Kristi Edgar, PT, DPT has joined us! She will be working with patients at both our La Pine and Sunriver clinics and this NY native has, like so many of us, quickly fallen in love with Central Oregon! Please help us extend a very warm welcome to this chemist turned physical therapist and read below for insight to what makes this gal such as awesome addition to our team!
1. Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Ithaca, NY, in upstate NY, known for its waterfalls, Cornell University, Cayuga Lake, Finger Lakes wine, and the slogan “Ithaca is Gorges.”
2. Favorite place to visit?
I love to travel and jump at the chance to go almost anywhere. This past year, I traveled to Santorini, Greece, which was absolutely amazing and probably my favorite destination so far.
3. Motivational quote/saying or advice?
I have always liked the quote “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” from Dolly Parton. I am a firm believer that it may take a long time and a lot of effort, but we are all capable of making both big and little changes to improve our lives.
4. Dogs or cats?
I’m definitely a dog person. There is a goofy side to dogs that you just don’t usually get with cats and I love that a dog can be an adventure buddy. I used to love hiking in the Colorado mountains with my German Shepherd, Jax.
5. What made you decide to take the PT route?
I was originally a chemist. I started working in a university lab toward the end of high school and continued through my undergraduate career. During an internship at a large pharmaceutical company, I took a hard look at my life and realized that I was on the wrong path. I wanted to work with people in a productive, rather than competitive way, and made a list of everything I wanted in a job. I then matched a job to the list and that is how I landed on PT!
6. If you could be a professional in another type of career what would it be?
I feel like I already tried another career and Physical Therapy is the right one for me.
7. What famous person would you choose to have at your thanksgiving table, (currently alive or not ☺)?
I would pick Lin-Manuel Miranda. My mom and I used to go to New York City together every year while I was growing up and would always go to a show. We went to an Off-Broadway performance of “In the Heights”, back before anyone knew who he was before he created “Hamilton”. It changed my perspective on what musical theater could be.
8. Best book you have ever read?
My favorite fiction novel is definitely The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas, because it has almost everything you could want in a novel. I’ve also developed a love of audiobooks over the last five years and have a long list that I plan to listen to on my commute.
9. Craziest diagnosis you have ever worked on?
I have learned that diagnosis alone doesn’t indicate how complicated the case will be or what twists and turns the patient and I will face as we work together. Working in a rural area, also frequently resulted in some crazy situations. But, I would say a case that had a lot of unexpected directions directly related to the diagnosis was that of a younger patient with Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome. This patient was having issues with subluxation and dislocation of multiple joints on a nearly daily basis.
10. Anything else?
Fun fact: I once beat Chance the Rapper in a game of rock, paper, scissors.
