Joe: 00:15

Welcome to another episode of the Freedom Talks podcast everybody. This is your host Joe Ogden from Fox Point. We're sitting down today with our new therapist that we've hired out in Mogwonago. Erica Harsh who's a fellow Carroll University graduate which as we've talked about in the past podcast is where I went as well. Always feel good when Carroll grads join Freedom because there's not enough of us.

Joe: 00:38

I think Carroll produces a really good therapist with their program. Erica, welcome to the podcast and welcome to Freedom actually.

Erika: 00:45

Awesome, thanks.

Joe: 00:47

Erica, let's just start. Let's just start, you know, very simple. Give us a little background on just kind of, know, where from, what got you into physical therapy?

Erika: 00:56

So I'm from Franklin, Wisconsin, so not far from any of the Freedom clinics. I actually initially started to go to school for dental hygiene, quickly realized that was not my gig, and then kind of took a step back, realized like through my, lifetime, I have really relied on physical therapy and thought that that was a good route for me, not only in myself, previous injuries like through high school, sports, things like that, as well as lots of my family. We, have used physical therapy throughout the years. I helped my grandma recover from both of her knee replacements when I was a small kid, making sure she did her home exercise program. So, I've just really, like, appreciated all of the help that physical therapists have done for me and my family throughout the years and fell in love with that idea of becoming a physical therapist myself to kind of help more and more people when they need it.

Erika: 02:08

Let's

Joe: 02:09

talk about that a little bit because I kind of forgot about that till you brought it up. Your route to PT was not traditional, right?

Erika: 02:15

Right. Right.

Joe: 02:17

Talk a little bit about that. And just like the, you know, what that process looks like, especially at Carol, right? Because it's a direct admit program. And you're married too, right?

Erika: 02:26

Yes.

Joe: 02:27

So I mean, that's a little different too, right? In PT school, like most people.

Erika: 02:30

Right.

Joe: 02:31

Are not. Kinda just talk about that transition and kinda, you know, what that looked like.

Erika: 02:35

Yeah. So I had started, like, straight after high school at Waukesha, WCTC, so kind of doing figuring out what I wanted to do and then realizing what I didn't want to do mostly. So I transferred over to Carol as a sophomore. And so I was not a part of the direct admit program, which was a big bummer to me because I was going into this like exercise science degree, not really sure if there was anything else I wanted to do with that degree if I didn't make it into PT school. So I made sure to work real hard so that I had no problems getting into PT school.

Erika: 03:24

So I applied to several and Carol really stood out to me just because they, I think, do a great job with finding clinical rotations, everything, finding things that you want to do, but also making you well rounded and experience a lot of other things. So I found that to be very helpful in my decision for where to end up for grad school, as well as, like, things that tied me down, such as relationships and animals and such like that staying in that area. So that kind of led me to all my decisions on how I went through PT school.

Joe: 04:06

Yeah. Why'd you choose freedom or how'd you find freedom?

Erika: 04:10

Yeah. So I was I love one on one patient care. My favorite clinical rotation was one on one patient care because I I personally like love creating that bond and relationship with my patient and like really getting to know them as I think that's like a big part of the healing process is that bond. So that was like one of my big, like main things that I wanted in like a job. So there were some different options.

Erika: 04:42

And then I remember through like Carol having that career fair, hearing all the good things that Freedom had to do with the community and patient care and everything like that. So Freedom really stood out to me and honestly the location out here in Mukwonago is great for me. I own a horse out here so.

Joe: 05:08

Where do you guys live out in Mukwonago?

Erika: 05:10

We don't. We actually live in Hills Corners. Oh nice Hoping to move out this way, but I board my horse out here so it's it's really great location wise. And when I came and toured during my interview, the the, like, vibe of the clinic was just exactly how I pictured, like, what my dream job would be. So

Joe: 05:32

Where are you guys at in the Hales Corners? We're not too far from there in New Berlin.

