Andrea Maynard, PT, DPT, supervisor of rehabilitation services at Saint Joseph Hospital, is dedicated to helping her patients get back to their active lives.
When you are recovering from an illness or injury, rest is important. Finding ways to safely work activity back into your life is also essential. As a physical therapist, Maynard is passionate about helping people embrace movement and quality of life after a medical event.
“I want to see people live their best lives,” Maynard said. “Seeing patients reach goals that they never thought they could achieve is incredibly rewarding. I am here to be their advocate and encourage them.”
A native of West Virginia, Maynard earned her undergraduate degree in applied science at Marshall University, honing in on emergency medicine.
“I like the critical care component of the medical field,” Maynard said. “I was drawn to the idea of being able to help people when they are at their lowest.”
Maynard was also recognized as Employee of the Year for 2020 showing dedication to her patients, co-workers and outreach activities such as the Appalachian Outreach project, which delivers Christmas cheer each year.
Maynard attended the University of Kentucky, where she earned her master’s degree and doctorate in physical therapy.
“I enjoy the different aspects of physical therapy,” Maynard said. “As a physical therapist, I get to address everything from wound care to helping someone become mobile after being in the intensive care unit or while they are recovering from surgery.”
In addition to working with her physical therapy patients, Maynard also treasures leading the clinical education program at Saint Joseph Hospital. Maynard researched and designed a 2:1 clinical model — 2 students to 1 clinical instructor — that she currently runs while encouraging staff to follow in her footsteps. There aren’t many acute care clinical sites for physical therapy students, but Maynard believes there is value in working with critically ill patients and managing invasive lines and tubes. She was also invited to Bellarmine University to speak on the 2:1 model and encourage other practitioners to attempt the 2:1 model.
Each year, the program accepts 12 students from six universities in different stages of their rotations. As part of this program, Maynard mentors students and encourages her colleagues to do the same. In 2018, the University of Kentucky recognized Maynard’s contribution by naming her clinical educator of the year.
“I feel like I am shaping future physical therapists,” Maynard said. “Several of them return to work for Saint Joseph Hospital after they pass their board exams. I love that the students have a rewarding experience at the hospital and we are able to retain many of them.”
To learn more about physical therapy services at Saint Joseph Hospital, visit www.CHISaintJosephHealth.org/physical‑therapy.
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