Educational Background including specialty certifications:

St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN Bachelor of Science

Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, Rochester, MN, Certificate in Physical Therapy

University of Washington, Seattle, WA, Master of Science in Rehabilitation Medicine

University of Washington, Seattle, WA, Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science

APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor

Area of subspecialty: Pediatrics, Family Centered Care, Global Health, Research

Current role within the residency: Primary Mentor, Seattle Public Schools

Years of Practice: 33

Philosophy of Care:

Children of all abilities deserve the social, emotional, and physical benefits of participation in movement and play. I aim to help families, schools, and community programs create healthy environments where every child can participate and enjoy a good quality of life.

Teaching Philosophy:

My teaching philosophy is termed a teaching-learning philosophy. One cannot occur without the other, and therefore both teachers and students will teach and learn. I seek to inspire students to become life-long learners and engaged in our profession. My goal is to help students become agents of change in advancing our rehabilitation profession such that they not only demonstrate excellent clinical skills, but they also incorporate compassionate care, ethical practice, and service to our profession and the global (local and international) community.

Research Philosophy:

My community-based research program’s goal is to decrease health disparities for children and their families with an ardent interest in improving the physical activity and participation of children with disabilities. I am a researcher who looks upstream to assist children with disabilities and their families achieve long-term healthy lifestyles by increasing activity and engagement in their homes, schools, and communities. My interprofessional research is child and family centered. I place importance on the involvement of children, their families, clinicians, and community stakeholders to identify effective interventions and utilizing valid and reliable rehabilitation measures to determine outcomes. It is important to me that my research will make an impact by turning the discoveries into action within clinical practice and community-based programs.