Our Staff: Norman Clinic

The physical therapists at Physical Therapy Central all have advanced physical therapy degrees at either the Master's or Doctorate level. This allows the therapists to provide efficient and effective treatment outcomes for the patients. Each member of the staff completes a minimum of 40 continuing education hours per year to stay at the top of their field.

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Bridgit grew up in Oklahoma City with her two brothers and attended Casady high school where she lettered in basketball, volleyball and softball. She moved south to continue her education at Baylor University. Bridgit received an undergraduate and graduate degree in Exercise Physiology from Baylor University in 1988 and a B.S. in physical therapy from The University of Oklahoma in 1994. In March of 2005, she graduated from A.T. Stills with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. In December 2009, she completed the Executive Management Course with Evidence in Motion.

Bridgit is an APTA credentialed clinical instructor and works with students from all over the country. In 2009, Bridgit was awarded the prestigious Signe Brunstrom Award for excellence in clinical teaching by the American Physical Therapy Association. She has received the outstand clinical instructor award from Oklahoma City Community College, University of Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma Physical Therapy Association.

Bridgit is certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and specializes in Manual Therapy, Orthopedics and Spinal Dysfunction. She is actively involved in the APTA and OPTA since 1994. She is currently a member of the orthopedic and manual therapy section of the APTA. Bridgit is working toward a manual therapy certification through the North American Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy (NAIOMT) where she has successfully completed Levels I and II. Her goal is to be certified in Orthopedic manual therapy by 2011. She is a lifelong learner and continues to gain new skills to help her patients get Back to Work, Back to Play and Back to Life.

Bridgit resides in Norman and is interested include combining healthy eating with gourmet cooking, walking her dogs and cycling. She loves to travel and spend time with her friends. She is on a vision quest to find the perfect cup of coffee.

The staff of Physical Therapy Central would like you to know that we are compassionate professionals who are committed to achieving your personal goals. Please feel free to contact Bridgit with any questions at bfinley@ptcentral.org (405) 579-1600.

Casey was born and raised in the mountains of Southeastern Oklahoma. He attended the small high school of Buffalo Valley where he enjoyed success in baseball, basketball and competitive speech and debate among other activities.

Casey attended two years of junior college while playing baseball. He then transferred to the University of Oklahoma where he completed a Bachelors of Science degree in Health and Sport Science from the University of Oklahoma in 2005. He earned a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Langston University in 2009 where he also received the clinical education excellence award. The award is presented to the student with the highest ratings in the clinical education courses and the clinical education seminar courses throughout the program.

Casey's interests are in orthopedics, sports physical therapy, spinal dysfunction, manual therapy and sports conditioning. He is currently pursuing prerequisites for becoming a board certified orthopedic clinical specialist. Casey has been an active member of the APTA/OPTA and an orthopedic section member since 2006. Casey has been a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT) since 2005.

Casey is currently co-conducting evidenced based physical therapy research in coordination with Langston University and Physical Therapy Central, Inc. The study focuses on physical therapy patients' understanding of written health related information. The study will be presented for publication in December, 2010.

When he is not at work, Casey enjoys spending time with his wife Heather, son Briar and his new baby son Bodee. He also enjoys cheering on the Sooners, cycling, snowboarding, water sports, working with his horses, hunting and fishing. If it has to do with the outdoors he's game!

The staff of Physical Therapy Central would like you to know that we are compassionate professionals who are committed to achieving your personal goals. Please feel free to contact Casey with any questions at ckirkes@ptcentral.org (405) 579-1600.

Elizabeth grew up in Yukon, Oklahoma with her parents and younger sister. She was involved in gymnastics and cheerleading when she was younger. She attended Yukon High School and was a cheerleader for the Millers. After high school, she attended the University of Oklahoma and went on to cheer for the OU Sooners from 2002-2004. Elizabeth also worked as a physical therapy technician during college and this was when she felt a calling to go into Physical Therapy as a profession. After completing her Bachelors of Science degree in Health Studies, she was accepted into OU's physical therapy program. Elizabeth received her Master of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 2008.

While in PT school, Elizabeth was awarded the Oklahoma Physical Therapy Association W.K. West Scholarship in 2007 and also received the Elam-Plowman Physical Therapy Scholarship in both 2007 and 2008. The scholarships were based on academic excellence and GPA. Elizabeth had several clinical affiliations in outpatient orthopedic settings which emphasized exercise progression as well as manual and manipulative therapy. She worked with orthopedic surgeons for the first two years after graduating and has extensive experience in the area of sports medicine and post surgical rehabilitation.