Erika: 05:35

We're, like, right behind that's Amore.

Joe: 05:39

Oh, yeah. That's my wife's that's my wife's favorite restaurant.

Erika: 05:42

Oh yeah, it smells so good every night when I come home from work.

Joe: 05:45

You guys live in the house? Yeah, yeah. Did you buy it or are you renting?

Erika: 05:50

My husband bought it like three years ago.

Joe: 05:53

Looked at a house like just up the road from there. That was our first job.

Erika: 05:57

Nice. Yeah, he he didn't. He does HVAC, so he was able to afford life a lot quicker than I was used to with grad school.

Joe: 06:08

Well, mean, just because you brought it up. I mean, I don't necessarily think him being a head to buy a house I think more so to afford the horse from what I hear. Having a horse is one of the most expensive ventures you have. Did you have a horse when you guys met or is this a shot?

Erika: 06:27

Oh yeah. Oh no. Oh no. I've had my own horse since I was like seven years old so it's not it's a part of the blood. It's not.

Joe: 06:38

Do you have like do

Erika: 06:39

you have

Joe: 06:39

a second, third job to support this hobby?

Erika: 06:43

No. I just have to live cheap in other ways.

Joe: 06:49

Let's kinda let's kinda just go back because I I talked with Jimmy about this or other if if listeners remember my interview with Jimmy, who's another Carroll grad who was in your same graduating class and was actually at the same roundtable that when you were going through the job as a student did you feel like based on what is out there and based on your clinical rotations I mean did you think that there were a lot of options with forty five minutes of one on one care as far as outpatient therapy or did you feel like there really wasn't that type of option?

Erika: 07:19

It's like if there are those options it's like very far few and in between. Like it's not a popular business model at all.

Joe: 07:28

I had been in different models before, both as a student and and as a employee. I think as as students based on your rotations and and what's available, it's really not talked about that if you want this type of model and really value the relationships with patients, it is out there. I think the other systems and that it's all business that I'm not talking bad about any different company. They kind of drown you by having so many facilities that you feel like this is your only option.

Erika: 07:59

Right.

Joe: 07:59

Which I think is a new grad and any other therapist, not just new grads, a new grad, think is very tough to go into. So we're glad to have you here. Did you interview at other places?

Erika: 08:12

I did. I interviewed at quite a few. I wanted the right fit. I actually had a job I had to get back to another place the day of my interview here, I was like, So are you for sure hiring? How is this gonna work?

Erika: 08:33

Because I would prefer to work here, but, like, I need a job at the end of the day. And so Scott, Wes, Mary, everyone was so great and, like, the process within, like, three days so that they could, like, get me an offer within like a time frame that I could get back to the other place as well.

Joe: 08:55

And when you were going through the hiring process, because I think this applies to both who the type of person Freedom hires and it also I think appeals to like just who we are as therapists right? What were some things that you were considering that you really wanted to make sure that you had not only as a new grad but just just as a therapist? Like what are some things that you value?

Erika: 09:16

Yeah, I really valued, like, just like the feel of the clinic, right? Like, it felt like home essentially, as well as mentorship. I didn't have to have a set in stone mentorship, but people that were very seasoned therapists that you got to meet with on a regular basis, which is an awesome benefit of this because here in Mogonago, we also have two very seasoned therapists that are great to bounce ideas off of and things like that. And then obviously, like a good work life balance model as well. I didn't want a place that was like, Nope, as soon as you're done for the day, notes go home like just a good like work life balance like community vibe within the clinic

Joe: 10:18

yeah I mean I think my I mean all of our locations are really good at that Mogwana goes, I think, a just a a little more of a unique category just because you guys are so far away from Yeah. The rest of us, right, just based on location. And and Wes has done a fantastic job of just getting immersed in the community there. Mauve obviously lives ten seconds from, you know, the clinic. So I think, you know, Mogwanaghu's got a much different vibe in a good way just immersed in that community.

