Moving Her Forward: Empowering the Women of PT Solutions

Women are 71% of our workforce and 66% of our clinician team. Through company-wide shoutouts, we recognized some of the women who go above and beyond every day.

• Ashley Gilstrap was celebrated multiple times for her extraordinary contributions to both her patients and colleagues in the Kansas City region. “Ashley goes out of her way to celebrate birthdays, work anniversaries, and regional-wide social events, all while maintaining a high volume of patients every day,” shared Marissa Kay. Hannah Bredehoeft echoed this sentiment, adding, “From baking cookies to writing thank-you notes for patients, she makes everyone feel valued.”
• Karna Pfisterer was recognized for embodying PT Solutions’ core value of hospitality. Anna Catherine Schmidt shared,“Karna was one of the first people to demonstrate, to me, our value of hospitality—not only towards her patients but also to her team.”
• Aliya Scalamogna was praised by Jillian Bedard for her leadership and mentorship. “Aliya embodies the core values of PT Solutions with dedication, compassion, and a commitment to excellence. Her passion for both individual and team growth shines through as she mentors, supports, and inspires those around her—especially empowering the growth of women in leadership. She is UNSTOPPABLE!”
• Kim Cruz, Amy Holzhueter, Jessica McDonald, Delania Miles, Kate Huggins, and Toni Murken were acknowledged as inspiring leaders. “They put our patients first, advocate for our teams, and innovate with creativity and hospitality. They are an incredible group of women to work alongside.”
• Stella Sweiboda was praised by Anna Catherine Schmidt for supporting working mothers. “When I returned from maternity leave, Stella reached out just to acknowledge how hard it is to return to work after having a child. She gave space for the challenges of new motherhood…and provided encouragement when I needed it most.”

Click to see all the shoutouts!

These are just a few of the many women making an impact at PT Solutions. They continue to shape our culture, inspire our team, and drive excellence in patient care.

Patient Success Stories: Strength in Every Journey

A key part of Moving Her Forward was sharing the inspiring journeys of women who have overcome obstacles through physical therapy. Their stories remind us why we do what we do—helping patients regain strength, confidence, and independence.

• Susan’s Story: A routine PT Solutions visit led to a life-saving discovery when her therapist noticed concerning symptoms and encouraged her to seek further medical evaluation. That decision led to the identification of a blocked artery and ultimately saved her life.

• Gaylyn’s Journey: After struggling with illness and pain, Gaylyn found renewed hope and strength through our team after trying physical therapy in the past. “This time around at PT Solutions was entirely different, and I am forever grateful.”

• Anna’s Comeback: A dedicated softball player, Anna faced multiple injuries that threatened her athletic future. With the support of her PT, she worked hard to recover and ultimately secured a commitment to play at Virginia Tech. Her perseverance is a testament to the power of expert care and unwavering determination.

These stories showcase the transformative power of physical therapy in recovery and empowerment.

Women in Leadership: Leading the Way

Throughout March, we showcased the incredible women leading PT Solutions, sharing their insights and experiences in our She is Unstoppable series.

Liezl Tolentino (LT), Chief People Officer

“When you think about our mission, vision, and values: creating an environment where people feel unstoppable—being able to make sure that women feel empowered to do so is part of my role and what we’re here to do.”

Stacie Winkler, General Counsel

“One of the key pieces to helping other women succeed is just providing honest and open feedback in a timely way.”

           

McKenzie Kelly, VP of Operations

“You’ll never regret showing up for yourself. Use the grit that you’ve learned on the field and apply that in your professional life.”

Brooke McKelvey, VP of Sports Medicine

“Life is not easy… but it’s about getting up every day and bringing your best self.”

Lisa Edgerly, VP of Partner Success

“I always miss my daughters when I travel, so there’s no better feeling than coming home to them.”

Mechelle Matthews, VP of Transformation

“Don’t chase the money, don’t chase the title. Enjoy the moment and your work will be recognized.”

Jessica McDonald, Reginal Director of Front Office Operations

“[PT Solutions] has given me the chance to invest in myself, my team, and coach future leaders.”

She is Football Summit, Flag Football, and 5K Event

To further champion women’s achievements, PT Solutions sponsored the She is Football event with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, celebrating women in sports.

At the She is Football Summit, our Chief People Officer, Liezl Tolentino, took the stage to share insights on leadership, career growth, and breaking barriers in male-dominated industries. Our athletic trainers provided exceptional care at a flag football tournament, ensuring athletes could perform at their best while staying healthy and injury-free. To cap off the weekend, we had a tent at the finish line of the 5K, where an all-women team of PTs provided post-race stretching.

Throughout the event, we followed Faith, a PT Technician and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleader, who joined PT Solutions after seeing an ad at the stadium. “I never imagined my two passions—cheering and physical therapy—would intersect like this,” she shared.

Looking Ahead: Continuing to Move Her Forward

Women’s History Month was a time to reflect, recognize, and uplift the women of PT Solutions—but our commitment doesn’t stop here. We will continue to foster an environment where women are empowered to grow, lead, and achieve their goals.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this month’s celebrations. Together, we’re Moving Her Forward, one step at a time.