I can still vividly remember the evening when I broke both bones in my lower leg during an intense plyometrics class. It was a real turning point for me. Before that, I was on track to become a physical therapist, but the injury made me rethink everything. I was three months from graduating with my bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology. I had just found out I had not been accepted to the only physical therapy school I applied to.

The road to recovery was tough, both mentally and physically. I went through surgery, months of being in a cast, and loads of rehab. After this, I was still dealing with chronic pain in my knee, back, and ankle (which continued for the next 6 years). I had a vision for how my life was supposed to go, and this was not in the plan. The next few years were a rollercoaster of seeing different specialists and trying various treatments and another surgery to remove some of the hardware in my leg. Finally, I decided I had to go to physical therapy school and figure this out for myself.

A pivotal moment came during my second year of physical therapy school when I received treatment from a remarkable professor. Their approach was so different, and it changed everything for me. It inspired me to complete continuing education in osteopathic manual therapy but also to dive into pain science research, which led me to where I am today—fourth year into my Ph.D. program, studying how our interoceptive nervous system and subconscious protective mechanisms impact pain perception. Now, I'm passionate about helping others navigate chronic pain, combining my personal journey with the latest scientific research to make a difference in people's lives.