Joe: 10:46

And just the way it's set up, right, it's a pretty intimate type setting. Yeah. So let's kinda just talk about, I know you're ramping up, right, which is always tricky as far as who you're seeing, but who what does your ideal patient look like? Like, what are some things that body parts, body regions, different specialties that interest you?

Erika: 11:06

Yeah. I really love the general, like, orthopedics. I really love, like, knee and hip patients, the typical athlete or even people like middle aged people that work out or even if they don't work out and have injuries or aches and pains that come on and just really getting people to get that connection with their body to understand what's going on and then understand that things can be fixed is one of my favorite parts of treatment. So yeah, just people that are willing to work on things and like, get like, jump into physical therapy and go with it.

Joe: 12:07

Is there any specialty that interests you right now?

Erika: 12:11

Special so in September, I am starting the first two classes to get my certification in orthopedic manual therapy. So I am excited to start with that manual specialty per se. But other than that, like

Joe: 12:34

Who's that?

Erika: 12:35

Yeah. I have treated in a rotation for whatever eight weeks. I treated vestibular a lot. So I also like feel confident and experienced with treating, like BPPV, hypofunction, different things like that, which is very rewarding thing.

Joe: 12:56

Who's the manual certification through? Aspire. Okay.

Erika: 13:01

It's like and the I'm going to Andrews University in Marion Springs, Michigan to do that.

Joe: 13:08

Is it just the two classes?

Erika: 13:10

It's six, and then a seventh time you have to go there to do your, like, exam and stuff. So it'll be two two day courses over, like, five days that I'm doing.

Joe: 13:24

Two weeks?

Erika: 13:26

No. Two two days and then a day off and then two days.

Joe: 13:30

Holy. Pretty hands on. Yeah. No pun intended, literally. Right.

Joe: 13:38

What does your case load look like right now?

Erika: 13:41

Lots of knees, to be honest. Lots and lots and lots of like either chronic knee pain, pain after having your knee replaced a year later, people coming in to like get a tune up per se, continue that strengthening that maybe wasn't gotten through the first time around. Lots of acute athlete, young athlete injuries, ankle sprains, sprains of various knee ligaments, and then some chronic like neck back pain.

Joe: 14:19

Pretty much all

Erika: 14:20

good variety.

Joe: 14:22

Let's talk a little bit just about your philosophy as a therapist. Like what are some things that you know as far as even if it's you know treatment plan tendencies or just mindset things that you like to go through, just kind of give us a little bit of overview on just like who you are as a therapist.

Erika: 14:40

Yeah. So first off, I think it's like really important that patient education is a priority at the beginning anyhow, just so that patients understand why they might be experiencing this pain or what the anatomy or pathology is, is that's a big thing that patients don't always know what their body looks like under their skin. So I think it's really important to educate them on that. And then also addressing any manual techniques that need to be done, like addressed. So if tightness or joint mobility, trigger points, anything like that, I like to spend some time doing some manual work to start off.

Erika: 15:32

And then I'm a big believer in strengthening cannot be done enough. So most patients I have will definitely have a solid home exercise program that's constantly tuned up to continue to challenge different muscles so that strength is actually being gained. So yeah.

Joe: 15:59

What were your other clinical rotations? So you had the vestibular one, what were the other three?

Erika: 16:05

I was at Aurora. I was at an outpatient sports med. PT Solutions was my last one in Franklin, and then I was at a DPT and where? And a Concentra, So workers' comp. So all outpatient and then the workers' comp.

Joe: 16:29

I do think there's a huge value to having a rotation at one of the faster paced models because once you come back to Freedom or start at Freedom, I just feel like everything slows down. Mhmm. Where forty five minutes is a lot of time compared to twenty or fifteen or thirty. Right. We're trying to balance two people at once.

Joe: 16:46

How's that transition been for you?

