You Can Go Home Again
SUMMIT Physical Therapy seeks to encourage young people back to live and work in Claremore.
By: Carol Beck-Round | Category: Other | Issue: February 2015
SUMMIT Physical Therapy employees who graduated from Claremore High School and have returned to work at the local business include (standing, L to R): Delayna Trease, marketing director; Vicky Carriger, human resources director; Lauren Froese, PTA; Jennifer Swinney, SLP; (seated) Bret McGuire, DPT (co-owner); Matt Gray, DPT; and Kyle Stafford, DPT.
Seven employees at Claremore’s SUMMIT Physical Therapy have two things in common: they’re all Claremore High School graduates, and each feels blessed to be back living and working in their hometown.
Bret McGuire, DPT and co-owner of SUMMIT, returned to Claremore in 1992 after accepting a job offer from a friend. “I saw an opportunity to see patients from my home community and build a career working in home health and outpatient physical therapy.” A few years later, McGuire and Sean Cox saw an opportunity to impact Rogers County citizens by bringing an expanded outpatient physical therapy provision to Claremore. “This has allowed me to more directly work with area citizens and add services as needed. I love being able to practice and be actively involved in my home town.”
The idea of living and working in Claremore also appealed to Claremore grad Kyle Stafford, DPT, who came to SUMMIT for a two-month internship, which eventually led to full-time employment two years ago. “One of the things I enjoy the most about SUMMIT is spending time with the local athletes at Claremore High School, RSU, and other schools in Rogers County.”
An internship at SUMMIT Pediatrics also led to a full-time position for Jenny Swinney, SLP, who joined the practice six years ago. “I enjoyed my experience as an intern. It was apparent all of the clinicians loved their patients and worked hard to give them the best care possible.” Swinney and her husband both grew up in Claremore. “Being able to live and work in my hometown is a blessing.”
PTA Lauren Froese, a former CHS athlete, was also drawn to SUMMIT, but her career there began in the business office while she attended PTA school in Tulsa. After completing her two-year degree, she was offered a full-time position in pediatric therapies. “I’ve been with SUMMIT for seven years – four as a PTA – and I love being able to help facilitate function in Rogers County children.”
Although Matt Gray, DPT, has only been with SUMMIT for just over a month, he was drawn to return to Claremore and SUMMIT “after much prayer, talk and discussion with my wife. We wanted to be closer to family. We’re excited to be back where I grew up and I hope to be a positive impact here.”
Vicky Carriger, human resources director, began as a front office receptionist. After being promoted to billing coordinator, she eventually moved into her current position. “I love working for a company that promotes within and really values their employees. It’s wonderful to live, work and play in Claremore.”
For Marketing Director Delayna Trease, a summer internship was also the avenue leading to a full-time position at SUMMIT. “I couldn’t be happier to be a part of SUMMIT and in the community where I grew up. SUMMIT truly cares about each person walking through the door.”
SUMMIT offers rotations for clinical staff that are interested in a career at SUMMIT or for those interested in learning more about outpatient adult and pediatric therapies. “We also take a limited number of high school and technical school shadow students at our Claremore, Catoosa, and Pryor locations. We partner with NTC, CHS, TCC, and all universities offering degrees in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, physical therapy assistant, and certified occupational therapy assistant,” Trease adds.
For more information, contact
SUMMIT Physical Therapy
1071 W. Blue Starr Dr., Ste. 105Claremore, OK 74017(918) 342-3800
About Author Carol Beck-Round
After 30 years in public school education, Carol Round retired and moved from Grand Lake to Claremore, Oklahoma in 2005, where she writes a weekly faith-based column which runs in 14 Oklahoma newspapers as well as several national and international publications. Three volumes of her columns have been compiled into collections: A Matter of Faith, Faith Matters and by FAITH alone. She has also written Journaling with Jesus: How to Draw Closer to God and a companion workbook, The 40-Day Challenge. This past year she has written three children’s books, a series called Nana’s 3 Jars, to teach children about the value of giving, saving and spending money. All of Carol’s books are available through Amazon. In addition to writing her weekly column, authoring books and speaking to women’s groups, she writes for Value News. She also blogs regularly at www.carolaround.com. When she is not writing or speaking, she loves spending time with her three grandchildren, working in her flowerbeds, shooting photos, volunteering at her church or going on mission trips overseas, and hiking. She is also an avid reader and loves working crosswords and trying to solve Sudoku puzzles.
Summit Physical Therapy
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Summit Physical Therapy
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