Member Spotlight

Natalie Surut, PT, DPT is a pelvic health physical therapist and president of the Women In Leadership Special Interest Group through APTA UT. She graduated with her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Utah in 2022, where she was awarded the Elizabeth Fuhriman Gardner Prize for The Outs Continue Reading

Hi! My name is Kylee Austin, and I am in my final year of my DPT program at Northern Arizona University. Although my most important job is being a mother to my three sons Tristan (7), and twins Keegan and Kayden (5), I look forward to graduating in December and becoming a pelvic health physical ther Continue Reading

The ease with which these professionals give up on supporting their patients is frustrating. I was diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) at around the age of 16; many years after my parents had begun searching for answers about my frequent pain and injuries. Continue Reading

I never knew just how much a physical therapist could help with the aftermath of childbirth. I was so intrigued that I decided I needed to spend the day with Sarah and see just how she is helping her patients. Continue Reading

Pelvic health issues are a common problem among women, yet many are reluctant to seek help due to the stigma surrounding these conditions. From urinary incontinence to pelvic pain, these issues can significantly impact a woman’s quality of life. Continue Reading

I have always been passionate about women’s health. This stems from being a feminist from a very young age. Growing up and working on our family farm, my parents expected me to do the same work and the same jobs as my older brother, it didn’t matter that I was female. Continue Reading

I am passionate about the field of pelvic health physical therapy because I want to empower women affected by intimate partner violence (IPV), which includes physical assault, sexual assault, and emotional abuse. Continue Reading

Going into my first childbirth, I naively thought that because I was a physical therapist and had some pelvic health knowledge that I would innately know how to navigate through labor and postpartum recovery. Continue Reading

Little did I know that a “couple hours a week” job would become such a big part of my life and fuel many of my passions today. As I pursued my bachelors in exercise science and now my doctorate of physical therapy at Youngstown State University... Continue Reading

Sexual abuse often results in chronic physical and mental health concerns for victims, which some studies have linked to a higher likelihood of chronic pelvic pain, irritable bowel syndrome and other pelvic floor disorders. Continue Reading

My commitment to physical therapy was solidified when my younger sister was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2019. As she started chemotherapy and radiation treatments, life shifted for my family as hospital trips became more frequent. Continue Reading

Welcome to the 9th ‘Meet the SSIG Members!’ The Student Special Interest Group is made up of student PTs and student PTAs from across the country – and we want to highlight them and their passion for the profession! Continue Reading