Thanks for working here Thursday: Maria Teresa Kessel, PT, DPT, CCH Home Health and Hospice

Campbell County Health is proud of its employees, and we want the CCH family and the Campbell County community to know about the good work that they do for this organization.

Meet Maria (Teresa) Kessel, PT, DPT, who works as a physical therapist at CCH's Home Health and Hospice. Fun fact, three of Teresa's sisters are also named Maria, so everyone has called her Teresa from a young age. Teresa started working for CCH in Rehabilitation Services 17 years ago and has transitioned to Home Health and Hospice. "In my downtime or on weekends, I also help out in outpatient rehab and acute care. This way, I continue to see patients in different settings," she says.

Teresa earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of San Carlos and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Southwestern University, both in Cebu City, Philippines. She then earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Utica College in New York in 2017. She is wound care certified and is seriously considering pursuing a lymphedema certificate this year. Teresa calls herself "a physical therapist whose greatest satisfaction is simply making a difference in someone's life."

Teresa was inspired to work in health care from her exposure to different environments when she was growing up. Her father was the mayor of the city she grew up in for nearly 20 years, and saw to it that Teresa was aware of the many public health concerns that a community can face; and her mother was a nurse and a leader at the city's public health center. "My mother saw to it that patients with physical disabilities were taken care of and those who were underprivileged were afforded medical care. She also organized a support group that was primarily responsible in the reintegration of patients into the community. She promoted health and wellness as part of her public programs," she says.

It's not hard to see why Teresa calls her parents her heroes. "Their unconditional love and unparalleled public service have instilled positive beliefs and values so much so that five of my six siblings pursued the medical field," she says.

When she's not working, Teresa enjoys spending time with her husband and children watching movies, cooking and visiting her family in North Dakota. She also enjoys reading and listening to audiobooks.

We asked Teresa what she likes most about at CCH, and what excellence every day means to her. Check out her response:

"I like working at Home Health and Hospice because it provides me with a flexible work schedule and helps me develop good working relationships with my patients, particularly in their own physical space. Because of this, I am able to develop specific exercise programs that are relevant to their needs. The department's teamwork and camaraderie is exceptional.

In my 27 years of practice, I have always committed to excellence every day by providing the very best of everything to all people that I meet. More so, I always make sure that I give encouragements to my patient by letting them know that, ‘the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,’ a quote by Lao Tzu, for those who don't know."

Thank you Teresa for all that you do for our patients. We appreciate you.

Is there a CCH employee who went the extra mile or shows you extraordinary service? Give them a pat on the back by completing an Excellence Every Day card.