Meet the Therapy Team

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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

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

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

Marcia Passman, PT
Education: Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, Indiana University
Areas of Focus: Orthopedics

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

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