Jessica Stoffel

THE PATH TO PHYSICAL THERAPY:  

I have always been an active person and enjoy exercise, which led me to pursue my Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science. It wasn’t until my senior year of college that I realized how I wanted to put my education to use. During my final semester,  I completed an internship for Maple Tree Cancer Alliance (MTCA), a non-profit organization that provides free exercise training to individuals currently undergoing treatment for cancer and those in remission from cancer. Throughout this internship, I worked with some amazing clients in different stages of their fitness journey. For some, their goal was to get through chemotherapy or radiation with more energy or to fight the side effects of their treatments, while others wanted to regain the strength,   flexibility, endurance, and balance they had prior to their diagnosis. While working one-on-one with these clients, I realized many of them were facing impairments I was not familiar with or were out of my scope of practice. However, these areas were often aligned with the skills that a physical therapist is specially trained to treat. I went on to work for MTCA while applying to physical therapy school. I loved my job, but I knew I could do more to make a difference in the lives of others by taking additional steps to earn my Doctorate of Physical Therapy. This is where my love for physical therapy arose.

FINDING MY NICHE:

As a licensed physical therapist, I have the ability to work in about a dozen different types of practice settings. Acute care in a hospital setting, inpatient rehab, home health, nursing homes, and outpatient clinics are just a few of those settings. I have a special love for outpatient physical therapy. I appreciate that the patients I treat are actively pursuing a movement-based approach to reducing pain and improving mobility. I really enjoy helping my patients return to their favorite activities and learn that exercise is medicine! I have also seen the significant impact that specialized treatments, such as dry needling, can have on the rehab process and am excited to put these skills to work. I am passionate about building professional relationships with my patients and helping them achieve their goals, and I am excited to continue to grow as a clinician.