Physical Therapists

As a child, Lisa had a cousin who was involved in an accident and watching his rehab sparked an interest in the field. She went to Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, SD and graduated with an A.A.S. degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant. She is continuing her education to further her career in aquatics. Lisa’s goal is to help people get back to doing the things they enjoyed prior to needing PT services. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, serving as a teacher in her church community, and playing volleyball, both sand and indoor.

Chris earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of South Dakota and his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. He has a passion for sports medicine and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist, so he enjoys helping patients through long-term rehabilitation for return to sport. He also enjoys working with individuals across the lifespan to reduce pain and conquer their goals, regardless of diagnosis.

Patients appreciate his approach to treating each patient as a person, not just an injury. Chris is committed to building a therapeutic alliance based on trust by developing a personal relationship with each patient.

Originally from Rapid City, Chris enjoys time spent outdoors and staying active by playing golf, basketball, and soccer. He is also an active member at CrossFit Viable in Sioux Falls and loves to engage with others along their fitness journey.

Jill attended South Dakota State University for her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. She graduated cumma sum laude from Creighton University in 1998 with a doctoral degree in Physical Therapy. She credits a sister who was diagnosed with spina bifida, for inspiring her to pursue a career she truly loves.

Jill was instrumental in developing the physical therapy department at CORE Orthopedics, where she enjoyed building the team and working with patients. Now, she is looking forward to working with a team of skilled physical therapists at OI. She specializes in foot and ankle, and also likes working with knees and shoulders, especially post-op. She has additional training in blood flow restriction, offering a nice adjunct to traditional therapy.

Jill is a married mother of two who loves to follow her children’s sports activities. She was a collegiate runner and still enjoys running, lifting weights, paddle-boarding, and snowmobiling. She follows SDSU sports and is involved in WHS Booster Club and teaching at her church.

Originally from Fort Worth, TX, Ryan earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, TX. He then attended Western Iowa Tech Community College for their Physical Therapist Assistant program.

Married to his wife Libby, their daughter Marra is the highlight of their life. Growing up in Texas, he loves his Dallas Cowboys. However, when it is soccer season, he cheers for Everton Football Club, a team from Liverpool in the Premier League. He enjoys playing soccer, fishing, and spending time with his family in his free time.

Paul received a B.S. in Biology from South Dakota State University and his Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of South Dakota. He is nationally board certified as a sports clinical specialist and certificated in blood flow restriction training and applied functional science. He specializes in ACLR, hip arthroscopy, and general sports medicine and orthopedic rehabilitation. Paul values the opportunity to treat and  rehabilitate patients at the OI Performance Center.

After more than 20 years of practice, he still finds helping and meeting new patients or reconnecting with previous clients the most rewarding aspect of the profession. Paul greatly enjoys having the opportunity to learn and communicate regularly with the experienced staff at OI.

Emily is fortunate to have been influenced at a young age by a family member to seek a career in physical therapy. She received her Bachelor of Science at Minnesota State University-Moorhead and her doctorate of physical therapy at the University of South Dakota.

Emily’s passion is working with patients following surgery in acute care and inpatient settings. She believes the family-oriented work setting at OI makes it a pleasure to be a part of the team. Outside of work, her three little kids keep her busy and she enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Aaron majored in Athletic Training at Northwestern College in Orange City, IA, and then went on to earn his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is board certified in orthopedics and certified in functional dry needling. He was drawn to the profession after having received physical therapy for an injury as a teenager.

Working at Orthopedic Institute provides him the opportunity to combine his experience in athletic training with physical therapy. He is mainly focused on ACL rehabilitation and prevention, as well as both operative and non-operative knee injuries and a variety of orthopedic issues. He enjoys collaborating with and empowering patients as they work together to achieve goals. Outside of work, Aaron enjoys time with his family and outdoor activities including hunting, dog training, and fishing. He and his wife are active in their church, serving on Sundays and hosting community groups during the week.

Ryan earned his Bachelor of Science degree at South Dakota State University and then his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Creighton University. He also holds a Certificate of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy and Functional Dry Needling. Ryan believes strongly in the emphasis on quality patient care that OI promotes. He specializes in treatments of the spine, but also sees plenty of extremity patients both non-operative and post-operatively.

Ryan enjoys patient interaction and seeing steady improvement from week to week. Outside of the office he is an avid hunter and fisherman. In the summer, his weekends are spent camping at the river with his family and golfing whenever he gets the opportunity.

Shelly received her Bachelor of Science at South Dakota State University and her Master’s and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Des Moines University. She specializes in outpatient rehabilitation of the hip and aquatic therapy, as well as general orthopedics. She finds developing relationships with her patients and their families meaningful as they strive to restore functionality.

Shelly spends time with her husband and three children when not tending to patients. They enjoy sports, follow SDSU teams, and enjoy being a Jackrabbit. Shelly is also active in her church.

Austin earned his Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS) degree in 2010,  as a Physical Therapist Assistant from Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, SD.

Married to his wife Kobi, they have two children. He loves to coach and support them in their activities. In his free time, Austin enjoys golfing, hunting, fishing, and watching almost any sporting event that involves the SDSU Jackrabbits or the Green Bay Packers!

Kristin was born and raised in Sioux Falls. She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for her undergraduate studies, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology, and then attended the University of South Dakota for a Masters in Physical Therapy.

Kristin became interested in a career in PT in high school when she had some sport related injuries. She wanted to fill the role of helping others to recover from injury. She specializes in post surgical rehabilitation and total joint replacement rehabilitation. She enjoys helping people of all ages stay as active as possible. She and her husband Tom have five children. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family, running, and watching her children compete in their sporting activities including soccer, cross country, and track.

Nikki studied Sports and Exercise Science at the University of Northern Colorado and was a collegiate hurdler there. After graduation, she attended physical therapy school at the University of Miami where she received her doctorate.

Nikki was attracted to Orthopedic Institute because their reputation of being the best in sports medicine. She likes working with all orthopedic and sports related injuries. The variety in patients and injuries makes each day interesting. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two small girls, running, and outdoor activities.

Shannon received a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Science from South Dakota State University in 1996 and a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Kansas University Medical Center 1998 and Certificate of Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment (MDT) from the McKenzie Institute. He has experience in orthopedic and sports physical therapy and more than 18 years of clinical work involving patients of all different ages, cultural backgrounds, and a large diversity of injuries and needs. Shannon is certified in blood flow restriction therapy, is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists, and has contributed to Men’s Fitness magazine.

Shannon enjoys seeing all types of orthopedic patients and especially working with foot/ankle problems and lower back pain/dysfunction. Born and raised in South Dakota, Shannon has interests in neurodynamics in orthopedic and sports rehabilitation and muscle specific functional strength training. He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, leading a local bible study group, working out, and anything to do with sports.

Josh earned a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology at the University of Illinois followed by a doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) at Washington University in St. Louis. He furthered his specialization in orthopedics through a year-long residency and became a board certified orthopedic clinical specialist (OCS).

Josh predominantly treats a variety of orthopedic conditions as related to the primary extremities, both surgical and non-surgical. As a collegiate baseball player and shoulder surgery patient himself, he has a special interest in injury prevention and rehabilitation of shoulder and upper extremity injuries in the overhead athlete. He also has expertise in conservative management of non-surgical spinal conditions including low back, neck pain, and headaches as well as functional trigger point dry needling.

Josh relishes in the joy that comes from patients feeling empowered to not only achieve their goals but also learn how to live better, healthier lifestyles following completion of their treatment program. Outside of work, he calls himself a sports junkie and a family man. His wife and children also share an affinity for athletics, so they are often participating or spectating at the ball fields.