Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Ross.
Laura, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been a practicing Pelvic Health Physical Therapist since 2020 and moved to Decatur in August 2022 to work at Kemper Pelvic Physio. Prior to that, I was a professional oboist for about ten years playing in symphonies, operas, ballets, recording studios and more in Nashville, TN. I started to do CrossFit for my own fitness in 2013 and then got into coaching. From there I realized that I was having more fun coaching than playing and one day I decided that I wanted to go back to PT school. I attended PT school at Northwestern University in Chicago. Once in school, I was exposed to what was then called “Women’s Health” as a specialty in Physical Therapy and I was fascinated. Even during my second year of PT school, I planned to go into the Pelvic Health Specialty (so named to be more inclusive). My special interests as a PT are inclusive care for all genders, sexual health, pelvic pain and the intersection of pelvic health and athletic performance. I am able to bring aspects of myself and my story to my patients, whether that is my training background, musical background or being able to connect with patients through my queer identity. I treat cisgender men and women, transgender men and women as well as nonbinary folks. Inclusivity is my highest value as a person and a clinician and that informs all areas of my practice.
In my free time, I like to lift weights, cook, read and spend time in nature. I also have started to do a little coaching at the Atlanta Women’s Barbell Club.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I started my PT career during the pandemic and that was definitely a challenging time to begin. I learned to communicate with patients even with a mask on and have tried my best to create a safe environment for patients.
I don’t consider a career change an obstacle or challenge but an opportunity to explore new things about myself. I went back to school at age 35 and most of my classmates were more than 10 years younger than me. I had to adapt to a digital style of learning and adopt an attitude of humility. It was an amazing growth opportunity to go from being an expert in one field to a complete novice in another.
I have been very fortunate to have great mentors and colleagues in my PT and Pelvic Health Journey. I think that has helped smooth some of the struggles involved in building a new career.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Pelvic Health Physical Therapist. One of the cool things about Atlanta is that there are SO MANY of us. That is a good thing for the citizens of the Atlanta Metro and I have been so impressed by the supportive nature of the Pelvic Health PT community here. What’s also great about that is that you can find someone who really works well for YOU as an individual.
So, what is a Pelvic PT?? A Pelvic Health Physical Therapist is an orthopedic physical therapist with additional specialized training with respect to conditions that commonly affect the abdomen and pelvis such as urinary and fecal incontinence, constipation, pelvic pain (painful sexual activity, pain with sitting, pain in the pelvis, genitals or perineum), tailbone pain, pelvic organ prolapse, post-prostatectomy, post-hysterectomy or abdominoplasty, pregnancy/postpartum concerns, persistent groin, hip or back pain, pre/post gender-affirming surgery. We combine manual therapy, exercise and education to help patients.
My goal as a PT is to walk with you through any challenges and help to come up with a way forward together. A few things that are unique about me as a provider are that I work with all genders of folks. I work with cisgender women, but I also have specialized training in treatment of cisgender men as well as trans and non-binary folks. Sexual health is also an important part of my practice, especially acknowledging the diversity and intersectionality of sexual experience and sexuality. Through this lens, I am able to help patients rediscover pleasure and fulfillment in their sexual health. In addition, I have a training and coaching background so if someone is interested in getting back to a high-level activity like weightlifting, CrossFit, running marathons, sports or even getting back to HIIT class, I can help. Our practice at Kemper Pelvic Physio is unique in that all three PTs share common values of inclusivity and treatment of all genders, but we each bring special skills so we can fit the patient to the best one for their care.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Kindness matters to me. I try to practice kindness to myself and others above all else. Kindness then turns into compassion and curiosity. I want to know more about myself, my patients, my communities and the world around me. With kindness, compassion and curiosity I try to meet folks where they are.
My highest value is inclusivity. I think daily about the Lilla Watson quote, “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up in mine, then let us work together.” I am a cisgender white woman with considerable privilege, but my liberation is bound up in that of others. Therefore is it important for me to be actively anti-racist and on the side of those most marginalized in society.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kemperpt.com
- Instagram: @drlauraross
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCELVdH69aaIDpxHs6psZ2lQ (Kemper Pelvic Physio You Tube)
Image Credits
Jill Case for all but the barbell photo.
