Continuing Education and Career Goals

After graduation I worked in a trauma level II hospital, floating to all floors with my primary units being acute care and elective post-operative. During this time I also worked in the outpatient chronic pain and degenerative conditions clinic. Early on I learned of Fascial Counterstrain, a manual therapy that has helped fill in the gaps of traditional PT, and I have since completed 12 courses of this technique. After two years in a hospital setting, I fully transitioned to outpatient orthopedics with my move to Whidbey Island. My continuing education goals are to complete the Fascial Counterstain course load and to become certified in this technique. I also plan to pursue continuing education in Feldenkrais therapy and HeartMath.

Personal Knowledge of Healthcare

I have a first-hand understanding of orthopedic injuries, chronic conditions, and holistic care. During my time as a collegiate athlete in cross country and track, I sustained low back and knee injuries that nearly ended my career in running. I have also contended with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), an autoimmune disorder which causes the body to react aggressively to environmental and food irritants. Chronic fatigue, chronic full body edema, eczema, and asthma are a few of the symptoms seen with this condition. After trying multiple types of medications and being housebound with no positive results, I turned to acupuncture with little hope of recovery. Following a long assessment, the acupuncturist recommended a course of recovery with a multi-system approach. By implementing this, I regained my ability to work and participate in life fully while still managing this condition. It has been through this experience that I have learned the importance of addressing all aspects of health and not just the physical side.

But there is more to this story...

In 2025 I was diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis. This was after a steep decline again in my health during the previous year. I did some reading and learned how this disease can affect all systems of the body with the chronic inflammation it produces and the lesions that implant themselves throughout the body. Suddenly the picture became much clearer about my health. All the health issues that came on "without reason". How, despite my best efforts, I was still having to do more to manage my health. By this point, I had already tried everything that would have limited the growth of the endo without success, and so I underwent a complete hysterectomy. The surgery went incredibly well and I am now on bio-identical hormones (aka HRT). This procedure has given me my life back.

Some other things you should know about me 

• I love learning how things work, even those that are outside my area of expertise.

• I enjoy the hike through the trees more than the view (although an expansive view of The Needles always takes my breath away).

• I just finished reading a 25-book series and I have a stack of other books waiting to be read, but first I must re-read my favorite book from the summer I was 19.

• I decorate my home with art I collect on my vacations. Rocks I have found are scattered all over my house. I have multiple plants in every room of the house. My kitchen cabinets are lime green. Eclectic is an understatement of my decor.

• My comfort shows are Star Trek, M.A.S.H., and Frasier, but I always watch Mel Brooks’ movies when I’m sick.  

• I love chaos gardening, except for my dahlias. They are given special attention. I also have many videos of bees in my flowers.