Kathy is an occupational therapist with over 18 years of experience treating pediatrics and adults with persistent pain. She has been working with EIM since 2021 and currently serves as Faculty Experience Advisor for Pain Sciences (TPS, FPS), Integrative Behavioral Health, Lifestyle Medicine, and Hand Certification programs at EIM. In addition to her role as FX advisor, she is also working to expand and shape content areas to support the inclusion of OT practitioners and other rehabilitation providers. 

Kathy earned her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from Louisiana State University in 2005. Following graduation, Kathy moved to Chicago, IL and began working at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (Shirley Ryan Abilitylab) where she specialized in both pediatric and adult outpatient pain management. Kathy, along with her colleagues, authored the current clinical guidelines for the treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Through this publication, she was able to integrate more current treatment strategies (graded motor imagery/mirror therapy) into the treatment algorithm driving best practice for this population.

Kathy also completed the Therapeutic Pain Specialist certification and earned her Fellowship of Pain Sciences through International Spine and Pain Institute in partnership with EIM in 2022. Kathy has advanced training in pain neuroscience education (PNE), postural/body mechanics, sensory modulation, work simplification/energy conservation, graded motor imagery/discrimination, functional desensitization, and environmental/ergonomic assessment. 

Research Interests

Pain Neuroscience applications across the Lifespan

Sensory Modulation Differences in Persons with Pain

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome