meet Dr. jeremy:

pronouns: HE/HIM/HIS

HEY THERE! I’M JEREMY. i’m a DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINER, CERTIFIED STRENGTH & CONDITIONING SPECIALIST, COACH, TEACHER, AND CONSULTANT. MY OBJECTIVE IS TO BE A RESOURCE FOR ATHLETES RECOVERING from surgery, DEALING WITH PAIN OR INJURY, AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SPECIFIC performance GOALS IN MIND.

Chances are, if you’re reading this then you likely identify as an athlete. If you’ve been an athlete for any amount of time, then you understand that sport very often mimics life; complete with all the emotional, physical, and social ups and downs. You’ve also likely encountered an injury that is keeping you from fully engaging in the thing(s) you love. That’s where I come in.

Much like a coach, my role as a doctor of physical therapy is to guide and provide outside perspective unique to your situation to help you navigate this challenging and arduous recovery process so that you can do the things that make you feel like you.

I offer evidence-based guidance aimed to help YOU make informed decisions that allow you to consistently and systematically take steps towards fully participating in athletic endeavors and life.

So why do I care about serving athletes and active individuals? Because I personally understand what it’s like to have an identity crisis due to something heatlh-related.

As a high school junior, I was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis. I lost roughly 40 pounds in the span of about 1.5 months. It took hospitalization and more prednisone than I care to admit to get to a point that would allow me to even get out of bed. This put me in a position where I was unable to play my senior year of high school football. For someone whose identity was pretty tied to sports at the time, this was pretty devastating.

Over the next 10 years, I was prescribed every available medication for Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis under the sun. I would experience periods of remission, and then go into a significant flare every few years. I would lose a drastic amount of weight, be unable to eat, and unable to engage socially. It felt like I was on a perpetual yo-yo between feeling “healthy” and being absolutely unable to feel remotely like a normal human.

This is when strength training became my refuge. UC and Crohn’s have a pretty amazing ability to induce chronic fatigue, which makes participating in physical activity and life in general quite difficult. Naturally, I found the mode of physical activity that seemed to be enjoyable and most beneficial to me at the time in strength training. Each time I would flare and lose a ton of weight, I would slowly make my way back into the weight room and start gradually training again. My appetite would slowly return, and I would gradually put back on the muscle that I had lost.

This cycle went on until halfway through my doctor of physical therapy education, when I developed antibodies to the medication I was on at the time and ultimately had my colon removed and a J-pouch created. This really made me realize how strength & conditioning was an important piece of not only managing my disease, but allowing me to live the life I wanted to live. I wanted to play sports recreationally. I wanted to go on hikes, kayak, bike rides, and fishing trips. I wanted to eventually play with my kids and teach them that physical wellness and health is important. I realized that my “rehab” was my training, and that it would ultimately allow me to be the best version of me, despite the obstacles I face.

So that’s why I love working with athletes facing challenging injuries. I see a bit of myself in you. I understand that this seemingly insurmountable obstacle is currently preventing you from being the fullest version of you. I want to be the guide I wish I had during difficult times. I want to show you that rehab can be fun and challenging at the same time. I want to show you that it’s safe and highly encouraged to lift heavy, run fast, and train hard in order to get back to doing the things that you love.

You’re more capable and adaptable than you realize.

You deserve to work with someone who believes in you.

Everyone needs to know that if you have a body, you’re an athlete.

So if you’re looking for a space to be truly heard and understood in your sports rehab journey, I hope that Fortitude can be that for you. My goal is for everybody that chooses to work with me is to feel empowered to be your best self.

Let me know when you’re ready to get started, I’ll be here with you every step of the way.

In strength,

Jeremy