Erika: 16:48

It's been really it's been really great. To be honest, I feel that I have more time to critically think and fully address each patient. I don't have to constantly be bouncing back between two people to see how they're doing. And it really truly does allow me to give better patient care, believe, especially being a newer grad. I don't have the ten or five or fifteen years of experience to just have at the tip of my tongue to use.

Erika: 17:26

So it's been really a good adjustment to be able to use my brain to jump onto a different idea mid session versus just kind of like, okay, like, let's just do this and be done for today or something.

Joe: 17:45

Yeah. Yeah. I think it gives you a time just to kind of breathe and just make sure, like, what you're doing is exactly what you want to versus getting something. As a new grad. Right?

Joe: 17:53

I just think new grad is like yelling bomb on an airplane. It's such a trigger word. You will have it at some point in your career or someone if it hasn't happened yet, it's going to. When people ask, like, how much experience do you have?

Erika: 18:03

Oh, yeah.

Joe: 18:05

Right? You know, I'm a new grad. We always look at that as such a negative thing. Right? The truth of that is you have the latest and greatest of Mhmm.

Joe: 18:13

What's out there. Yes. Experience is really good. Like, there's a lot of times even me now being five years out where I'm like, alright. I've seen this enough.

Joe: 18:20

Like, everything will be fine. We just have to get through this. Whereas a new grader, okay. Jeez. Is everything going okay?

Joe: 18:26

Right? But you have the latest and greatest on what is supposed to happen as far as treatment technique, how to assess things

Erika: 18:34

Mhmm.

Joe: 18:35

How to document really because we get in a rut documentation wise, right, to get it done quick. So my big thing there is don't let anyone talk down to because you're a new grad. Give yourself more credit. That board exam is hard.

Erika: 18:48

Right?

Joe: 18:49

Yeah. That is a very hard exam to pass, especially now because isn't there a bunch of videos and stuff on it now? Oh, yeah. So don't let anyone talk down to you about being a new grad. I say that to everybody because I went through a huge growing phase that I just think you're gonna get put down by being a new grad.

Joe: 19:06

Don't let people do that to you. You have the degree. People are coming to you for help.

Erika: 19:10

Right.

Joe: 19:10

Right? You didn't go to them. Mhmm. You didn't go to them knocking on the door. Hey.

Joe: 19:15

Can I help you? I'm a new grad. I came to you for help. You you have you have the control. That's my little piece of advice.

Erika: 19:21

I love it.

Joe: 19:22

Outside of work. Right? I'm gonna assume that you don't just look at PT research twenty four seven.

Erika: 19:27

I don't know.

Joe: 19:28

And I know your horse probably takes up all your time. Your poor husband. Your poor

Erika: 19:31

Yeah.

Joe: 19:33

Just tell us a little bit like what you like to do.

Erika: 19:36

Yeah. So obviously, I like to spend time with the horse, trail ride, do all the fun things.

Joe: 19:44

And money. Money.

Erika: 19:45

Spend money. We also have a dog, an 80 pound, Great Pyrenees, German Shepherd mix dog that gets very offended if we don't spend, like, lots of quality time with her. So we play hours of fetch probably every day and walks. Other than that, like, golfing has been a big thing that I've added to my life the last two summers. So hit the range probably one to two times a week, try to hit a golf course, like, two to three times per month.

Joe: 20:22

Where do you guys like to go?

Erika: 20:25

It's a lot we've hit a lot of, like, Milwaukee County courses. So Oakwood was like by far the hardest that I've done.

Joe: 20:33

Oakwood's tough. That's a long course. Whitnall's really nice and it's in your backyard.

Erika: 20:37

Yeah. Whitnall, I haven't done it yet. That's like this month

Joe: 20:41

doing Whitnall's my favorite course in the county. Okay.

Erika: 20:45

We're doing more in a month this weekend. We did grant last weekend. So trying all the different local courses to us. It's been fun. Some lessons.

