Meet Stephanie Wakeman

From the sterile confines of a biology lab to the cutting edge of digital health, Stephanie Wakeman's career in healthcare spans over two decades of change and innovation. After 26 years in clinical practice, her shift to digital health reveals how adaptability and curiosity can open doors to unforeseen opportunities.

As we unravel Stephanie's journey, we'll discover how a series of pivotal decisions, driven by both necessity and aspiration, shaped her path through significant changes in healthcare. From the challenges of balancing motherhood with a demanding profession to embracing the digital revolution in patient care, Stephanie's story offers invaluable insights for healthcare professionals at any stage of their career.

From Biology Lab to Physical Therapy

Stephanie's journey into healthcare began with a solid foundation in biology. After earning her science degree, she found herself working in the pharmaceutical industry, conducting research. However, despite the scientific nature of her work, Stephanie felt uncertain about her career path.

This uncertainty led her to consider various options within the scientific field. Driven by a desire to stay in science, she even applied to medical school but didn't get in.

It was during this period of soul-searching that Stephanie stumbled upon physical therapy. The field appealed to her longstanding interest in exercise and offered a unique blend of her passions. "It's medicine plus exercise," she explains, her eyes lighting up as she describes her initial attraction to the field.

With no clear direction but a growing interest in physical therapy, Stephanie decided to apply to PT school.

Graduating from PT school in 1998 and recently married, Stephanie left the research world behind and stepped into the clinical realm. This transition was driven by her hope of combining her love for biology with her passion for movement and mobility, all while serving others and becoming a valuable resource to people in need.

Reflecting on her decision to leave research, Stephanie acknowledges the complexity of her choice. "There were lots of reasons," she says, citing personal factors and some insecurity about her fit in the research world without a Ph.D. She recalls looking at her potential growth trajectory in research and feeling uncertain about the possibilities without pursuing a doctorate.

Now, with years of experience behind her, Stephanie views her early career decisions with a mix of introspection and self-compassion. 

This early career shift taught Stephanie valuable lessons about decision-making and personal growth. She learned that while it's natural to wonder "what if," it's impossible to know how a different path might have unfolded. Instead of dwelling on regrets, Stephanie has come to appreciate the opportunities that arose from her choices, recognising that each decision set the stage for the next phase of her career evolution.

Balancing Profession and Parenthood

Stephanie's entry into the world of physical therapy coincided with another significant life event: starting a family. In December 1999, just a year after graduating from PT school, Stephanie gave birth to her first child. The joy of new motherhood was quickly met with the harsh realities of balancing a demanding career with family life.

"I went back to work full time at three months," Stephanie remembers, her voice tinged with the echoes of that challenging time. "I think I lasted maybe a month full-time." The struggle was real and intense. Her daughter had medical problems, and Stephanie found herself at a crossroads, forced to choose between her career and her child's needs.

The decision to scale back her work hours was difficult, especially in a culture that often expected women to "do it all." Stephanie recalls feeling disappointed in herself for not being able to manage full-time work with a newborn. "I was really upset with myself for not being able to do that," she admits.

The challenges only intensified with the birth of her second child 20 months later. This time, financial pressures forced Stephanie to return to work after just six weeks. The lack of support for working mothers was stark. "I can remember having to go into a stall in the bathroom in a stall and that really gross area and pump because there was no other place to pump," she shares, the frustration still evident in her voice.

Exploring New Horizons

As Stephanie's family grew, so did her need for flexibility in her career. A move to a new state presented both challenges and opportunities. "We physically moved to yet another state. I had to apply for yet another license and go through everything that one has to go through when you move," Stephanie recalls. This transition period involved not just professional adjustments but also personal ones—finding new doctors, arranging childcare, and settling into a new community.

It was during this time that Stephanie ventured into pediatrics. "I ended up working as a paediatric outpatient, and then I ventured into the elementary schools and was a physical therapist there," she explained. This shift wasn't just a career move; it was a strategic decision to gain more flexibility in her work life. With her husband often travelling for work, Stephanie needed the ability to respond quickly to family needs. 

Another pivotal moment came when Stephanie joined professional groups like the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the Academy of Leadership and Innovation. These associations exposed her to innovative ideas and professionals pushing the boundaries of traditional physical therapy. "I got involved in a couple of different groups and I just happened to become surrounded by just a really amazing group of individuals that were inspiring, that were supportive, that really helped move the needle," she says.

These experiences taught Stephanie the value of embracing diverse experiences to broaden her professional perspective. She learned that growth often comes from stepping outside one's comfort zone and engaging with new ideas and people.

Beyond the Clinic: A Hunger for Innovation

As Stephanie's children grew older, she began considering her long-term career growth, which led her to explore orthopedics. This move would prove to be a pivotal point in her clinical career.

