I’ve been a physical therapist for 47 years. For 41 of those years, I have owned my own business – the same number of years I’ve been married. Over time I have come to find that the most meaningful part of my work has never been simply helping people feel better. It has been helping people regain confidence in themselves. 

I’ve loved my work. People often arrive at physical therapy with some sort of adversity. They may be dealing with pain, limited mobility, loss of independence, or uncertainty about what their body can do. I found that if you’ve truly helped someone, not only have they improved their comfort and function, but they have also gained more self-confidence and certainty about managing that aspect of their life. With that gain in self-confidence, they may find they can develop more certainty in other aspects of their life as well. When people feel more capable of helping themselves, they are better able to participate in their lives, support their families, contribute to their communities, and be present for those around them.  In that sense, physical therapy is not so much about “taking care” of someone as it is to help someone take care of themselves. 

Early in my career one-on-one patient care felt natural to me. The understanding and skills to create and run a cohesive, high quality business service did not. Those skills were foreign to me, and I struggled for some time. At one point, I nearly quit to return to being a solo practitioner, but I ultimately found the training and developed the skills to establish a business that could last and would ultimately weather a few decades of change. Now my role is to provide a practice environment that allows the next generation of clinicians to flourish and become the best version of themselves. In its own way, that is another form of helping people help themselves.  

In 2019 I joined the Board of the Good Neighbor Health Clinic, an organization that provides primary care services for adults who do not have the means to pay. This non-profit was started 30 years ago with the benevolence of 2 local physicians, Drs. Peter Mason and Paul Maganiello, and soon after with Dr. Bob Keene helped establish the Red Logan Dental Clinic as part fo that same commitment to meeting essential needs in our community.  

Since then, the Good Neighbor Health Clinic has continued to serve a vital role for people in our community who might otherwise go without care.  I am also a clinical volunteer. Helping this population has been an exceptional experience. The people I have worked with there are grateful to experience an improvement in their condition, regain function, and find ways to better help themselves. And like the patient experiences in my own clinic, these people are now more able to help those around them. Helping one person become more capable has a ripple effect. It strengthens families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and the broader community.  

That is what Good Neighbor Health Clinic does. It lifts people up in the community in a practical and meaningful way.  For me, it has provided me with an opportunity to find a higher purpose in what I do. 

Now, as health insurance and medical care become increasingly out of reach for more of our neighbors in the community, the needs are growing. If you are looking for ways to support your community, I believe you will find the Good Neighbor Health Clinic organization will leave you proud and highly satisfied with your connection and support of your community. 

For more information, contact their office in WRJ, Vermont at: 

Medical: tel:802-295-1868  Dental :802-295-7573 medical@goodnhc.org 

Very Best Wishes,