Where Communication Meets Care
Training the next generation of physical therapists
Each October, to mark National Physical Therapy Month, we share the stories of tomorrow’s physical therapists, who come to Cascade Health to learn, grow, and round out their education with hands-on experience.
This fall, Cascade Health’s Physical & Hand Therapy team has been joined by Tami Rungpanarat, a student physical therapist currently completing her second clinical rotation under the supervision of Dr. Brittany Reeves. She plans and delivers individual treatments, including interventions, manual therapy, and exercises tailored to each patient’s needs, all while keeping documentation up to date.
Tami says what she appreciates most about Cascade Health is the opportunity to learn from so many experienced professionals across different specialties. “I’ve had the chance to observe and learn from many therapists who bring different perspectives and treatment methods,” she explains. “This has shown me the importance of adapting care to each patient’s personality and response, something I’ll carry into my own practice.” She’s also been inspired by the strong patient advocacy she’s witnessed - therapists going above and beyond to secure the care their patients need.
Physical therapy wasn’t always Tami’s planned career path. “Originally, I wanted to be an interpreter because I loved languages, connecting with people, and hearing their stories,” she says. But a high school anatomy class and a teacher who recognized her potential helped her discover PT. “After researching it, I quickly fell in love with the profession. PT allows me to combine my passion for language and communication with helping people heal and improve their physical health.”
As for the future, Tami is keeping her options open. While she initially thought she’d specialize in sports therapy, she’s found herself drawn to both orthopedics and neuro. “Each field is unique,” she says. “They serve different populations and offer their own challenges and rewards in terms of assessment and treatment.”
We’re excited to see where Tami’s career takes her and grateful to our team at Physical & Hand Therapy for their commitment to helping a new generation of PT students make a difference in the field.