Erika: 20:57

What was that?

Joe: 20:58

Which range do you go to?

Erika: 21:00

Moreland. Moreland. Yeah, it's nice. Dollar ice cream after.

Joe: 21:06

It's a win there. Does your husband golf too?

Erika: 21:08

Yeah, he got me into it.

Joe: 21:11

Think if I went

Erika: 21:12

up for some some lessons, two lessons in, and I'm like way better than I was before.

Joe: 21:17

Was a

Erika: 21:18

softball player, so I had the whole like softball swing and and now we're we're definitely getting better.

Joe: 21:24

Did you play it, Carol?

Erika: 21:26

No. Georgia State? Yeah. I played through high school and that's it. And basketball.

Erika: 21:33

Then I had some foot surgeries and then my athletic career is kind of toast.

Joe: 21:38

What year did you graduate from Franklin?

Erika: 21:40

2018.

Joe: 21:43

And then you just graduated this year from?

Erika: 21:46

Yes, because I did the four plus three at Carroll.

Joe: 21:50

Oh, so you weren't really behind at all? I thought when we first met, you were like three or four years older than everybody. Like, were a dental hygienist first.

Erika: 21:58

No, no, no. And then

Joe: 21:59

you went back to school. That makes

Erika: 22:01

more sense. No, I just I did take a semester off my sophomore year to figure out what I was gonna do and then figured it all out.

Joe: 22:10

I mean, I always I and this is just me personally. I mean, I I think there's a huge value in finding what you don't wanna do first. Yeah. And be like, I don't like this, this, and this, but I I think I'll like Great. Going that route, which is the hypothetical.

Joe: 22:23

And you're not that far behind.

Erika: 22:25

No. No.

Joe: 22:28

How many kids were in your class? It was a small PT class. Right?

Erika: 22:33

I can't even remember. I think we were, like, in the high sixties at end.

Joe: 22:38

Yeah. So

Erika: 22:38

We had

Joe: 22:39

has been.

Erika: 22:40

Yeah. We had we had a few leave us.

Joe: 22:45

It's not for everybody.

Erika: 22:47

No.

Joe: 22:48

Besides golfing horse stuff, what are you that you showing your horse or what you like to do? No.

Erika: 22:57

I've never shown. I've always just kind of had it as a hobby. My sister's eleven years older than me. She had two horses when we were growing up, so then we would ride together. But I've taken various lessons throughout the years.

Erika: 23:11

But otherwise, it's like hitting a good trail ride, good time through the even though the Ketamorians out here, it's nice.

Joe: 23:20

Can you do that? Just go on, like, the state park and just ride your horse?

Erika: 23:25

They they have, like, specific trails for

Joe: 23:27

Oh, they do?

Erika: 23:28

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's not like, bikers can go on on, like, walkers and stuff, but they have like it's allowed for horseback riding too.

Joe: 23:36

George's name? Moe. Is that a boy or girl? It's a girl. A girl?

Erika: 23:43

Moe. Yep.

Joe: 23:47

Now as far as well, I'll skip to this part too. I always ask people in the in the interviews that I do because I think as people, our personality and our personal life meshes really well with how we treat, especially in physical therapy just because we spend so much time with people. Mhmm. What would you say is one thing or two things that motivate you to be a better human being as well as therapist?

Erika: 24:17

Oh my gosh. I didn't like this is a deep question. I just think everything can be addressed in a positive way, no matter what it is. I think having a positive attitude in life just helps me to help people have positive attitudes with their therapy. I think every day is a good day to smile.

Erika: 24:57

So I don't know. That's just what I do. Yeah. I just think it's not that hard to be a good person. And I just think, gotta be a good person in life.

Erika: 25:15

Gotta have that glass half full mentality when we're working with people. So it's a good thing to just take home with me after work, I guess.

Joe: 25:27

You don't ever get mad, do you?

