I decided to be a physical therapist when I was in high school. A friend at the time had an accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. It was that event that spurred me to pursue a goal to do something where I “help others”. The following year when I was a senior in high school, I started working as an aide at a Physical Therapy Clinic in Mequon, Wisconsin. The clinic was innovative and the clinicians strived to provide a high standard of care to their patients. I had found my direction to “help others” – to pursue a career in Physical Therapy.I completed undergrad and graduate education at Creighton University. My passion leaving undergrad and entering the Clinical Doctorate Program in Physical Therapy was to be the best clinician I could be. This passion centered around my high school goal of “helping others”. It is now the flame that fuels my professional practice.
I had many great mentors in those years who have shaped the way I practice. The one that directed my post-graduate studies was Gregg Johnson, the Co-Director of the Institute of Physical Art (IPA). Ironically, back at the high school job, one of the PTs at the clinic in Mequon was an instructor for the IPA. I used to help set up the weekend courses offered by the IPA in Milwaukee. When I became a PT I began to explore and participate in the classes offered through the IPA . After each class I was able to immediately use the new education in the clinic to guide me in restoring function to my patients. The success I achieved after each class I took motivated me to pursue a year-long Fellowship, the highest level of education possible for a physical therapist. I loaded up my family and made the trek to Steamboat Springs CO where I spent a year enjoying the mountains and absorbing the most information I could. The Fellowship through the IPA was a turning point in my professional path. It expanded my education, confidence, and skills by quantum leaps. It truly enhanced my ability to “help others” in Physical Therapy.
As I reflect back to my original goals of “helping others” and being the best clinician I can be, I can see how they have pushed me down my professional road. I believe that to continue to offer a high-level of care in today’s changing healthcare, I needed to open DeMarco Physical Therapy. I want to continue to be able to see patients one at a time, offer expert service and see results.
I welcome the opportunity to help facilitate change in your life, whether it is getting you back running, enhancing your balance, eliminating your back pain or just being able to enjoy life!
