Therapist Thursday Spotlight!
Meet Kayla Wheeler! Kayla is our new Speech Therapist and works in multiple locations throughout our clinic.
Kayla grew up in Olathe, KS and growing up she was involved in soccer, basketball, softball, volleyball, gymnastics, cheerleading and ran track. She states that she remembers running from one game straight to the next. She adds that she was most serious about soccer and gymnastics and played soccer in college at the University of Central Missouri.
She studied abroad in Salamanca, Spain the summer of her junior year in college. During that trip she also was able to travel to Madrid and London.
Kayla states that her favorite place in Emporia to eat is Salsa’s. In her free time she enjoys hanging out with friends and family, reading or spending time with her super cute goldendoodle. She also likes to attend studio classes such as yoga, cycling and pilates! She enjoys watching soccer and gymnastics as well as Emporia State Baseball! She even coached women’s high school soccer for 3 years and likes to play when she can.
Kayla says that she chose speech therapy because she wanted to go into a field where she could make a positive impact on others. She add that she also loved the versatility that the field offers. She remarks that her brother went to speech therapy growing up and she always remember his therapist as the fun lady with all the toys!
She says she loves getting to meet and work with a variety of individuals through her job. “Creating and seeing the progress someone has made and the impact and role that I have had in that growth is extremely rewarding.”
Kayla says a funny story about her always happens when she is running. She says in every city that she has lived in (3 so far) she has completely wiped out for no apparent reason. She adds that she hopes that it doesn’t happen in Emporia, but says “If you see someone pancake on the sidewalk you’ll know it’s likely me!”
***Below Kayla is working with a patient on identifying objects a speech generating device***
1201 West 12th Ave
Inside Newman Regional Health
