Susan Decker

Susan knew from a young age as a candy striper that she wanted to work in healthcare. She loved interacting with the residents and spent each summer first volunteering and later working in one capacity of another in nursing homes throughout her high school and college years. During her sophomore year of college, Susan was accepted to the physical therapy program at the University of Missouri-Columbia and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1993. She began her career as an inpatient therapist, working with post-operative and critically ill patients. It was during the course of working in this environment that Susan was first introduced to pelvic health physical therapy. She was immediately drawn to the ability to spend quality one-on-one time with patients and fascinated by the growing specialty of women's health. Having worked in pelvic floor rehabilitation and women's health physical therapy for 19 years, Susan has an extensive breadth of knowledge and expertise in treating urinary incontinence, urinary urgency/frequency, bowel incontinence, functional constipation, pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, and pre/post-natal dysfunction. She has attended numerous programs and seminars sponsored by the American Physical Therapy Association's Section on Pelvic Health, the International Association for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, the International Pelvic Pain Society, and the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. In addition, she has maintained an active role presenting to community groups, speaking at grand rounds, and lecturing physical therapy students at Cleveland State University. Currently, she is continuing her education through Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, where she has received training in orthopedic and manual therapy and is working toward completion of a doctorate degree. Susan is most passionate about understanding and treating pelvic pain along with the role of yoga in the management of persistent pain. She authored a case study on this topic that appeared in a 2015 issue of the North American Institute of Orthopedic and Manual Therapy newsletter and is currently involved in a research survey as part of her degree program.