Kara Eldridge
OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Being a military brat, I grew up moving around quite a bit. In fact, I recently added it up, and, including moves I have made into my adulthood, I have moved 21 times! I attended Tulane University in New Orleans, earning my Bachelors and Masters degrees in Architecture while simultaneously completing the Air Force ROTC program. I then served in the Air Force before getting out and starting a career in the civilian world as a project manager in an architectural engineering firm.
In November of 2006, my 54-year-old father suffered a stroke. He was a healthy man who had just retired from the Coast Guard after 35 years when a birth defect he did not know he had caused the stroke, rendering his right side paralyzed, his speech non-existent, and his cognition indeterminable. He could not walk, speak or even hold a fork.
I spent a lot of time with my father during his recovery and watched him struggle to learn how to walk, speak and even brush his own teeth. I was privileged to witness the efforts of various people such as occupational therapists, speech language pathologists and physical therapists. I was in awe of these professionals who provided my father with the tools to increase his independence, an experience whose impact I did not understand the full extent of until years later.
In 2015 I decided to go back to school, eventually earning my Master of Occupational Therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine and have focused on assisting the neurological population since my graduation in 2017. I have worked exclusively with neurological and traumatic brain injury clients for the last 6 years and enjoy helping my patients gain as much independence as possible and improving their quality of life.
I have worked as an OT since 2017, specializing in the neuro population. I have worked in inpatient, outpatient and home health arenas, providing therapeutic intervention throughout the spectrum of care.
Quote:
“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”
– Friedrich Nietzche
Core Values
- Integrity
- accountability
- dependability
- compassion
Top 3 favorite Movies, Shows, Podcasts & Books:
- Podcast: The Jersey Shore
- Movie: The Princess Bride
- Show: My guilty pleasure
A decrease in their ability to independently complete and participate in their daily activities and recreational hobbies.
Occupational Therapy services including vision therapy involving visual perceptual and oculomotor deficits.
I am treating TBI, Stroke, Post Concussive. It offers a collaborative team approach to patient care, and I feel very supported by both colleagues and upper management
When I’m not working:
Traveling the world, working out, aerial arts.
