George Wythe grad helps open clinic

By NATE HUBBARD/Staff

2000: Graduates from George Wythe High School with a spark of interest in physical therapy created by her cross country coach.
2003: Graduates from Wytheville Community College’s physical therapist assistant program.
2004: Accepts a job as a licensed physical therapist assistant at Pro Health Fitness Center and Northwest Medical Partners in Mount Airy, N.C.
2008: Opens a new physical therapy clinic in Mount Airy with head physical therapist Casey Vedder.
What sounds like a too-good-to-be-true archetype created by some high school guidance counselor is actually the career path of Kristin Mills.
Mills, Suthers prior to her recent marriage, is a Wytheville native and a product of the local school system through-and-through.
The daughter of George Wythe track and field coaches Danny and Tammy Suthers, Mills competed in volleyball, cross country and track and field for the Maroons. She credited her love of sports as the driving force for her career choice.
“I do like the sports aspect of it,” she said about her job. “I like helping people to get back to sports.”
In addition, Mills credited former George Wythe cross county coach Susan Earles, who also is a physical therapist, for helping her learn more about the job.
“She got me interested in it,” she said.
Earles could not be reached for comment.
From a mere interest in the field to the opening of the new clinic, Mills has had a successful start to her career.
After working with Vedder at Pro Health, Mills said they talked about opening their own clinic for a while before getting serious about the endeavor three or four months ago.
On Jan. 2, White Sulphur Springs Physical Therapy opened its doors.
“We serve everybody,” Mills said, adding that the clinic accepts both walk-in clients and people who are referred from doctors.
Athletes recovering from sports injuries make up a large portion of their patients, but Mills said part of the job’s appeal is the variety of people she sees every day.
She named people who have suffered strokes as another example of clients the clinic serves.
Tammy said her daughter has always had a knack for connecting with people. That personality trait and her athletic interests make physical therapy a perfect blend for Mills, she added.
“She’s just a good-hearted person,” Tammy said. “She’s been really successful.”
Although Mills said everything went pretty smoothly in opening up the new clinic, she named organizing all the insurance issues as by far the biggest hassle.
Now that the business is up-and-running, Mills said she’s enjoying getting back to the personal interaction she loves so much about the job.
She added that so far the community seems to be embracing the new facility.
“We’re getting new people every day,” she said.
Nate Hubbard can be reached at 228-6611 or .