OrthoTennessee Therapy

Brian Hicks is an athletic trainer with OrthoTennessee. He received a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Tennessee.

Brian has been an athletic trainer since 1994. He is affiliated with the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

He became an athletic trainer to stay involved with athletics and to help people achieve their goals. He describes his role in the clinic as being a clinician that will help patients meet their rehabilitation goals and is functionally minded with a focus on the whole body when treating injuries.

According to Brian the most enjoyable thing about being an athletic trainer is having the ability to help individuals return to their previous level of function. “I enjoy helping people realize their potential whether they think they can do it or not,” Brian says.

He says he enjoys working with young athletes in the area of performance enhancement and also enjoys hunting and spending time with his family.

Brett Bjornstad is a Physical Therapist Assistant with Ortho Tennessee.  Brett received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and his PTA degree from South College.

Brett’s role in the clinic includes following the patient’s treatment plan and progressing them back to their previous level of function as quickly and as safely as possible.

Brett has been involved in sports all of his life and has been injured several times, some requiring surgery to repair the damage and therapy to regain lost function.  He is a member of the National Ski Patrol in Ober Gatlinburg where he has been a volunteer and pro-patroller for twenty five years.  He serves as a First Responder First Aid Caregiver.

When asked about therapy, Brett says, “I have been through a lot of therapy myself and have had great results.  When delivering therapy, I enjoy getting to know my client and assisting them back to prior activity levels.  I feel that my experience as a patient assists me in putting patients at ease, because I truly understand what they are experiencing.”

A lifelong interest in both health and sports made occupational therapy a natural career choice for Tami. Originally from Michigan, Tami completed her undergraduate at Central Michigan University earning her bachelor’s degree in health fitness and corporate promotion. She continued her education at Western Michigan University earning her master’s degree in occupational therapy. She began her career in 1995 working with hand surgeons in Michigan prior to moving to East Tennessee. Tami obtained her hand certification in 2003 and continues to enjoy the complexities that accompany such an injury that can have such an impact on a patient’s functionality and independence.

Tami enjoys the challenge that each day brings with the variety of injuries and conditions she helps patients work through to return to daily activities, work and hobbies. Outside of working diligently with patients through recovery, Tami volunteers with local dog rescue organizations. She also enjoys boating, hiking and working on home improvement projects.

Adam’s interest in medicine and athletics began at an early age and following a lumbar injury early in his college career, he realized physical therapy was the perfect career to keep him involved in both. He enjoys working diligently with patients to rise up and restore levels of function that at times they doubt they can reach.

With a history of lower back pain, Adam developed an interest in treating and working with patients suffering similar dysfunctions and initially sought employment with a company where he could grow and learn in the treatment of these pathologies. He has since grown in his interest and knowledge working with patients suffering from a myriad of injuries including those involving extremity surgery. Adam is currently pursuing certification in the McKenzie Method treatment for the spine. He received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2006.

Adam and his wife have two children and he continues to be an avid lover of sports. He also enjoys reading and going to movies.

Charles “Chuck” Korzybski is a physical therapy assistant with OrthoTennessee. He received an associate’s degree in physical therapy assistance from South College in Knoxville.

Chuck has been a physical therapy assistant since 1999. He says his role in the clinic includes following the patient’s treatment plan and progressing her/him back to normal activities as quickly and safely as possible.

“I became a physical therapy assistant to help people,” Chuck says, “–especially those attempting to return to sports or athletics.”

In his spare time, he enjoys exercising, playing softball, and attending sporting events—especially football and baseball.

Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist with 12 years experience in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation and the fabrication and fitting of upper extremity orthotics. Carolyn has been an occupational therapist since 1999. She graduated from the University of Tennessee with a BS in 1995 and earned a Masters of Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman's University in 1999. Carolyn earned the specialty designation of Certified Hand Therapist in 2003. She specializes in treating disorders of the hand and upper extremity.

Melissa as always had an interest in sports medicine and in high school served as manager for the wrestling and football teams where she worked closely with the team physical therapist and developed a love for the profession.

Melissa began her professional career as a pediatric therapist where she practiced for 13 years. She enjoyed the constant challenge of incorporating work and play in working with children. She has since returned to general orthopaedics which is truly where her passion lies. She enjoys working with patients through the hurt and fear to achieve a functional return to life with independence and decreased pain.

She and her husband have two girls and they enjoy traveling together as well as watching movies.

Marketta Styles is a physical therapist with OrthoTennessee. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. She is also a certified athletic trainer.

Marketta has been a physical therapist since 1997. She says her role in the clinic is to educate and assist patients with recovery from surgery or injury.

“I became a physical therapist because I was involved in gymnastics where I became very interested in how the body works,” Marketta says. “What I enjoy most about this job is meeting people.”

In her spare time, Marketta enjoys scrapbooking and hanging out with family.