Meet Our Physical Therapy Team
The Sheridan VA Health Care System physical therapy team has a combined 135 years of experience and we're proud to have the best to serve our Veterans. We asked them to share a little about themselves in honor of Physical Therapy Month.
Steve Bollenbacher
Steve has been a physical therapist for 10 years. He became interested in physical therapy while attending appointments with his father, a Vietnam Vet, who was a below knee amputee. Steve observed the benefits that physical therapy had for his father, prompting him to pursue the field and help others. Steve has worked for the VA for 3 months, in the Casper VA Clinic, and finds helping those that served our country very rewarding.
Steve’s Exercise Advice: Stay Active
Steve’s Favorite Quote: Do your Best!
Dagan Green
Dagan, a physical therapist for 22 years, became interested in the field when he injured his knee playing football in high school. During this injury he went through a stent of physical therapy and became intrigued by the body and how it recovered from injury. Dagan loves working with/for the veterans. He feels obligated to provide excellent service to those who have sacrificed so much for us as a nation.
Dagan’s Exercise Advice: Participate in an active lifestyle, as exercise is crucial to our physical, mental, emotional, and social wellbeing. I encourage people to get outdoors, be active and enjoy what you love to do.
Dagan’s Favorite Quote: I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Joe Hegy
Joe has been a physical therapist for 30 years. He was exposed to physical therapy through his mother who thought he would like it. This prompted him to volunteer, allowing him to observe what physical therapy was all about, and the rest is history. Joe enjoys working for the Sheridan VA because he loves working with Veterans and being able to treat the WHOLE Veteran as determined together.
Joe’s Exercise Advice: Everybody needs an Exercise Plan
Joe’s Favorite Quote: A body in motion stays in motion and a body at rest goes to rest.
Joey Killian
Joey has been a physical therapist for 31 years. Joey became interested in physical therapy at a young age. He says his mom was a CEO at a rehabilitation hospital and he got to know the staff which sparked his interest in physical therapy. Joey states his favorite part of his short tenure at the VA is the staff he works with.
Joey’s Exercise Advice: When the aliens come they will eat the fat ones first.
Joey’s Favorite Quote: “Quiet--you're bothering me.”
Amie Thayer
Amie has been a physical therapy assistant for 25 years. She became interested in the field of physical therapy when she observed physical therapy for her father and brother's knee surgeries at a young age. Amie enjoys working at the Sheridan VA as she sees how appreciative the Veterans are of the care she is providing.
Amie’s Exercise Advice: Keep Moving
Amie’s Favorite Quote: Not my pasture not my B.S.
Kenzie Watkins
Kenzie has been a physical therapist for two years. She states she has always had a love for health, science, and fitness. She decided to pursue a career in physical therapy following shadowing a physical therapy clinic during her senior year of high school and fell in love with the profession. Kenzie enjoys working at the Sheridan VA as she loves her team (work family) and the overall work environment, and to serve those who have/are serving our country.
Kenzie’s Exercise Advice: Movement Is medicine and moderation is Key!
Kenzie’s Favorite Quote: Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress, Don’t strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt.
Bret Zowada
A physical therapist for 15 years, Bret became interested in physical therapy when he sustained a knee injury in high school that required surgery. Once he was able to rehabilitate from his injury and return to play high school and college sports, he knew wanted to be able to provide a service that returns people what they consider to be a quality of life. Working for the VA has been rewarding to Bret, because he enjoys being able to provide a service to those who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms.
Bret’s Exercise Advice: Movement is Magic! Be active everyday with something you enjoy!
Bret’s Favorite Quote: Perseverance--It’s what distinguishes the strong from the weak.