Physical therapist Tami Weber, PT likes to be moving.
As Rebound’s Prineville Clinic Manager, Weber spends a large part of her workdays on her feet treating patients. “I love that about this job,” she said.
On the weekends, Weber prefers hiking, traveling and kayaking to sitting on the couch. Since May, she has participated virtually in three community fundraisers: the Prineville Paddy Pint, Heaven Can Wait, and — most recently — Relay for Life Crook County.
Relay for Life is an annual community-based fundraising walk for the American Cancer Society. The event is traditionally held for 24 hours at a track or fairgrounds where members of each team take turns walking laps. This year, participants sent up tents in neighborhoods throughout Prineville to allow for social distancing due to COVID-19 concerns.
The July 25th event marked Weber’s sixth year organizing a Rebound team (this year there were two), which collectively raised $7,500 in community donations. “I’m proud that we were able to contribute,” said Weber, who is a breast cancer survivor herself.
Participating in local athletic and fundraising events is one way Weber said she stays connected to the Prineville community. Her role as a therapist is another point of connection.
A Prineville resident, Weber has spent the last 16 of her 26-year career as a PT at Rebound’s Prineville clinic. Prineville’s small-town atmosphere lends itself to building relationships, said Weber, who raised her two daughters in the area.
“We care for and encourage each other,” she explained of the town. As a clinic, “we support the community but the community also supports us – it’s a give-give relationship.”
Tami Weber, PT also looks to her colleagues for professional support. “We have so many wonderful specialists and so much knowledge to draw from within Rebound.”
Physical therapists are continually learning, as the science and techniques surrounding physical therapy evolve, she said. “It’s always changing and making your brain work, which we all need to not get stagnant.”
