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                      • Merit Health Natchez Delivering Quality Care and More to the Miss-Lou Region

                        04.16.2025

                      • Merit Health Natchez Jars of Love Peanut Drive a Huge Success

                        03.27.2025

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                      Meet the Therapy Team


                      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

                      Kaiser
                      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

                      Arrington
                      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

                      bass
                      Gabriel Bass, OTR/L

                      Education: Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, University of Louisiana Monroe
                      Areas of Focus: Pediatrics

                      muhammad
                      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

                      smith
                      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

                      womack
                      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

                      graves
                      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

                      rasco
                      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

                      aubic
                      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

                      bertelsen
                      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

                      edwards
                      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

                      gillespie
                      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

                      jackson
                      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

                      Kaiser
                      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

                      walker
                      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

                      walker
                      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

                      nelson
                      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

                      bertelsen
                      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

                      ellard
                      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

                      james
                      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

                      mayo
                      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

                      smith
                      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

                      Merit Health Natchez

                      • 54 Seargent Prentiss Dr
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