Meet the INTEGRIS Health Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Clinical Development team.
Emily Birch, MOTR/L, CBISEmily Birch, MOTR/L, CBIS, received her Bachelor of Science in Health Studies in 2009 and Master of Occupational Therapy in 2011 from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She has worked for INTEGRIS Health since 2011, beginning her career on the brain injury unit at Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital. In 2014, she transferred to the Therapy Resource Pool within INTEGRIS, where Emily treated patients across the continuum of care to include acute physical medicine, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient rehabilitation. From 2018-2000 Emily served as the Supervisor for the Therapy Resource Pool, and then she became the manager of the therapy resource pool and clinical development departments in 2020.
Christina Torrez, PTA, CBISChristina Torrez, PTA, CBIS, graduated from the PTA program at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2005. Upon graduating, Christina began her career on the brain injury unit at Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital and in 2016 she became a Certified Brain Injury Specialist via ACBIS. Christina began her role as the Rehab Development Consultant in December 2022 where she brings enthusiasm for education to our therapists and ultimately improving the quality of care that Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation offers to our patients across the continuum.
Kelsey Wyer, M.A. CCC-SLPKelsey Wyer received her Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 2017 and her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, also from OUHSC, in 2015. Kelsey has been with INTEGRIS Health since 2019 and serves as the Clinical Rehab Specialist for Telehealth. She has a passion for telehealth and pediatrics.
Rebecca-Anne Wayland, PT, DPT, NCSRebecca Wayland graduated from University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 2014 with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree. She achieved her board certification in Neurologic Physical Therapy from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) in July 2017 and is credited as a Neurologic Clinical Specialist (NCS). Rebecca has worked for INTEGRIS since 2015 and currently treats patients with neurological deficits at Jim Thorpe Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital at Southwest Medical Center, specializing in patients recovering from spinal cord injury and stroke.
Danielle Melson, PT, DPTDanielle Melson graduated from Saint Louis University in 2014 with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree, and joined the Float Pool with INTEGRIS in 2015. She enjoys working across with INTEGRIS system with all patient populations. Danielle became the Clinical Rehab Specialist for Pelvic and Women’s Health in 2021. She is a Certified Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism Coach and is working towards the Obstetric CAPP Certification through the APTA Pelvic Health Section. She is passionate about educating the community, caregivers, and referral sources regarding resources INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe offers for the pelvic population.
Tara Turvey, OTR/L, CHT, CLT
Tara Turvey, graduated from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center’s Occupational Therapy program in 2000. Initially practicing general occupational therapy at INTEGRIS Miami Hospital, she began specializing in outpatient upper extremity therapy and lymphedema therapy after moving to Kansas in 2002. She obtained lymphedema therapy certification in December 2004 and helped develop and expand the lymphedema program at North Kansas City Hospital in North Kansas City, Mo. She earned hand therapy certification in November 2009. Since November 2012, she has specialized in treatment of patients with upper extremity diagnoses, cancer-related dysfunction and lymphedema at INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe Outpatient Rehabilitation. She presents courses on kinesiotaping for lymphedema/edema, orthotic fabrication and breast cancer rehabilitation. As the clinical specialist for Hand Therapy at INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe, Turvey is also a current member of the American Society of Hand Therapists and National Board for Certification of Orthopedic Technologists.
Charles Steger, PT, DPT, COMT
Charles Steger is a 2008 graduate of the Rockhurst University physical therapy program in Kansas City, Missouri. Upon graduation he worked in a private practice orthopedic clinic in Norman, Oklahoma while attending post-graduate training at the Oklahoma Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy. Charles then pursued educational training and study from Michael Moore and Tim McGonigle of Folsom Physical Therapy and the International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine before opening a private practice in Norman, Oklahoma. Charles joined the Jim Thorpe team in 2015 was hired in 2017 as the orthopedic clinical specialist for INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe. He earned COMT certification for the lower quarter through the International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine in 2019.
Susan Dowell, MS, CCC-SLP
Susan Dowell, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS, received her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from The University of Central Oklahoma in 2014. She started her career working as a contract SLP in various settings including acute care, inpatient rehab, skilled rehab, and outpatient rehab. In 2016 she joined the INTEGRIS Health team as the Speech-Language Pathologist for the Jim Thorpe Outpatient Southwest clinic. Soon after, October 2017, she completed intensive training at the Aphasia Institute in Toronto, Ontario, focusing on Supportive Communication for Aphasia utilizing the Life Participation Approach in order to better serve this population. This has continued to be a passion of hers which she has continued to develop through various continuing education opportunities. She is currently the Speech Pathology Rehabilitation Specialist for the Jim Thorpe Clinical Development Department where she intends to assist her fellow SLPs in further developing their own skills and assisting in breaking down barriers to their success. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and sitting down to relax with a good book.
