At Spooner, physical and occupational therapists aren’t only in the clinic treating injuries. They are an active part of the neighborhoods they serve. On World Physical Therapy Day, we’re reminded that our therapists are also the coaches on the sidelines, the mentors helping students grow, the providers helping athletes stay healthy, and the people standing beside families through their toughest seasons.
Emily: Moving With Families Through Cancer
When your purpose is rooted in healing, giving back becomes second nature. For Emily Kitteringham, PT, DPT, CLT, at Spooner East Chandler, volunteering with the Children’s Cancer Network has been a meaningful way to support kids and families navigating recovery through cancer treatment.
For children with cancer, attaining age-appropriate physical activity can be significantly impacted by cancer treatment. Treatments often affect endurance, strength, and balance, making physical activity feel overwhelming or unmotivating. To support kids and families with these side effects, Spooner PT partnered with the Children’s Cancer Network in 2021 & launched the first “Functional Day of Play” at the Let’s Move Center. This event was designed to have a physical therapist connect with kids going through cancer recovery, assess potential physical deficits, and provide families with strategies to motivate their kids for physical movement in a fun, accessible way. Emily was part of that very first event and continues to volunteer quarterly to support this community.
“Cancer treatment can be a long, gruesome, and expensive progress. Programs like this make it possible for pediatric cancer patients and their families to have the education, resources, and movement assessments to aid with cancer recovery care” Emily shared.
Beyond her work with the Children’s Cancer Network, Emily also dedicates her time to breast health support groups and cancer center events throughout the year, showing that healing extends well beyond the clinic.
Cassie: Coaching Beyond the Clinic
Cassie Olson, PT, DPT, CSCS is known in the community as a dedicated physical therapist who helps athletes thrive, but what many may not realize is that she’s also an athlete herself, mentoring and inspiring others both on and off the field. She spends much of her free time on the football field. She coaches the Desert Vista girls flag football team, trains high schoolers and adult women in football skills, and captains a Women’s+ travel flag football team. For Cassie, coaching and competing go hand in hand with her work as a physical therapist, helping athletes stay active and confident in the game.
She says, “It’s an honor and a joy to play and work in women’s sports, mentor young athletes, and care for them in the clinic. Growing up, I was fortunate to be surrounded by incredible coaches and leaders, and my goal is to provide that same guidance, and more, for the next generation. To me, this work is about so much more than sport or treatment; it’s about motivating, supporting, and empowering women and athletes of all ages to reach their fullest potential.”
Joe: Lighting the Way for Future Therapists
What about the next generation of physical and occupational therapists—who teaches and mentors them? At Spooner, this is Joe Escobedo, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, COMT of Spooner South Mountain. Joe started “Student Learning Night” about four years ago as a simple way to help students who wanted extra mentorship and practice. What began as lecture-based sessions has grown into a hands-on, high-energy night filled with clinical reasoning, practice, music, food, and even a few corny jokes.
What makes it special for Joe are the moments when things finally click. “My favorite part is when people have their ‘light bulb’ moments and finally get a technique they have not been able to get or they are able to make more sense of what they were told in school or clinic,” he said. Students often bring friends, come back after their clinicals are over, and many eventually join the Spooner team, all because of the welcoming environment Joe and his colleagues have built.
Student Learning Night also allows Spooner therapists the chance to step in as teachers. Patients may not see this side of the work, but it matters: Spooner therapists are trusted to teach and mentor the next generation because of their skill and experience.
Parker in Anthem: Supporting Local Athletes
When Parker Hirsch PT, DPT, FAS opened the Spooner Anthem clinic in 2023, he quickly realized how much the community needed support for young athletes. The Spooner Anthem team jumped in right away, partnering with Ridgeline Charter School to offer free onsite screenings and spot treatments for student-athletes. If further care is needed, Parker and his team make sure those athletes are seen in the clinic within 48 hours- helping families navigate injuries quickly and with less stress.
The clinic’s reach goes far beyond the school. Parker and his team have provided support at local mini triathlons, volunteered at community races, and most recently partnered with the local F45 gym for its first Hyrox event, making sure athletes had access to screening and treatment throughout the day. Each year, they also show up for Anthem Days, the annual festival that brings the whole community together. For Parker, it’s a reminder of how far the clinic has come and why being present outside the clinic walls matters.
“Recently a patient told me, ‘I love it at your clinic, you’ve created a family here,’” Parker shared. “Truthfully, I have never been more proud of my team. That’s what we strive to create, not just in the clinic but out in the community as well.”
Beyond the Clinic
On World Physical Therapy Day, we’re reminded that being a physical therapist goes beyond what happens in the clinic. It’s about showing up for kids who need encouragement, athletes who need support, students who want to learn, and families who just need someone in their corner.
That’s what Emily, Cassie, Joe, and Parker are doing every day in their own ways. And it’s what ties all of us together at Spooner. We live here, we work here, and we care about the same community we’re lucky enough to call home.