Theresa Kelly-Mitchell, DPT, MPH

Physical Therapy

Biography

Education:

Eastern Washington University, Washington
-Bachelor of Arts, Theatre
Peralta Community College District, 
-Associate of Science, Natural Science
University of Montana, Montana – Dual Program 
-Master of Science, Public Healthy
-Doctorate of Physical Therapy
Evidence in Motion in partnership with Purdue University
-Certified Therapeutic Pain Specialist

Theresa graduated from the University of Montana in 2020 and decided to pursue a career at St. Luke after her classmate did a rotation at the PT Department and highly recommended applying. A native of Great Falls, Theresa has an innate appreciation of the beauty of Montana and the people who live here. Theresa is an Experienced Yoga Instructor and sees a great deal of cross-over from that practice to her current career. She regularly utilizes several of those practices, applying them to her work as a Physical Therapist.

Theresa’s passion lies in chronic pain management, community-driven health, and applying pain neuroscience education to strategies for more fulfilling lifestyles for her patients. She loves the rural setting and had an opportunity to work in Borneo where she witnessed first-hand the challenges rural populations face in managing their health. Doctors and hospitals can be far away and medication may be too expensive. She feels these problems translate into nearly all rural areas, which is why she was interested in working in a more rural community setting in her home state. Her biggest goal is to help educate the surrounding community, as that is often the first step in mitigating the other barriers to better health.

When she’s not working, you can find Theresa spending time with her family. She has 2 young daughters and her husband is an Active Duty Service member in the Navy. Theresa admits it took her a bit longer to settle into her career path, but she wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. “I had a goal to graduate with my Doctorate before I turned 35 and I graduated the day before my birthday! It’s never too late to pursue your goals.” Theresa says she “feels like she’s where she’s supposed to be” and the team at St. Luke feels the same!