Erika: 25:29

Oh, yeah. You just have to ask my husband, Jacob.

Joe: 25:35

That's what he has to say. That's because you're married. How long have you guys been married for?

Erika: 25:39

In August, it'll be a year.

Joe: 25:40

How's it been going?

Erika: 25:42

Good. Good.

Joe: 25:44

You played at wedding in PT school too?

Erika: 25:46

Yeah. We did. We've been together though. We met while we were both in high school, but we didn't go to the same high school, so it's been a while. It made life wasn't too big of an adjustment.

Joe: 26:02

It sounds like you were waiting on him to propose for a while based on that too.

Erika: 26:06

Probably. Sounds

Joe: 26:08

like my wife. Do you guys plan on moving from Hail's Corners? Do you guys think you'll stay there for a while?

Erika: 26:15

The hope is next year to, like, come out this hopefully like get a yard big enough for for Mo. And maybe Mo's sibling.

Joe: 26:24

Do you want another horse too? Oh yeah. Wow man. That poor guy. Three jobs.

Joe: 26:33

He

Erika: 26:36

likes to go for trail rides too. It's more bonding time then.

Joe: 26:43

The statement rings true. Happy wife is happy life.

Erika: 26:48

Very true.

Joe: 26:49

So tell us a little bit to just talk about kind of your schedule at MogwanaGo, and and then we'll kind of talk about if someone's interested in coming to see you or even coming to the MogwanaGo clinic. We'll kind of talk about the steps there. Just kind of talk about how often you're there, what your schedule looks like.

Erika: 27:06

Yeah. So I'm here Monday through Friday. Mondays and Wednesdays, I'm here till either six or seven. So for people after work and then the rest of the week, I'm here in normal hours. Fridays, dip out a little early.

Erika: 27:22

But other than that, like I'm here.

Joe: 27:25

So you're full time, forty hours?

Erika: 27:27

Full time.

Joe: 27:27

Yep. And then nice part about Wisconsin. I've talked about this in the past. We do have direct access, so you don't need to have a doctor's script to come on in and see any of our therapists at any of our Freedom locations, but specifically, obviously, this podcast, MogwanaGo. You can just call our MogwanaGo office.

Joe: 27:43

Hey, I want to be seen. And then we can get you in pretty quick. I mean, MogwanaGo's busting right now. I think you guys are all pretty full. Right?

Erika: 27:53

We are almost busting out of our seams here.

Joe: 27:55

How are you doing on your transition? Are you breathing? Yeah. Yeah. That's that's good.

Joe: 28:01

Yeah. Wes has been helpful?

Erika: 28:03

Oh, yeah. It's been, like, the perfect amount of, like, just cut the umbilical cord, let your wings fly, and then, like, hey. Do you need any help or anything? So this has

Joe: 28:14

been good. Good. Good. Good. Other little parting stuff before we wrap up this intro podcast?

Erika: 28:23

I don't think so.

Joe: 28:25

That's what most people say.

Erika: 28:26

It was a great time being able to, like, be on the podcast. I feel famous now almost.

Joe: 28:31

Yeah. With our hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of listeners, Probably

Erika: 28:34

Oh, yeah.

Joe: 28:35

Thousands. No. We're super excited to have you. We hope you know, I hope it is a good transition. I feel a little more pressure on me now that you and Jimmy started here because of what I told you.

Joe: 28:46

So

Erika: 28:47

hopefully As you should.

Joe: 28:49

Hopefully, the transition's good. If anybody's interested or has someone who may have something out in Mogwanagh or in that area that needs to be seen, Erica's accepting patients. I think all therapists out there accepting patients but we can get you in very quick and we can go from there.

Erika: 29:06

Awesome.

Joe: 29:06

Anything to add?

Erika: 29:09

No, we're a fun clinic. Good vibes.

Joe: 29:11

Thanks for hopping on, and we'll talk to you soon.