In orthopedics, Stephanie found a perfect blend of her pediatric experience and adult care. "I ended up in Orthopedics and enjoyed it a lot," she enthuses. This new role allowed her to work with a diverse age range, primarily in a sports environment. The setting reignited Stephanie's passion for physical therapy in ways she hadn't experienced before.

"Kids are fun. They'll do an exercise. They'll try something new," Stephanie says, her voice filled with enthusiasm. This playful aspect of working with younger patients and the complexity of sports injuries created a stimulating and rewarding work environment.

Stephanie's experience in orthopedics allowed her to hone her skills and explore new areas of interest. Her expertise grew to the point where she began working with a semi-professional dance troupe, leveraging her own history with dance. This specialisation led her to take additional classes to refine her skills for this specific patient population.

The years spent in orthopedics were, in Stephanie's words, "the best years" of her clinical career. She found immense satisfaction in helping patients recover from injuries and return to their activities. Unlike her experiences in other clinical settings, orthopedics gave her more freedom to innovate in her treatments.

Despite the fulfilment she found in orthopedics, Stephanie eventually began to feel the limitations of clinical practice. This realisation, coupled with frustrations about documentation requirements and a desire to do more for the profession, would eventually lead her to explore new possibilities beyond traditional clinical practice. However, her time in orthopedics remained a highlight of her career, shaping her approach to patient care and fueling her passion for innovation in physical therapy.

The Leap into Digital Health

Despite finding fulfilment in orthopedics, Stephanie began to feel the limitations of clinical practice. "As a clinician, there's no place to go," she reflects. This realisation, coupled with frustrations about documentation requirements and a desire to do more for the profession, led her to explore new possibilities.

Around 2018, Stephanie's curiosity about technology in healthcare began to grow. Influenced by her husband's work in IT, she started questioning why physical therapy wasn't embracing new technologies. "How can we be so behind as a profession?" she wondered.

This curiosity led Stephanie to actively seek out information about telehealth, diagnostics, and the intersection of pharmaceuticals and physical therapy. Her involvement with the Academy of Leadership and Innovation within the American Physical Therapy Association exposed her to cutting-edge developments in the field.

One particular discovery – learning about a physical therapist working in DNA research and epigenetics – sparked a profound realization.

Shocked by the gap between traditional practice and emerging scientific advancements.

This exploration and self-directed learning period set the stage for Stephanie's eventual transition into digital health. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Stephanie was already prepared for the shift, having started a side gig in digital health at the end of 2019.

"I had already pivoted to a digital role," Stephanie explains, describing her transition to working as a digital physical therapist for a company called Physera (now Omada Health) just before the pandemic hit. This move opened her eyes to the possibilities of combining her clinical expertise with technological innovations.

The pandemic accelerated the shift towards digital health solutions, and Stephanie found herself well-positioned to ride this wave of change. Her experience with Physera led to an opportunity with One Step, a digital health startup. "I was contacted by somebody from One Step, started to do a little bit of contract work for them, and that kind of rolled out into a full-time position offering," she recalls.

This transition wasn't without its challenges. Stephanie had to adapt to a new work environment quickly, learn about software development, and bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and technological implementation. "I need to know how this thing works. I need to know the processes, and I wasn't expecting that, and that was a hard piece for me to learn," she admits.

However, Stephanie's openness to new technologies and willingness to step out of her comfort zone has allowed her to thrive in this new role. 

Current Role and Future Aspirations

Today, Stephanie serves as the Clinical Director at One Step, a role that allows her to blend her extensive clinical experience with cutting-edge technology. Her responsibilities are diverse, ranging from product development and ensuring clinical accuracy to supporting customer success and providing training.

"I work with products, clinical enhancement, and accuracy. I support customer success managers, helping them serve their customers, providing them with whatever resources they need or their customer needs, providing some training," Stephanie explains, giving insight into her multifaceted role.

But beyond her day-to-day responsibilities, Stephanie is driven by a larger vision: integrating technology into healthcare education and practice. She sees enormous potential in using data and technology to improve patient care and advance the field of physical therapy.

She envisions a future where new professionals are equipped with the skills to seamlessly blend clinical expertise with technological proficiency.

This vision extends to changing how healthcare professionals approach their practice. Stephanie emphasises the importance of data analysis and objective outcomes in demonstrating the value of interventions. "I myself would like to be a little bit better at data and coming at things from a data analysis perspective and teaching that," she says.

Stephanie's progression from traditional clinical practice to a leadership role in digital health hasn't been without challenges. She's had to learn new skills, adapt to a fast-paced startup environment, and bridge the gap between clinical and technical worlds. However, these challenges have only reinforced her belief in the importance of being open to new experiences and perspectives.

This exposure to diverse viewpoints has broadened Stephanie's perspective and reinforced her belief in the value of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Stephanie's Wisdom

• Be curious and open-minded throughout your career.

• Embrace the unexpected twists and turns of your career path, as it's rarely straight.

• Seek insights from diverse sources, including people from different careers and areas of life.

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