Elizabeth is currently an active member of both the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and Oklahoma Physical Therapy Association (OPTA). Her interests include orthopedics, manual therapy and spinal dysfunctions. Continuing the program of excellence in education demonstrated by other Physical Therapy Central therapists, Elizabeth is interested in returning to school to earn her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. She will also pursue manual therapy certifications in order to broaden her ability to effectively evaluate and treat orthopedic patients.

Elizabeth resides in Norman, OK with her dog, Max. Max is quite the handful and has been known to jump into stranger's cars and run into neighbor's front doors if he gets the chance. Elizabeth is engaged to be married in August of 2010. Her fiancé owns and operates a local recording studio and is very involved in the music scene in Norman. Elizabeth and her fiancé enjoy traveling, doing anything outside and cheering on the OU Sooners.

The staff of Physical Therapy Central would like you to know that we are compassionate professionals who are committed to achieving your personal goals. Please feel free to contact Elizabeth with any questions at eevans@ptcentral.org (405) 579-1600.

Jake grew up in Edmond, OK with his younger siblings and graduated from Edmond Santa Fe High School. During high school he found his passion for extreme sports such as motocross and wakeboarding. He attended the University of Oklahoma and achieved his Bachelors of Science degree in Health studies in 2005. In 2007 he earned his Masters in Physical Therapy from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and was on the Dean's honor roll.

Upon graduating physical therapy school, Jake relocated to Dallas, Texas where he gained 4 years experience treating spinal and orthopaedic dysfunction. In 2008, Jake entered the North American Institute of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy (NAIOMT) program to become certified in manual/manipulative therapy. He is currently working on level III requirements as a NAIOMT fellowship student and plans to be certified by 2012. To further excel his knowledge in physical therapy Jake earned his Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) certification from the American Physical Therapy Association in 2010.

Jake has a strong passion towards manual therapy and specializes in orthopaedic spinal and extremity dysfunction. Jake has been a valued member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) since 2004. He obtained his APTA clinical instructor certification in 2009 and is currently a member of the APTA orthopaedic section.

Jake enjoys working with physical therapy students and is an avid OU fan. He spends his free time wakeboarding at the lake, running long distance, traveling with his friends and family, and enjoying life outdoors. He is engaged to get married in September 2011 and his fiancée is an elementary school teacher.

Jami completed a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2007. After graduation she moved to Dallas, Texas where she earned a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Texas Woman's University in 2011. While in physical therapy school, she was the recipient of the Jacquelyn E. Neihuss Physical Therapy Scholarship in 2009 and 2010, the Mary Bryan & Tom C. Reitch Scholarship in 2010, and The Dallas Woman's Club Scholarship in 2010 and 2011. These were awarded based on dedication to the field of physical therapy, academic achievement and community involvement. Jami presented her graduate research project at the APTA's Annual Combined Sections Meeting in 2011, which was also accepted for publication in the International Journal of Exercise Science.

To provide her patients with the best evidenced-based care, Jami has begun working toward becoming a Certified Orthopaedic Manual Therapist through the North American Institute of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy (NAIOMT). Jami's further educational pursuits include becoming a certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist and a certified clinical instructor as well as completing a fellowship in manual therapy through NAIOMT. She has been a member of the APTA and TPTA since 2008 and the OPTA since 2011. Following graduation, Jami worked as a traveling therapist in Boston, Massachusetts and Charleston, South Carolina until her PTC family called her home.

Jami became a student in the martial art of Taekwondo in 2000 at Poos Taekwondo where she earned her 1st degree black belt and a National Collegiate medal in the female lightweight division. She continues her passion for the sport by working for the USA Taekwondo Tournament Committee hosting regional, national and international tournaments around the country. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, dancing, reading, running marathons, traveling, and playing with her puppy, Jasmine.

The staff of Physical Therapy Central would like you to know that we are compassionate professionals who are committed to achieving your personal goals. Please feel free to contact Jami with any questions at jthomas@ptcentral.org (405) 579-1600.

"The back row is: Carrie Pyle, Elizabeth Evans, Susan Fain, Sara Weaver
Front: Casey Kirkes, Bridgit Finley, Jake Shockley"

Each physical therapist has received hundred of hours of training in manual therapy and spends one on one time with each patient to restore their motion, decrease their pain and get them back to their life.

Our Mission is to get you Back to Work, Back To Play, Back to Life.

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Click here for the map and directions to our Norman location and a photo tour of our clinic.