Burien – Burien Physical Therapy

Teresa Kuzmer has worked as a Physical Therapist Assistant since graduating from Green River Community College in 1979. For the past 18 years she has used her prior experience in the field to help develop work conditioning and work hardening programs that facilitate injured workers to reach their full potential. The Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy team work closely together, along with claim stakeholders, to provide an individualized program for a positive and successful return to the work force. Her expertise, compassion and energy are qualities that elevate the injured worker to reach personal wellness and retun to work goals. When she is not working, she stays busy teaching a total body conditioning class two days a week. Along with this, Teresa enjoys riding her bike, coaching soccer and enjoying her family. One of her favorite activities is spending time with her three grandsons playing sports, games, watching a movie or reading them a book.

Education:

• Physical Therapist Assistant Degree from Green River Community College

Debbie is a Seattle native, working in the physical therapy field since 1987. She has worked with orthopedic and sport rehabilitation until the last decade, when she began specializing in aquatic therapy. She has several aquatic specialty certificates and loves the way she can help her patients use our warm water facility to regain their functional goals. When not helping patients, she might be found hiking on one of our local trails or sailing in the San Juan Islands.

Education:

• Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science from Green River Community College
• ATRI Certification for Aquatic Therapy from Aquatic Therapy Rehab Institute

Olivia received her Master of Occupational Therapy in December 2016 before moving to Seattle to begin her career. She has clinical work experience in outpatient pediatrics with a focus on sensory integration and interoception (body awareness). She has clinical internship experience in outpatient orthopedics with a focus on upper extremity injury rehabilitation. Olivia finds joy in helping her patients reach their functional goals, and is passionate about evidenced-based practice and continuing her education to better her patient care. In her spare time she can be found reading, practicing yoga, and chasing after her three pets with her boyfriend.

Education:

• Master of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman’s University, 2016
• Bachelor of Science in Child Development, Summa Cum Laude, Texas Woman’s University, 2015

Organizations:

• Washington Occupational Therapy Association (WOTA)
• American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

Laura graduated from Saint Louis University with her master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, with an emphasis on medical nutrition therapy. Prior to that, she achieved her baccalaureate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the College of Saint Benedict, minoring in Exercise Science and Hispanic Studies. She completed her dietetic internship at Saint Louis University, at various organizations throughout the St. Louis area. Laura has practiced in a variety of outpatient settings including diabetes education, prenatal nutrition/gestational diabetes nutrition education, food allergies, bariatric and weight loss nutrition, GI diseases, nutrition throughout cancer treatment and recovery, and adult acute care.

Her counseling technique utilizes motivational interviewing to help patients reach goals that are important to them and maintain results over a lifetime.

In Laura’s spare time, she enjoys playing recreational volleyball and soccer, spending time outdoors hiking and exploring new trails, rafting and skiing, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen.

Education:

– Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Saint Louis University 2019

– Bachelor of Art in Nutrition, College of Saint Benedict 2018, Minored in Exercise Science and Hispanic Studies