Meet Laura Saleem, Sports Physical Therapist and Therapy Services Manager of our Frisco Campus. Recently, Laura gave us a tour of the new sports therapy gym at our Frisco facility, Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center, on #SRHaccess Facebook LIVE. Watch her segment of #SRHaccess on Facebook. Learn more about Laura in our #SRHstaff Spotlight below:

What’s your favorite part of your job?
Working with the kiddos and seeing their progress from Day 1 to discharge. My patients know I sing like Beyonce, dance like no one is watching and tell super cheesy jokes. My job is anything but boring, which allows me to constantly evolve. The wonderful medical staff here allow us to guide our patients along the path to return to participation without pain or restrictions. We are trusted providers for the community we serve.
 
What’s your favorite thing about the hospital?
The mission. You won’t find another hospital in the area that will take care of your child the way we will.  The staff buys into this mission at orientation and will bend over backwards to serve our patients the best we can.
 
Describe a typical day.
I work with patients and coworkers, focusing on plans of care and specific exercises the patients need in order to stay on track towards their/my goals for therapy. I wrap up with patients around 6:00PM, and then I pick up my daughter from daycare and begin the normal evening routine.
 
How long have you worked here?
Since 1/11/16, all at the Sports Medicine Center.
 
How did you find out about the hospital?
My co-worker Lorenzo Vite mentioned that there was an opportunity for me to join the hospital. He had nothing but wonderful things to say and had a great vision for what the realm of outpatient pediatric sports therapy could be.
 
What makes you want to work here?
I have found my niche and my people. I have been given a voice to help build a department we are proud of. The staff and work make it fun.
 
What skills do you need for your job?
I like to say that I am a Ninja. Spend a day with me, you’ll know what I mean. I work extremely hard to get my patients back to activity participation.
 
What was your first job? What path did you take to get here?
I originally knew I wanted to help people, but didn't know how. My brother was involved in a single-car accident and sustained injuries that required extensive hospital stays and resources. Through his journey, I was able to find physical therapy. His subacute rehab therapist ended up being one of my clinical instructors, which was really cool to see everything come full circle. I attended to Maryville University in St. Louis and obtained a Master’s Degree in Physical therapy while playing basketball full-time. College was the best experience I could have asked for! I moved to Dallas after graduation and started working at Medical Center of McKinney. I have worked in Inpatient, Outpatient and Rehab settings of hospitals, private practice (2 blocks from the beach in San Diego!), skilled nursing and long-term acute care. I've worked extremely hard as a PRN therapist, so I could pay off my student loans as quickly as possible. In total, I have a full 10 years of experience in physical therapy and genuinely know that this is what I was made to do. I was extremely happy to be promoted this July to manager. I love it here and hope to retire here one day.
 
What is your favorite…

• Hospital event: Holiday Party
• Food in the cafeteria:  Sad to say, I’ve never eaten there.  I’ll never forget the welcome luncheon at orientation though! 
• Place in the hospital:  Atrium

 
What’s your favorite…

• Place to travel:  Paris or European countries
• Type of food:  I will never turn down pizza.
• TV show:  Not huge on shows, but I love sports. I love European Football, especially Chelsea FC from EPL, St. Louis Cardinals Baseball, Basketball, etc.

 
If you could have a super power, what would it be?
It would be great to be in multiple places at the same time. Such as, when I’m at work, but also eating pizza in Italy AND playing at the park with my daughter, dog and husband AND on tour with Beyoncé AND surfing in the Pacific Ocean.
 
What did you want to be when you grew up?
An Entertainer…didn’t work out.
 
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
Zip-lined in Jamaica, parasailed in the French Mediterranean, and started my own baking business.
 
What’s the last book you read?
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom…Skit skat skoodle doot!  Good wisdom in that one.
 
What kind of animal would you be?
I just took the spirit animal quiz:  I’m a Wolf. 
 
How long is your commute? What do you do on the drive?
My commute to Frisco is 20 minutes. I listen to NPR, GO PUBLIC!
 
What is something people don’t know about you?
I am a band nerd (Alto saxophone) and I hate sweet tea.
 
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Proud Mary by Tina Turner