By: Melissa Coon
Occupational Therapists enable people of all ages to live life to the fullest by helping them fully participate and perform the tasks of daily living.
At ARC Physical Therapy+, we are proud to have some of the most skilled occupational therapists in the region, who focus on the treatment of hand and upper extremity injuries. They include:
- Sue Heimke, OTR/L, CHT, CLT
- Dawn Hentschke, OTR/L, CHT, CEAS
- Barb Lewis, ORT/L, CHT, CKTP, CPAM
- Barb McKeown, COTA/L, CEAS III
- Lisa Schmidt, OTR/L, CHT
- Jan Taylor, OTR/L, CHT
- Sonja Van Horn, OTR/L, CHT, CKTP, CPAM
We are pleased to announce the addition of our newest therapist, John Stollberg, OTR/L.
Originally from Nebraska, John graduated from Wayne State College in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science. He then went on to obtain his Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Creighton University in 2014. Currently, he works as an occupational therapist in our Topeka clinic.
In honor of National Occupational Therapy (OT) Month this April, we went behind the scenes with John to learn a little bit more about his background and current role at ARC Physical Therapy+.
Why did you decide to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy?
I chose OT because it allowed me to pursue my dream of making a difference in others’ lives. After obtaining my undergraduate degree, I knew I wanted to continue my education to be able to treat patients on a more professional level and incorporate my passion for orthopedics and ergonomics. When I learned that OTs primarily focus on helping patients regain function and independence, I knew this was the career for me.
Why did you decide to start working at ARC Physical Therapy+?
I chose to work for this company for many reasons. First off, I was a student here prior to being hired on. I learned a lot from the therapists during that time and felt they helped me become a more well-rounded and proficient clinician. I wanted to continue learning alongside them as much as possible. Second, I was enticed by the job setting and ability to make use of my passion for ergonomics and orthopedics. I always wanted to work for a company that utilized innovative methods in healthcare and knew that was important to ARC, given their focus on offering a continuum of care and onsite services.
Working for this company has not only helped increase my skills as a clinician, but it has also broadened my scope of knowledge as a healthcare provider. My hope is that I can continue to become the best therapist possible while also working to advance the profession of OT.
How would you describe what you do?
As an occupational therapist, my job involves treating patients by means of education, training and manual techniques. Primarily, I focus on treating workers’ compensation patients, so a lot of my work is catered toward helping patients fulfill their job demands.
What does a typical work week look like for you?
I usually arrive at the clinic around 7:30 a.m. each day and work up until 5 p.m. During my time in the clinic, I complete various tasks such as treating patients, making splints, communicating with case managers, adjusters, physicians and employers.
What do you like most about what you do?
The part I like most about my job is being able to treat patients on a daily basis. It is very rewarding to help patients regain their functional abilities. Besides that, I also enjoy the diversity of each workday. I like working for ARC Physical Therapy+ because it gives me the opportunity to do many different tasks, such as complete post offer employment tests, ergonomic assessments, functional capacity evaluations and fit-for-duty tests as well as treat patients in a traditional outpatient therapy setting.
What is a common misconception (if any) that people have about what you do?
A common misconception that people have about OTs is that we only focus on activities of daily living such as dressing and/or eating. Although there are some occupational therapists that choose to focus on that, our profession is much broader. We help patience regain independence and function, which not only applies to their daily tasks at home but also at work and other places.
About ARC Physical Therapy+
ARC Physical Therapy+ is the only physical and occupational therapy company that combines a continuum of care to create a healthy workforce. ARC Physical Therapy+ is home to nearly 90 associates, 12 outpatient clinics, several onsite clinics and an array of unique employer health solutions positioned throughout the Midwest including the Kansas City metro area, St. Joseph, Liberty and Springfield, Mo., Topeka, Shawnee, Overland Park, Olathe and Wichita, Ks.
