A Growing Team: Step & Spine Physical Therapy welcomes two new PTs!

Lead physical therapist and founder here at Step & Spine Physical Therapy, Barrett Ford, would like to announce the hiring of two new physical therapists to our full-time staff. Colleen Sullivan, PT, and Seth Wilkie, DPT, recently joined our growing Step & Spine team – a team made up of nine physical therapists who treat clients in both our Sisters and Redmond clinics.

Colleen brings more than 20 years of physical therapy experience to the team, having grown up in Washington and practiced in the Seattle area throughout most of her professional career. She has vast experience offering outpatient manual therapy to treat musculoskeletal pain and disability as well as working with competitive athletes who seek performance enhancement as well. Colleen is a USA Triathlon Level 2 Coach and a USA Cycling Level 2 Coach.

“Step & Spine Physical Therapy is made up of a good community of people with whom I share the same ideals, ethics and mission as a physical therapist,” she said. “As for moving to Central Oregon, I love outside play on the trails, from hiking, mountain biking and snowshoeing to exploring and camping.”

Also a competitive athlete with training experience, Seth earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in 2011 from the University of New Mexico. A former master personal trainer who’s completed several IRONMAN triathlons, Seth has earned multiple certifications through continuing education opportunities with the International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine, the North American Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy, and McKenzie Institute U.S.A.

“As a personal trainer as an undergraduate, I consistently worked with injured athletes,” Seth said. “I liked the opportunity this presented to spend time with patients,” Wilkie said. “I was eager to join Step & Spine’s team because I wanted to be able to treat my patients the way I want to – spending real time with them. Additionally, I love treating the spine as it’s relation to everything.”

Both Colleen and Seth, Barrett says, offer a different level of professional experience to the Step & Spine Physical Therapy team while remaining true to clinic’s core treatment philosophy, which involves connecting with each client on an individual level.

“In today’s world, there’s not only a physical need for helping people get along functionally, but there’s an emotional connection that I really want my therapists to make with each and every patient,” said Barrett. “We excel at that, and I believe both Colleen and Seth meet this bill.”

One of Central Oregon’s fastest growing physical therapy clinics, we at Step & Spine Physical Therapy will open a third clinic in Bend once construction is complete on its new NorthWest Crossing facility. Barrett says he plans to add one more physical therapist to his physical therapy team prior to the Bend clinic’s completion in August.

Please join us in welcoming Colleen and Seth to our team! Contact us and we’ll be happy to pass along a message to both of them. And if you’re ready to excel in life with better, pain-free movement or athletic enhancement, both Colleen and Seth can tell you how.