Team Headstrong

Before she became a PT, Jess was a faculty member at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and trained as a strength athlete to manage stress from academia, competing, coaching, and directing charity meets with the Illini Powerlifting Club. Jess got injured while preparing for a nationals-level meet; physical therapist turned mentor Kim Hardin, PT, ATC helped Jess return to the platform and inspired the pursuit of physical therapy.

Though intending to specialize in sports rehab, she became inspired by her father, a stroke survivor, to help those after neurological injury find their inner and outer strength. Jess developed a passion for intensive rehab across the lifespan to maintain independence and reduce risk of injury. She graduated as a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Illinois Chicago.

Jess then became a Neurological Physical Therapy Resident at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in partnership with Grand Valley State University, where she treated individuals with a variety of complex neurological conditions. 

At the end of residency, Jess delivered a hospital-wide Grand Rounds presentation about her work restoring walking ability for a patient post complex stroke. 

She went on to work at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo providing physical therapy services for adults with neurological and orthopedic conditions.  She left that position to found Headstrong Physical Therapy, LLC to provide high quality, intensive neurological physical therapy services in a clinic designed to accommodate all levels of ability, from competitive strength athletes to those trying to get their independence back after stroke.

See her full resume here.

Her passion for academic pursuits continues to burn brightly; she attends national conferences yearly, including the American College of Rehabilitation Medicine, where she presented original research in 2022.

Outside the clinic, Jess spends quality time with her husband and their furchildren, enjoys local theater at Farmer's Alley and the Civic, baking sourdough, gaming at LFG, and of course, training for the next powerlifting meet!