After Graduation

It was really during these two experiences that I realized I LOVED being a part of the medical staff for high performance athletes. During the next five years in Orlando, I worked as a PT and ATC contracting with Disney in their Entertainment Safety Department, working with the performers from acrobats to puppeteers and everyone in between. I worked part of my week in a regular outpatient orthopaedic physical therapy clinic. Part of me always missed the Athletic Training Room setting and being surrounded by competitive passion for sports and wellness.

About two years ago I made a career shift back into the sports setting and began working at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, as their only staff physical therapist. The medical team is currently composed of a medical coordinator, two physicians (an MD and a DO), three athletic trainers, and myself. WWE’s developmental system is based here in Orlando, so I have about 70 males and females training here daily, learning what it takes to become the next WWE Superstar or Diva. WWE has about 70 people on its “Main Roster”– the men and women you’d see on TV. We travel all over the US and most of the world, and our athletes have no off-season, so the medical staff certainly stays busy.

Family: I’m in a great relationship and have no children. My parents still live in Chicago along with my mom’s side of the family. My father’s family is still in the Middle East (my father is Palestinian and came to the US for college). My four siblings and I are spread out around the US and Europe. Although we are scattered, we are very close and make it a point to keep in touch and travel to see each other.

UE Alumni Activities: I’ve been back to campus once or twice for Homecoming Weekend, but I mostly come back for my friends in the area – weddings, babies, and AOII girls weekends will always bring me back to Evansville. Maybe one of these years I’ll be home in Chicago to enjoy a UE-Chicago Cubs outing!

How do you keep your life in balance? It’s been a journey for me to realize that a lot of things are out of my control, so I don’t stress about little things. But it’s most important to find an outlet! I grew up playing sports, so I know participating in athletics is my best outlet for energy and aggression. I play softball five days a week all year-round here in Florida. I like lifting weights and working out, but I definitely know when to take a break and unplug from reality and work. The beach is only an hour from home and my family and friends are one plane ride away.

Tough physical challenge you’ve undertaken recently? Have you seen professional wrestlers? Every part of physical therapy or preventative maintenance I do on my athletes is physically challenging for me at 5’6”!

Wellness routine in college compared to now: I’m still an avid weight lifter and I play softball almost daily, but I’ve always been very active and athletic. I was raised with a routine of being active and eating well, but I can definitely say REST has become a huge part of my personal wellness policy. A good night’s sleep can do wonders for stress levels, fatigue, appetite, and metabolism. I also have a hammock in my backyard along to the lake… it’s a great nap spot. Having a balance in my life keeps me sane and in balance – good work, good food, good exercise, good friends/family, prayer/meditation, and sunshine keeps my world going ’round.

Life after UE’s undergraduate AT Program: Being a Certified Athletic Trainer has provided me with a part time job at ProRehab, a local provider of physical therapy and athletic training coverage. My responsibilities included covering local middle school and high school sporting events such as football, soccer, wrestling, basketball, and lacrosse. While in physical therapy school, ProRehab has provided me with not only a source of income, but the opportunity to expand my athletic training skills and put the invaluable knowledge that I gained from the athletic training program into practice.

In addition to this, the knowledge of orthopedic injuries, prevention of injuries, and the overall health needs of an athlete has helped me as a competitive triathlete. I was able to train for Ironman Louisville, a 140.6 mile triathlon, from January 2016 through October 2016 without getting injured. I have applied my knowledge to the athletes I treat as well as myself. I have learned to listen to my body and take preventative measures to ensure that I will be ready for any race that I compete in.

Finally, UE’s Athletic Training Program, as well as the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, has helped me achieve a lifelong dream. I was selected through EXOS, a nationwide healthcare provider to elite athletes, to be the Student Physical Therapist working with the Los Angeles Rams from March 2017-April 2017. My responsibilities will be preparing the athletes for their upcoming football season through injury prevention and rehabilitation.