Meet the Therapy Team

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At Merit Health Natchez, the 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 patient.

Director, Therapy Services

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

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

Gabriel Bass, OTR/L
Education: Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, University of Louisiana Monroe
Areas of Focus: Pediatrics

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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/speech/cognitive – stroke, stuttering

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

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

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