Kelli Baggett, PT, DPT, OCS

Dr. Baggett is running for Nominating Committee Member in the 2021 Board Elections. 

Dr. Kelli Baggett was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and then went on to pursue a Bachelors in Health Science and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Missouri-Columbia (MIZ!). After graduation, she worked in an outpatient orthopedic/sports clinic in St. Louis before moving to Chicago to complete a residency in orthopaedics through the University of Illinois at Chicago. She had the pleasure of serving on faculty for the residency program for one year which included: teaching in DPT and undergraduate curricula, providing patient care in an outpatient, lower socioeconomic status clinic, and coordinating residents and other faculty. This position also included a 3-month period of outpatient orthopedic clinical care at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. where she conducted research on their direct-access practice. When the mountains called, she moved to Denver, Colorado and began working for UCHealth in outpatient orthopedics. Since beginning her role as a senior physical therapist, she has also found a passion in working with lower extremity amputees and has had the opportunity to be part of the rehabilitation team for the revolutionary Osseointegration program. Dr. Baggett serves as a lab assistant in the Musculoskeletal courses through CU’s DPT program. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and living an active lifestyle in the mountains.

Why do you want to serve in the above position?
I would like to serve on the nominating committee to bring a fresh perspective as I would be a new board member and have a history of licensure in 3 other states. I view this as an excellent opportunity to gain an understanding of the role and innermost workings of the Colorado chapter. I am also passionate about diverse representation not just in practice areas or geographical regions but also age, gender, race, and ethnicity. Another reason why I would like to join the board is to gain a better understanding of what the chapter does for therapists in the state and how membership dues benefit our practice and the community.

Why do you feel qualified to serve in the above position?
I feel qualified to serve on the nominating committee first and foremost because I am passionate about the profession. Since graduating from PT school 5 years ago, I have dedicated myself to advanced clinical practice by pursuing a residency, committed to shaping the next generation of therapists by teaching in DPT and undergraduate curricula, and served as a mentor to residents and DPT students. I moved to Colorado 3 years ago and feel this time frame has allowed me to become established in my clinical practice to where I am now well-prepared and have a strong desire to step-up and serve this community. I also have connections within the field as I work for a large academic medical center that includes all areas of physical therapy practice including orthopedics, neurological, vestibular, geriatric, burn care, pelvic health, acute care, in-patient rehabilitation, and oncological rehabilitation. I feel this places me in a unique position to recruit volunteers and/or future members of the board that would be wide-ranging in representation. I also have a strong interest in politics and government and feel that serving on the board would be a befitting merger of my passions. Lastly, I possess qualities that are favorable in a board member including: exceptional organization, a high level of self-motivation, and an outgoing personality with strong interpersonal skills.