Shriners Children's St. Louis Rehabilitation Therapy
Our Team is Ready to Serve Your Family
The rehabilitation services team shares one focus: children.
That focus dictates every piece of a patient's treatment plan. Children learn most efficiently and work hardest when they play. Our therapists incorporate play into every exercise and functional activity to distract the child from the hard work needed to be successful at physical and occupational therapy.
Physical Therapy
Our physical therapists specialize in treating a variety of acute and chronic conditions impacting children and young adults. They serve children with developmental delays, scoliosis, sports injuries, and conditions of the legs and feet. The therapists create treatment plans to support gross motor skill acquisition, flexibility, strength, return to sports, prosthetic training and post-operative recovery.
Our team will create a custom treatment plan for your child, using a multidisciplinary approach.
Diagnoses include arthrogryposis, cerebral palsy, limb deficiency, torticollis, neuromuscular disorders, developmental delay (gross motor and fine motor) and many more.
The Shriners Children's St. Louis physical therapy team also specializes in Scoliosis Specific Exercise - a non-traditional 3-D treatment approach for scoliosis. Our SSE program focuses on educating patients about body awareness while using physical therapy exercise and stretching, with a goal of creating stability around their corrected posture. The program empowers patients by providing them with an active role in their treatment.
Occupational Therapy
Our occupational therapists work closely with patients and families to evaluate and create individualized treatment plans to help patients acquire fine motor skills, and improve independence with activities of daily living, including dressing and bathing. They provide education in self-care and recommend equipment aides, as needed, for patient independence. The team of occupational therapists work in collaboration with the surgeons, prosthetists and other medical professionals to ensure successful improvements in function and established patient goals.
Beyond Clinical Care
Outside of the clinical setting, this group of occupational and physical therapists organizes specialty camps to encourage the social and emotional development of children who share similar orthopedic needs and to support parents with additional resources and networking groups.
Shriners changed our outlook on what pediatric medical care could look like: It doesn't have to be intimidating.
Donna Griffin, PT, D.P.T., PCS, has served children with pediatric orthopedic conditions for more than 30 years. She earned her doctor of physical therapy degree in pediatric science at Rocky Mountain University after attaining her undergraduate degree in physical therapy from St. Louis University. She is an APTA board-certified clinical specialist in pediatric physical therapy. Her expertise includes the evaluation and treatment of complex orthopedic and neurologic conditions, rare metabolic bone disease, and limb reconstruction and lengthening.
Donna leads the rehabilitation therapy team at Shriners Children’s St. Louis.
Her heart for children knows no borders. She regularly volunteers for international mission care with her hospital colleagues.
“Working at Shriners has allowed me to pair my passion for pediatrics with an awesome mission that provides specialty care to children and teens – to help them achieve their functional goals and dreams!”
Jody Barlow, MPT, earned her master’s degree in physical therapy from Saint Louis University. Her expertise includes working with children with a variety of neurologic and orthopedic conditions to include sports injuries, prosthetics training and childhood development.
Jody also serves teens and preteens with scoliosis who can benefit from scoliosis specific exercise (SSE). Through a series of exercises and breathing techniques, SSE can help patients improve posture in day-to-day life.
“Being a pediatric therapist is such a rewarding career, it is truly amazing to see the look in a child’s face when they accomplish the goals that they work so hard to achieve.”
Michelle Burke, OTR/L, has spent many years serving children with orthopedic needs. She earned her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Saint Louis University. She’s passionate about her patients and their families.
Michelle’s focus includes the evaluation and treatment of children with congenital and acquired upper extremity/hand differences including radial, ulnar and central deficiencies, syndactyly and amniotic band syndrome. Other common diagnoses she treats include cerebral palsy, brachial plexus birth injury, arthrogryposis and generalized developmental delay.
She also has years of experience in the fabrication of custom orthotics, or serial casting, for immobilization, protection or functional positioning of the upper extremity.
She was instrumental in establishing an annual camp in 2008 for patients of Shriners Children’s with upper extremity limb differences, and continues to implement ShrineABILITY Camp today. Michelle has also traveled internationally with our upper extremity surgeons to evaluate and treat children in underserved countries.
“I continue to grow and learn from my patients daily. Their resilience and determination inspires me to be a better therapist and person in the community.”
Michelle Cohen, MOT/ OTR/L, is a compassionate occupational therapist who works closely with patients and families to create treatment plans that help achieve goals. She earned her master’s degree from Maryville University in St. Louis.
Michelle’s focus includes the evaluation and treatment of congenital and acquired upper extremity and hand differences. Those conditions include radial, ulnar and central deficiency; cerebral palsy, fractures, amputations, arthrogryposis, brachial plexus injuries and developmental delay. She is experienced in the fabrication of custom orthotics, prosthetic training and functional adaptations.
She organizes and executes the hospital’s annual camp for patients with upper extremity differences and their families. SHRINEAbility Camp is an amazing opportunity for patients with upper limb differences to meet other kids with similar appearances and learn from older patients in a fun and collaborative environment.
“I am honored that I have the opportunity to serve such a diverse community of pediatric patients and families at Shriners Children’s. The enthusiasm and excitement of children is infectious throughout our hospital as they learn and master new skills!”
Katie Jaschek, PT, D.P.T., earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Maryville University. Her focuses are children with torticollis, developmental delay, scoliosis and orthopedic needs. In addition, she has training in Graston Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Technique to improve tissue dysfunction following surgery or injury.
Katie also serves teens and pre-teens with scoliosis who can benefit from scoliosis specific exercise (SSE). Through a series of exercises and breathing techniques, SSE can help patients improve posture in day-to-day life.
“I love helping kids unleash their full potential and watching them achieve things beyond their wildest dreams. Watching them rise above their limitations inspires me each and every day.”
Abby Marcouiller, PT, is a dedicated physical therapist with more than three decades of experience. Abby’s areas of focus include early childhood development and serving patients with complex neurological and orthopedic conditions. She also has expertise in treating patients with leg length discrepancies and deformities.
She earned her physical therapy degree from Rockhurst University.
Erica Morrison, MPT, has served as a physical therapist for many years. She earned her Master of Physical Therapy from Washington University.
Erica has spent the majority of her career at Shriners Children's working with children with limb deficiencies and angular deformities, and teaching children how to become comfortable with the use of their new prostheses. Her expertise also includes the evaluation and treatment of young children who are struggling to meet their gross motor milestones.
Tracy Przysbylski, PT, is a physical therapist with 30 years of experience. Her expertise includes the evaluation and treatment of patients in limb reconstruction and lengthening. She also serves children with complex pediatric orthopedic and neurological conditions.
Tracy cares deeply about her patients and about all children with orthopedic conditions. She regularly travels to serve children through international mission care.
She earned her physical therapy degree from Saint Louis University.
Molly Soto, D.P.T., earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Toledo. Her interest and focus include serving children with developmental delay and orthopedic concerns. She has experience with complex neurological conditions as well as limb deformity and reconstruction.
“I love being a pediatric physical therapist. Mixing hard work and play creates a fun environment to meet goals and improve function.”
