing, Running & Multi-Sports; Weightlifting & Yoga; Travel & Hiking; Painting & Puzzles; Life-Long Learner & Reader.