Georgia Merrifield, PT
Georgia has been a pediatric physical therapist for over 47 years. She graduated with a B.S. degree in physical therapy form Ithaca College – Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York in 1970. Immediately upon graduation she relocated to Los Angeles where she worked for California Children's Services, United Cerebral Palsy of L.A. County, and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles where she gained experience with a wide array of pediatric diagnoses. She became certified in the Neurodevelopmental Treatment Approach to Pediatrics in Seattle in 1975 and became a certified pediatric physical therapy specialist in 1987. Life took an unexpected turn and Georgia and her two daughters relocated to Lubbock, Texas in 1987. There she again worked in a variety of in patient and outpatient pediatric settings before going on to co-own a pediatric therapy practice with another peds PT. Pediatric Therapy Inc., provided PT, OT, and SLP services to the rural schools of West Texas as well as in the clinic, the pool, and on 2 ranches. This was Georgia’s first experience with the utilization of the movement of the horse for physical, occupational, and speech therapy. While in Lubbock, Georgia also earned her M.S. degree in Human Development from Texas Tech University. In 2002, Georgia and her husband reallocated to Bend where Georgia started a pediatric physical therapy program at Healing Bridge Physical Therapy. Through HBPT Georgia began a relationship with Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center and started the physical therapy – hippotherapy program there in 2003. Georgia is very excited about having the opportunity to continue utilizing her PT skills through a relationship with a Treehouse Therapies.
When Georgia is not at Healing Reins she loves to enjoy the great Central Oregon outdoors with her two labs, keep herself in shape at the gym and through yoga, and visiting her two daughters in Nashville, Tennessee.
When Georgia is not at Healing Reins she loves to enjoy the great Central Oregon outdoors with her two labs, keep herself in shape at the gym and through yoga, and visiting her two daughters in Nashville, Tennessee.