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Local cowgirl brings her new profession back to hometown |
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Thursday, 17 January 2008 |
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 Ginalee Tierney recently returned to her hometown of Broken Bow as a physical therapist at McMeen Physical Therapy. Along with her new job, Tierney stays busy with her first love - rodeo.
By ELLEN MORTENSEN
Chief managing editor
Ginalee Tierney loves to rodeo. She always has. But never could anyone have guessed that a rodeo injury would ultimately lead to her career choice.
Tierney, a 2000 graduate of Broken Bow High School, packed her bags and headed to Oklahoma after graduation. She attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University for two years, then transferred to Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where she graduated. She attended all four years on a rodeo scholarship.
During her first two years of college, Tierney was still uncertain of what she wanted to do. Rodeos were taking up the majority of her time, and she was perfectly happy taking her time deciding on a career.
Then during the summer between her sophomore and junior years in college, she tore the ACL muscle in her right knee during a goat tying event. The injury kept her out of the arena for the rest of the rodeo season, and sent her through hours of intense physical therapy. It was those hours that convinced her of her future.
“I had thought before about physical therapy,” Tierney said. “But it wasn’t until I observed it during those months of my own therapy that I decided that was what I wanted to do.”
She says she was impressed with the way she saw the therapists helping people recover, and knew she wanted to be part of that. She graduated with a degree in biology in 2004, and headed to the University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center for physical therapy school. She says it was her love of rodeo that prompted her to remain in Oklahoma to continue her education.
After missing the entire fall rodeo season and having to fight her way back from injury, along with the pressure of school, Tierney says her stress level was a little high.
“My horses are my way to manage my stress,” explains Tierney. “They are what got me through everything.”
She graduated with a master of physical therapy degree from the University of Oklahoma in May 2007. Tierney then returned home to Broken Bow to spend her summer competing in local rodeos and helping out on the family ranch.
On Dec. 3, 2007, she accepted a full-time position at McMeen Physical Therapy in Broken Bow, and is very excited about her new position. She did her rotation at McMeen’s in the summer of 2006, and says she knew if she ever got the opportunity to work there that was what she wanted to do.
“It was this clinic, and my family, that brought me back here,” she smiles. “I don’t know where all my classmates ended up, but I am willing to bet I got the best job!”
Tierney says she has always been impressed with the clinic here and the work they do.
“You want to surround yourself with experienced therapists who are willing to teach you the trade,” Tierney explains. “That is what I have here.”
As for her favorite pastime, Tierney says she plans to stay active in rodeo “as long as I am breathing.” And her smile says it all. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 25 January 2008 )
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