Kiri grew up in a family where fitness has always been important. Starting at 4 years old she had the opportunity to try nearly every sport: soccer, ice skating, softball, dance, skiing (downhill and cross-country), volleyball, gymnastics, basketball, swimming, tennis. She had a grandfather who race-walked marathons until his mid-70s, aunts and uncles who competed at high levels in cycling, skiing, and running events across the nation, and a younger sister determined to exceed the athletic capabilities of her older sister. Kiri’s mom was the family physical therapist instrumental in keeping all of these athletes healthy. She always admired her Mom’s ability to diagnose issues, educate and guide people to recovery.
Kiri attended college at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Kiri knew she was not the kind of person who could ever work at a desk job and wanted to be involved in fitness and wellness for people of all ages. She was fairly certain to become a Physical Therapist at that point and the paths to get there were many. Her love for science and math led her to pursue a degree in Biology with a minor in Psychology. From there she went back home to Minneapolis, MN and attended the College of St. Catherine for my Doctorate in Physical Therapy.
Kiri started her career working for Legacy Health Systems in Washington/Oregon doing both Inpatient hospital care as well as Outpatient Orthopedic care. She worked closely with an ankle specialist, a physiatrist, an orthopedic and spine team, the general medical providers, and a chronic pain team. She had the opportunity to earn a certification in the Graston technique, expand her evaluation and treatment techniques for the shoulder, and take some classes related specifically to runners. In addition to working in the hospital setting, she spent a few years working 2-3 days per week at a Skilled Rehab and Nursing Facility. There she had the opportunity to work with patients experiencing both neurological and orthopedic issues and focus on functional rehabilitation with the goal of returning independently to their homes.
Kiri moved to Boise in 2013 to be closer to her extended family and that’s when she started working for STARS. There she had the opportunity to expand her knowledge in spine care through the McKenzie Institute classes. She also had the opportunity to work closely with some of the orthopedic surgeons and has spent a lot of time specializing in shoulder and knee rehabilitation. STARS has offered her wonderful opportunities to work with a variety of patients from ages 8 to 98 all with various levels of activity, various interests, and various goals. She says “It is truly a pleasure to serve the Boise community and to watch my patients grow, learn, and return to their normal daily lives”.
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