Meet the Therapy Team
At Merit Health Natchez, our team of therapists combine years of knowledge and experience from a variety of practice settings to work as one cohesive rehabilitation team, able to care for each of our patients.
Director, Therapy Services
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Michelle Kaiser, PT
Education: Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Associate Bachelor of Arts, University of Mississippi
Areas of Focus: Orthopedics, pediatrics, managing therapeutic treatment of COVID-19 rehab patients
Occupational Therapy
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Allison Arrington, OTD, OTR/L
Education: Doctorate of Science in Occupational Therapy, Rocky Mountain University; Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Alabama State University; Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Mississippi State University
Areas of Focus: Acute care, geriatrics, transitional care
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Gabriel Bass, OTR/L
Education: Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, University of Louisiana Monroe
Areas of Focus: Pediatrics
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Naydza Muhammad, LOTR, CLT
Education: Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, Louisiana State University School of Allied Health
Certifications: Certified Lymphedema Therapist, Certified Kinesio Tape Technician
Areas of Focus: Lymphedema, hands, wrists, repetitive use/stress injuries, elbows, shoulders, burns, wounds, kinesio taping, axillary web syndrome
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Jessica Smith, OTR/L, LPTA
Education: Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Belmont University; Bachelor of Healthcare Policy and Administration, University of Southern Mississippi; Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant, Hinds Community College
Areas of Focus: Orthopedics, hands, shoulders, neurological disorders
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Katie Womack, COTA/L
Education: Associate of Applied Science, Pearl River Community College
Certifications: Board certified through American Occupational Therapy Association
Areas of Focus: Pediatrics; Handwriting; Geriatrics; Disorders, including Parkinson ’s disease, neurological disorders, orthopedic injuries and CVA rehabilitation
Occupational Therapy Assistants
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Amber Graves, COTA/L
Education: Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistance, University of Louisiana Monroe
Areas of Focus: Pediatrics, geriatrics, COVID-19 rehab, acute care
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Sonni Rasco, COTA/L
Education: Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistance, University of Louisiana Monroe
Areas of Focus: Neurological disorders, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, orthopedic injuries, acute care, transitional care
Physical Therapy
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Jack Aubic, DPT
Education: Doctorate of Physical Therapy, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Bachelor of Science in Clinical Exercise Physiology, Mississippi State University
Areas of Focus: Orthopedics
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Craig Bertelsen, PT
Education: Bachelor of Science with Marine Biology Emphasis and Minor in Chemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, University Mississippi Medical Center
Certifications: Certified Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment of Spine and Joints (MDT) through McKenzie Institute, USA
Areas of Focus: Spine, orthopedics, sports medicine
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Karl Edwards, RPT
Education: Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, University Mississippi Medical Center
Areas of Focus: Orthopedics, sports medicine, acute care, COVID-19 rehab
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Beth Gillespie, DPT
Education: Doctorate of Physical Therapy, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University
Areas of Focus: Geriatrics, acute care, inpatient rehab, stroke rehab
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DeShaun Jackson, DPT
Education: Doctorate of Physical Therapy, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, University Mississippi Medical Center, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Alcorn State University
Certifications: Certified in Functional Dry Needling
Areas of Focus: Orthopedics, sports medicine, geriatrics
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Michelle Kaiser, PT, Director of Therapy Services
Education: Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Associate Bachelor of Arts, University of Mississippi
Areas of Focus: Orthopedics, pediatrics, managing therapeutic treatment of COVID-19 rehab patients
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Caleb Walker, DPT
Education: Doctorate of Physical Therapy, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Bachelor of Exercise Science, University of Southern Mississippi
Areas of Focus: Sports medicine, nutrition, orthopedics
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Tracy Walker, PT
Education: Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Southern Mississippi
Areas of Focus: Orthopedics, geriatrics, total knee replacements
Physical Therapy Assistant
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Rachel Nelson, PTA
Education: Associate of Science in Physical Therapy Assistance, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University
Areas of Focus: Geriatrics, inpatient rehab, acute care, COVID-19 rehab
Speech Therapy
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Leigh Anne Bertelsen, MS, CCC-SLP
Education: Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, University of Southern Mississippi, Bachelor of Science in Speech Language Pathology, University of Southern Mississippi
Certifications: Deep Pharyngeal Neuromuscular Stimulation (DPNS), Vital Stimulation
Areas of Focus: Rehab, pediatrics
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Kate Ellard, M.S., CCC-SLP
Education: Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, Mississippi University for Women; Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, Mississippi University for Women; Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Mississippi State University
Certifications: Dementia Specialty
Areas of Focus: Pediatric and adult language acquisition and usage; Cognitive retraining; Articulation; Language and speech and cognitive – Stroke; and stuttering
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Amy James, MS., CCC-SLP
Education: Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, Bachelor of Arts, University of Mississippi
Certifications: Vital Stimulation
Areas of Focus: Dysphagia, geriatrics, pediatrics
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Monica Mayo, MS, CCC-SLP
Education: Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology, University of Southern Mississippi, Bachelor of Science in Speech Language Pathology, University of Southern Mississippi
Areas of Focus: Early language speech acquisition, language and articulation treatment
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Katie Smith, M.S.,CCC-SLP
Education: Master of Communication Disorders, University of Louisiana at Monroe; Bachelor of Pre Professional Speech-Language Pathology, Louisiana Tech University
Certifications: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association certificate of clinical competence, and Vital Stim certified
Areas of Focus: Geriatrics; Dysphagia; CVA rehabilitation; and Cognitive rehab