Staff:

Synergy Pediatric Therapy, INC will strive to become a unique team of highly educated therapists with diverse talents and gifts working hand in hand with the families they serve to positively impact the lives of children with special health care needs, within their community environments. We value the dreams and desires of all children to have fun, conquer challenges, pursue new and exciting experiences, explore engaging evironments, and be social amongst their peers. Synergy Pediatric Therapy will provide support to families, facilitate access to community resources, take an active role in community advocacy groups, and help to further our professions in the area of pediatrics. We will uphold high standards of practice, the importance of continued learning, and the responsibility of evidence-based practice. We will be family-focused in the delivery of therapy services.

Rachel is certified in Hippotherapy, which she utilizes in treatment one afternoon a week at Lio Mana Olana Ranch. She has additional training in NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation), the use of Kinesiotape, aquatics, sensory integration, and gymnastics. She is an APTA credentialed Clinical Instructor and enjoys supervising students for their pediatric clinical. Rachel enjoys being outdoors and active with her clients. She has been happily married to her husband Paul since November 27, 2005.

Favorite Toy: Twister Moves, stilts, Team Tracker

Favorite Bible Verse: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Melanie Conatser: Melanie graduated with honors from Indiana University with a BS in Occupational Therapy and a minor in Psychology. She was president of SOTA (Student Occupational Therapy Association) and she was the sole recipient of the Carol B. Nathan Leadership Award in 2001. She has been working in pediatrics in Arizona for over 5 years now.

Melanie specializes in Sensory Integration, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Hippotherapy, Visual processing, fine motor, and gymnastics.

Melanie and her husband Chris moved to Arizona from Indiana 5 years ago directly following their wedding. They have two beautiful daughters named Samantha and Peyton. The girls keep them on their toes! They have also been qualified to become foster parents and should have their first kiddo soon! Melanie spends most of her spare time with her friends and family and she also enjoys quilting and reading. Favorite Toy: Rock’em Sock’em Robots (It’s still how she and Chris settle disputes!) Favorite Quote: "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all!"

  Penny Leideker: Penny Leideker, a speech-language pathologist with 19 years of experience, became a part of the Synergy staff in January 2007. She earned her bachelors and masters degrees in speech-language pathology from Idaho State University. She has lived in Arizona since 1995. Penny has worked in a variety of settings during her career including, but not limited to, neo-natal intensive care units, hospitals, home health, pre-schools and school districts.

The youngest client she has treated was 2 days old and the oldest was 103 years young. Penny has 2 children, a daughter who attends Arizona State University and a son who attends Mesquite High School.

Favorite toy: A bucket of assorted legos that my son gave to me. They are so versatile and my clients love them, no matter what the age or gender.

Favorite quote: "Difficult is a far cry from impossible. The distance between these two lies hope." Inspired by Maya Angelo.

Jen Tjeerdsma: Jen grew up in Sgt. Bluff, Iowa, and she is the 2nd of 4 children. She received an exercise science degree from Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. After college, she moved to Arizona to attend physical therapy school at A.T. Still University, Arizona School of Health Sciences., where she received her doctorate of physical therapy degree. Jen loves spending time with friends and family. She enjoys being active: playing volleyball & disc golf, hiking, running, biking, and swimming. She also likes to participate in races and events with her friends and family.

Favorite toy: Hula Hoop

Favorite bible verse: "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and the young mend stumble and fall: but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:29-31

Tirsa Baker: Tirsa is a native to Arizona and has not ventured far from home. She attended Grand Canyon University in Phoenix for her undergraduate degree in Human Biology. From there she went straight into the Physical Therapy program at A.T. Still University of Health Sciences in Mesa and graduated in August of 2007, with her doctorate of physical therapy degree. Tirsa is interested in anything that makes her laugh. She loves to be around friends and animals. She enjoys crafts, drawing, sewing, going to the gym, and spending time with her family when they are in town. One of her goals is to start a Sunday school class at her church for children with special healthcare needs.

Tirsa has been married for 3 years to her wonderful husband Brian. They have two cats and a cozy little home. She is the youngest in a family of 5 kids and is very proud of her siblings. She comes from wonderful parents that spend half the year in Honduras where her father grew up. She loves nothing more than to spend time with her family and in-laws!

Favorite Toy: Tirsa's favorite toy is her dog. After doing her thesis work in Animal Assisted Therapy she saw the impact animals can make on physical therapy goals in children and adults. Don't be surprised if you see her working around town with a dog by her side!

Favorite Bible Verse: "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17)

Sarah Whitney: Sarah recently moved to Arizona from Indianapolis, IN. She received her Masters of Occupational Therapy from Indiana University in May 2007, where she focused her elective studies in pediatrics and hand/upper extremity rehabilitation. Prior to that, she received her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Purdue University in May 2004, where her focus was in Child Psychology and Psychology of Substance/Chemical Abuse. Sarah loves horses. She took riding lessons as a child and progressed to participation in show competitions. Sarah has spent 50 hours volunteering in a Hippotherapy Clinic in Indianapolis, which began her passion for using horses as a therapy tool.

Sarah’s interest areas for occupational therapy include: Hippotherapy, Visio-Vestibular integration, Sensory Integration, and Hand/Upper Extremity Rehabilitation. Sarah is engaged to her fiancé John and will be getting married next summer.

Favorite Toys: Sit 'n' Spin; Pass the Pigs game

Favorite quotes: "Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.: ~Robert Collier "It doesn’t matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop." ~Confucius

Michelle Wright: Michelle grew up in Madison, WI, where she lived with her parents and her two brothers (their black labs). She is an only child who has two wonderful parents whom have provided her with many opportunities and experiences in life. After graduating from high school, she moved to Minneapolis, MN to attend college at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She received her BS degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in pre-physical therapy. While attending college, she worked as a student athletic trainer for the University of Minnesota Football team for two years. It was a great learning experience for her and she enjoyed being able to travel with the team. The frigid winters in Minnesota later influenced her decision to move to Arizona to attend physical therapy school. She received her doctorate of physical therapy from A.T. Still University- Arizona School of Health Sciences.

Michelle enjoys being active and spending time outdoors. She loves hiking, swimming, and working out, taking SPIN class, and going for walks with her dog Miles and boyfriend Adam. In her spare time, she also likes to read for enjoyment and scrapbook when possible. She is a big animal lover and enjoys anything related to animals. Her favorite animals are monkeys, dogs, and dolphins. In addition to animals, she also has a passion for working with children.

Favorite toy: Pogo Hop Ball, Etch A Sketch, Doodle boards

Favorite quote: "It is not in doing what you like, but in liking what you do that is the secret of happiness" - James Matthew Barrie