Your Physical Therapist

Denny Clark, Physical Therapist
Denny joined Northwoods Therapy in 2008. He received his BA in biology at Luther College in Dechorah, IA in 1987. He completed the graduate Physical Therapy program at the Mayo School of Health Sciences in Rochester, MN in 1989. He has experience in a variety of settings, primarily in outpatient orthopedics. He enjoys working with patients of all ages. Denny has a special interest in working with the active population with an emphasis on assessing and treating movement dysfunctions. He also specializes in sports performance for golfers.

Tessa Pecha, Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Tessa is an Eau Claire native who joined the Northwoods Therapy staff in 2011. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology in 2008 from UW-Eau Claire, where she played on the Blugold's softball team. Tessa then earned a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from UW-La Crosse. Her physical therapy interests include working with individuals who have knee, hip, or shoulder pathologies.

Carie Massey, Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Carie is originally from the Eau Claire area and joined Northwoods Therapy Associates in 2013. Carie received her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota, where she ran cross-country and track. She continued on at the U of M to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2012. Carie’s physical therapy interests include a wide variety of orthopedic and sports medicine patients; specifically the running patient.

Ben Reich, Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Ben joined Northwoods Therapy Associates in December 2018. He earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Carrol University in 2009 and has been practicing in the Eau Claire area. His experience includes outpatient, skilled nursing, and acute care. Ben also earned his dry needling certification in 2018. His therapy interests include: working with injured workers, work conditioning, and general orthopedics.

Traci Rykal, Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Chippewa Falls Director
Traci is originally from the Eau Claire area and joined the Northwoods Therapy team in 2019. She earned her Bachelor’s degrees from UW – Eau Claire in 2011 and completed her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Minnesota in 2018. Traci is passionate about assisting her patients to return to their optimal level of function and improving their quality of life. Her physical therapy interests include orthopedic care, manual therapy and vestibular rehab.

Jenny Nereng, Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Jenny joined Northwoods Therapy Associates in November 2020. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sport Science from UW-LaCrosse in 2009. She continued on at UW-LaCrosse to then earn a Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2012. Jenny has a passion for helping patients live their best possible quality of life. Her physical therapy areas of interest include general orthopedic care, balance and fall prevention and geriatric care.

Madison Scheppke, Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Maddi is originally from the Eau Claire area and joined the Northwoods Therapy team in 2021. She attended Carroll University where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Spanish as well as her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2021. Maddi's physical therapy interests include building therapeutic relationships to provide patient centered care for all orthopedic conditions for optimal recovery and return to function.

Janna Krula, Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Janna grew up in Chippewa Falls and joined Northwoods Therapy in 2022. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in 2017 at UW-Eau Claire and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2020 at UW-La Crosse. Janna’s goal is to share a passion for improving quality of life and collaborating with patients to help them obtain their individual goals. Her physical therapy interests include post operative and general orthopedic care.

Kara Molstad, Physical Therapist Assistant
Kara attended Western Wisconsin Technical College, graduating in 2001. She joined the Northwoods therapy team in 2022. Kara is a Certified Injury Prevention Specialist, Industrial Ergonomic Evaluator, LSVT Big Certified and Yoga teacher. She has special interests in rehabilitation of the foot and ankle, injury prevention in athletes, Neurology, balance and falls prevention.

Kelly Semerad, Physical Therapist Assistant
Kelly joined Northwoods Therapy Associates in 2023. She attended UWEC and then Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, graduating in 1995 with a degree in the Physical Therapist Assistant program. She has experience in a variety of settings, including pediatrics, acute, subacute and outpatient care. She is an LSVT Big and PWR! certified therapist. Her physical therapy interests include orthopedics, neurology and balance, with a special interest in helping people with Parkinson’s.

Rachel Pfeifer, Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Rachel joined Northwoods Therapy Associates in June 2023. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Central Michigan University and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at The College of St. Scholastica. Rachel enjoys working with patients of all ages and empowering them to take an active role in their recovery. Her therapy interests include general orthopedics, sports rehab, and spinal therapy.

Anna Graaskamp, Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Anna is originally from the Eau Claire area and joined Northwoods Therapy in 2023. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology-Human Performance in 2020 from UW-Eau Claire where she played basketball for the Blugolds. She attended the College of St. Scholastica where she earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2023. Anna’s physical therapy interests include sports medicine, post operative, and orthopedic care to help patients return to their functional performance goals.

Brett Ladsten, Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Brett grew up in Blair, Wisconsin and joined Northwoods Therapy in 2023. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology in 2019, followed by his Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2022. Brett’s physical therapy interests include general orthopedic care and treating patients across the lifespan.

Erin Hoelscher, Physical Therapist
Erin joined NorthwoodsTherapy Associates in 2024. She received her BS in Exercise Science from the University of Iowa in 1999 and Masters of Science in Physical Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis in 2001. Erin is LSVT BIG certified and is passionate about developing relationships with patients of all ages to help them reach their goals and attain their highest possible level of function. Her physical therapy interests include general orthopedic care, improving balance and fall prevention, and the treatment of individuals with Parkinson's Disease.

Katie Stearns , Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy

Katie moved to Eau Claire in 2002. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology Exercise Science from UW-Eau Claire. She earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from UW-La Crosse in 2010. Katie appreciates the complexity of the human body and takes a whole-body approach to treat pain and injuries, both acute and chronic. Katie’s physical therapy interests include orthopedic care, particularly spine-related pain/pathology, manual and manipulative therapy, and dry needling.

Myranda Setz, Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy

Myranda joined Northwoods Therapy Associates in 2024. She received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point in 2020 and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Concordia University Wisconsin in 2023. Myranda's physical therapy interests include post-operative and general orthopedic care.

Mike Erickson, Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy

Michael is originally from the Twin Cities, but has been practicing Physical Therapy in the Chippewa Valley since 2012. He joined Northwoods Therapy Associates in 2024. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2012 from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Additionally, he earned Bachelor's in Athletic Training from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse and his Master's in Rehabilitation Science from Concordia University Wisconsin. He is Board Certified in Orthopeadic Physical Therapy and has worked as an Athletic Trainer for multiple youth, High School and Collegiate sports. He has a passion for injury prevention and has training in the Selective Functional Movement Assessment, Functional Movement Screen, Dry Needling, and numerous manual therapy techniques.

Becca Blanchette, Physical Therapist

Becca is originally from the Eau Claire area and joined Northwoods Therapy in 2024. She attended Carroll University where she earned her Master of Science in Physical Therapy in 2005. Her experience includes acute care, inpatient rehab and home health. She is also a certified clinical instructor and enjoys working with students. Her therapy interests include patients with neurological disorders, balance and fall prevention, and geriatric care.

Amy Meyer,

Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Theraphy, Certified Lymphedema Therapist

Amy joined Nothwoods Therapy Associates in 2024. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in 2010 at UW Green Bay and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2013 at Carroll University. Amy appreciates patient-centered care with a focus on patient education for optimal therapy outcomes. Her therapy interests include lymphedema, oncology, neurology and balance, general orthopedic care, and dry needling.