Erynn Troy, PT, DPT
Troy is a physical therapist with the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders unit at the VA since 2012. Troy became a physical therapist because she loves helping people regain their independence. Troy completed her final rotation at the VA and loved the VA’s heavy focus on interdisciplinary care. She specializes in wheelchair clinic and custom seating.
Patrick Sheets, PT, DPT, LIP, SCCE
Patrick Sheets is a physical therapist and the section chief of Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Center’s Rehabilitation Therapies. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Regis University.
Sheets joined the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Center in 2018 as part of the leadership team to hire staff, order equipment, and establish initial processes for the center's opening in 2019.
Sheets wanted to become a physical therapist after he served as an Infantry Officer in the Army. He and his soldiers had their fair share of injuries and illnesses that required recovery. Physical therapy was a critical component that greatly helped them overcome both physical challenges and mental barriers, resulting in return to a mission-ready status in the Army or transition from the Army to civilian life with ongoing physical therapy to recover from life-changing injuries.
When he honorably discharged from the Army, he worked for a few years for a Fortune 100 corporation, but found very little personal satisfaction with the job. He pursued physical therapy, so that he could help others recover physical function or develop compensatory strategies to participate in activities that they enjoy. Sheets has a strong passion to continue to “take care of soldiers” and fellow Veterans. He is involved in all Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders rehabilitation therapy clinics and helps to resolve complex patient care situations.
Joelle Johnson, OTD, OTR/L, LIP
Joelle Johnson is the lead occupational therapist on the Spinal Cord Injury unit. Johnson received her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Creighton University, is a board-certified occupational therapist, and is also a licensed independent practitioner. Johnson has been an occupational therapist in inpatient and outpatient neuro based settings for 10 years. She has been with the Spinal Cord Injury Center at Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center for 2 1/2 years.
Johnson became an occupational therapist so she could work with people and help them achieve their highest potential and best quality of life. She believes it is one of the most holistic healthcare professions, and loves that it incorporates all aspects of the individual, including physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Johnson wanted to work in a well-respected institution where she could serve the men and women who provided an invaluable service to our country. She is also a certified aquatic therapist, works on functional modalities, splinting, and is one of the coaches for the Winter Sports Clinic – a national event for Veterans.
Andrew Flint, OT, MOT
Andrew Flint is an occupational therapist who specializes in Spinal Cord Injury and Dysfunctions. Flint earned his Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University. He has been an occupational therapist at the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders unit at Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center for two years and prior to that was an occupational therapist at Craig Hospital, working on the inpatient spinal cord injury unit for more than two years.
Flint originally became interested in occupational therapy after becoming involved in adapted sports programs including wheelchair basketball, track & field, and adapted water skiing. Through these experiences, he met other occupational therapists and got to know the participants he worked with who lived incredibly fulfilling and independent lives while navigating their world with a disability that required them to adapt to their environment. These experiences motivated him to pursue a profession that placed him in a position to continue supporting people as they pursue meaning and fulfillment in their lives while navigating life with a disability. Flint chose the VA because he knew that the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Center would provide a working environment where he would be able to develop good relationships with patients and colleagues due to the small and intimate nature of the inpatient Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders setting.
In addition to carrying a full caseload of veterans, he is involved in the group education program focused on Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders topics, a group exercise program, and process improvement initiative for inpatient scheduling.
Kaila Ott, MS
Kaila Ott is a clinical rehabilitation engineer who works on the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders unit. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and Master’s in Rehabilitation Science & Technology. She has been with VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System since October 2018.
Ott started working with the Richmond VA while she was in undergrad working with Veterans with polytrauma and the Innovators Network. She loved the intersection of rehab and innovation and decided to pursue further education in wheelchairs and assistive technology. Ott loves working with Veterans and in a healthcare setting that provides amazing resources and technology to its patients.
Ott works with the Wheelchair and Assistive Technology programs and provides custom rehabilitation technology solutions.
Jennifer Heilveil, CTRS
Jennifer Heilveil is a recreation therapist that works with spinal cord injury patients through the inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs. She received her Bachelors from Metropolitan State College in Leisure Studies and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. She has been working at the VA for 1 1/2 years.
Heilveil’s passion for recreation therapy can be traced back to her childhood and her great-uncle who had contracted polio, which in those days required he be cared for at home. For as long as she can remember he was always an important part of their family and was always included in family activities even though his condition made it impossible for him to walk or talk. Regardless of any challenges, her family always made sure he knew he was heard and a part of all family activities and she knows he loved every one of these inclusive moments. This was a major factor in her life’s work and advocacy for individuals with disabilities being fully included as part of their communities. During her more than 25 years working for the City of Boulder and the City of Fort Collins, she created and led the start-up and growth of many types of all-inclusive group fitness programs which continue even today. During those years of building programs for the city, she was selected to go to the 2004 Greece Paralympic games with the track and field program which she considers one of the greatest experiences of her life regardless of her career. Simply said, those Olympic Games changed her life and opened her mind up to the possibilities of doing so much more regardless of challenges and barriers. Adaptive Sports should be normalized and not simply celebrated every four years.
Heilveil chose the VA to provide purpose and meaning to Veterans and their families after a Spinal Cord Injury. Her grandfather was in WWII for four years and it affected their family in many ways. She has always wanted to give back and allow Veterans to pursue their passions and interest. Heilveil feels it’s important to believe in and support Veteran’s and their families that they can live productive and active lives through adaptive recreation opportunities.
Since starting on the SCI/D team in 2020, Heilveil has implemented Art, Fitness, and many more one-to-one bedside activities for participants that may not be as able as others. Some of the outpatient recreation therapy programs/activities she has implemented are field trips to the Denver Zoo, scuba diving, bocce ball, bowling, CrossFit, Roll and Strolls at Wash Park, and many more in the future. She is excited to open the doors and explore recreation and leisure opportunities for Veterans and their families.