Almost 8 Years Later: Michaela Wright’s CTD Story
Almost 8 years ago, Michaela Wright took a chance on a job posting she found on Indeed. She was living in Indiana, had never been to Oregon, and wasn’t quite sure what she was getting herself into. Fast forward to today, and that leap of faith has turned into a career, a family, lifelong friendships, and nearly eight years as part of the Connect the Dots team. Michaela joined CTD in 2019, when she was the only physical therapist on the team. Today, she’s part of a PT department and has had a front-row seat to so much of CTD’s growth, while growing right alongside it. We thought it was worth going back to where it all started and letting Michaela tell the story herself.
Sometimes the Best Things Start on a Whim
When I applied to Connect the Dots Pediatric Therapy, I honestly didn’t think I’d get the job. At the time, I was living in Indiana, and my then-boyfriend (now
husband!) and I were looking for a big adventure. Part of his family lives in Northern California, my parents are in Utah, and Oregon felt like the perfect place in between. I came across a job posting for Connect the Dots Pediatric Therapy (CTD) on Indeed, applied on a whim, and after two Zoom interviews, I was offered the position.
Then we were like, “Holy smokes, are we actually going to move across the country to somewhere we have never been?” And we sure did… and the rest is history.
Since joining CTD in 2019, so much has changed. I’ve gotten married, become a mom, and had the opportunity to grow alongside this clinic. When I first started, I was the only physical therapist at CTD. Today, I get to work alongside an incredible PT team. Getting to see the PT team and the bond we have as a department keeps me coming to work happy each day. It’s been so rewarding to watch our team grow and to have coworkers who celebrate the wins, support one another, and make work genuinely fun. One of the things I’ve always appreciated about CTD is how much collaboration is part of our culture. Being able to bounce ideas off our occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and of course, my fellow PTs has helped me grow so much as a clinician and ultimately provides better care for the children and families we serve. We also have dedicated documentation time built into our evaluation schedules, which is actually pretty uncommon in outpatient therapy. Having that protected time allows us to complete quality documentation without feeling rushed or taking work home, so we can be fully present with the families we serve. The relationships we build with families are what make this work so meaningful. There are those families you just
instantly click with, and before you know it, you’re celebrating milestones together, cheering on progress, and truly caring about one another. They start to care about you, too, and those relationships become one of the most rewarding parts of the job. Watching children reach milestones and accomplish goals they’ve worked so hard for never gets old. One of my favorite things about being a pediatric PT is that every day is different. I get to play all day, problem-solve, be creative, and help kids build skills through activities they actually enjoy. It never feels repetitive, and that’s exactly what I love about it.
Outside of the clinic, you’ll usually find me spending time with my family, chasing after my little one, camping, dirt biking, snowboarding, reading a good book, or simply getting outside whenever I can. The best way for me to recharge is getting some extra sleep, finding time to read, and being outdoors. Becoming a mom has been one of the greatest joys of my life, and it has given me an even deeper appreciation for the families I get to partner with every day. Looking back, it’s funny to think that one job application on a whim led me here. What started as a leap of faith across the country turned into so much more than a job. Connect the Dots is where I’ve built a career, found lifelong friendships, grown my family, and had the privilege of helping children take steps, both big and small, every single day.