Physical Therapy

Brandy Dallas, PT graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor's of Health Science in Physical Therapy in 1999. She has worked with the pediatric population in various settings since her graduation. She joined the staff at the Kenny Rogers Children's Center in August of 2005. While at the Center, she started the Suit Therapy program which is offered at only 2 other facilities in the state of Missouri. She received her 8-week pediatric NDT (Neurodevelopment Treatment) training in 2002. She is trained in upper and lower extremity serial casting as well as the use of NMES (Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation) and TES (Threshold Electrical Stimulation) with children with Cerebral Palsy. She is a Certified Kinesiotaping Practioner and has participated in continuing education courses addressing Advanced Treatment for Gait Abnormalities and orthotic prescription for children. She is also an APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor. She is alwalys striving to provide the highest quality of physical therapy to the children of Southeast Missouri.

Leslie Helman graduated from Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY in December 2008 after completing a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and a Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She has a variety of physical therapy experiences from her clinical fieldwork including acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient orthopedics, and pediatric therapy in the outpatient, school, and home settings. Leslie has attended continuing education courses through her fieldwork sites, as well as the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association on topics including: typical development from birth through age five, autism spectrum disorders, and motor dyspraxia. She was also part of a group that completed a research and community service project, which was presented at the 2009 APTA Combined Sections Meeting, educating daycare providers about typical development and identifying developmental delays in preschool children. Leslie is excited to be back at the Kenny Rogers Center, where she completed her final fieldwork experience, and looks forward to learning more about various treatment methods in pediatrics. Her goal is to positively impact the life of each child she works with, and to help educate parents, caregivers, and teachers about how they can help each child maximize his or her potential.

Melissa graduated from the Physical Therapy Masters program at University of Missouri-Columbia in May of 2007. During her clinical rotations she gained pediatric experience working in outpatient, school-based, Early Childhood and Firststeps programs. While in school, Melissa also partook in the TIPS for Kids Pediatric Fellowship program. Through the program she acquired training in health policy, disability awareness, and interdisciplinary pediatric clinical skills. Melissa has been with the Kenny Rogers Childrens Center for over 2 years, and during that time has completed certification in Neuro-Developmental Treatment Approach and Kinesio Taping. She strives to provide the utmost care to children of all ages and all abilities.

Mary graduated from the University of Missouri Columbia in May 2007 completing a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy. She has a variety of experience from her clinical fieldwork including acute care, outpatient orthopedics, rehabilitation, and both outpatient and inpatient pediatric settings. Mary moved to the southeast Missouri region and became part of the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center staff in December 2007. She has gained experience with a variety of diagnoses in early childhood special education programs, and in school and medical based therapy programs. Mary has participated in continuing education courses on Treating Babies from First Movements to First Steps, Pediatric Gait and Intervention Strategies, and Kinesio Taping. While working at the Center she hopes to advance her skill set in areas of neuro-developmental technique (NDT) for handling and facilitation of functional movement patterns in children, and the intensive method of Suit Therapy. She looks forward to expanding her treatment methods in order to provide the ultimate care for children with special needs.

Brenda Harper has been working at the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center as a physical therapy technician since 1987 and became licensed as a Physical Therapy Assistant in June of 1998. Brenda has had the experience of watching the Kenny Rogers Children's Center grow and develop over the years. She has witnessed the center grow from a client base of 24 patients to serving more than 300 children in Sikeston and the surrounding areas. She has had the privilege of watching kids that she had treated when they were 2 years old grow up to graduate high school and then to move on to college. She believes that the Kenny Rogers Children's Center is an amazing place and feels that she has been so lucky to have been a pat of all that it has become.