Meet The Team
Dirk Baird, PT / Owner
Dirk graduated from Creighton University with a Doctorate in PT in 1998. He has owned this business since 2000 and has loved developing life long relationships with members of Kootenai County for over 20 years.
“I love coming to work because every new patient presents me with an opportunity to make a new friend and to help someone progress with their functional needs in life.”
Jim, PT, DPT
Coeur d'Alene Clinic Director
“I love the fun and laid back atmosphere at HLPT. My colleagues are awesome and we all care deeply about getting patients back to doing what they want to do by providing hight quality rehab in a professional environment.”
Jim grew up in Arizona and attended Norther Arizona University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science. He relocated to Pocatello, Idaho where he earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Idaho State University. He enjoys big game hunting, camping, water sports, golfing, and snowboarding. Jim has a passion for sports rehab and a special interest in helping patients with vestibular impairments.
Diana, MPT, OCS
“Why do I like working at HLPT? I love that I can call my co-workers my friends. All of us – PT’s, PTA’s, techs, receptionists – enjoy each others’ company, and the friendly fun we have with each other in the clinic transfers over to friendly and fun treatment sessions with our patients. We can and do collaborate to give our patients the highest quality care we can give. Moving in to our beautiful new clinic last fall was just the icing on the cake.”
Brenda, PT, DPT
“I enjoy being able to work in a clinic that brings a variety of patients where we personalize all treatments to each patient, where I can effectively use manual therapies for hands-on treatment, and give hope and motivation to patients to better themselves.”
Amelie, PT, DPT
“I enjoy being part of the HLPT team because of the positive and caring environment. The team of skilled therapists, techs and receptionists are all invested in providing quality treatment and care for our patients which creates an ideal environment to help our patients improve their function and reach their goals.”
Amelie was born and raised in the small town of Colfax, Washington. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. Growing up she spent a considerable amount of time in Northern Idaho, so returning here to work was a dream. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, boating, basketball, volleyball, reading, and time with family and friends.
Jeff, PT, DPT
Jeff graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. He loves providing physical therapy services to his patients and making personal connections with them. When not working, he enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife and son and cooking new foods from all different cultures.
Bailey Donovan, PT, DPT
“I enjoy working at Hayden Lake Physical Therapy because there is an ongoing theme of improvement and growth. All the staff continuously work together to try to create the most cohesive unit needed to provide excellent patient care. Almost every interaction between staff and patients feels like an effort to better each other, ourselves and most importantly our patients. There is a genuine care and admiration for everyone that walks into our building.”
Collin Zimmerman, PT, DPT
“I love working at Hayden Lake Physical Therapy because of the great team we have. We have excellent therapists who strive to help each patient reach their goals. I appreciate the wide array of skill sets and being able to learn from one another. We have a lot of great patients who make our jobs enjoyable.”
Krystal, PTA
Kyrstal is a native to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Her hobbies include hiking, fly-fishing, snowboarding and camping.
“I enjoy working at Hayden Lake Physical Therapy and Aquatics because I get to work with well-educated and driven therapists every day, whose number one goal is to improve every patient’s quality of life. I get to work in a great team environment that truly cares about everyone that comes in. Our therapists, technicians and welcoming front desk ladies are motivated to provide the best care possible. Our clinic is a fun and uplifting atmosphere to work in, which I think is an important quality for the way we care for our patients. Our patients are not only patients, they become our friends that we share a lot of laughter and stories with. There’s nothing better than coming into work and being able to share fishing stories and have patients brighten my day. I feel that I am continually learning to better my practice while at work, not only from the great therapists I get to work with, but also from our patients.”
Blane, PTA
“I love working at Hayden Lake Physical Therapy because my employer and staff are truly wonderful compassionate individuals. Everyone here is committed to the success of the patients. We treat the ‘whole person’ not just the body part. I enjoy working with patients one-on-one to achieve their physical therapy goals.”
Blane is a native of North Idaho. He was born in Wallace, graduated high school from Kellogg (1986) and college from the University of Idaho (1991). He returned to North Idaho College (1997) and graduated from the Physical Therapist Assistant program in 1999. He started working at Hayden Lake Physical Therapy in the May of 2001 and has been there ever since. He has a wife, three grown children and enjoys spending time with his family, performing music, and teaching piano.
Blane has not only been a Physical Therapist Assistant for over 20 years but also a patient several times. He highly recommends the environment of the clinic and the staff at Hayden Lake Physical Therapy to achieve your individualized Physical Therapy goals.
Donna, PTA
“Working at HLPT for over 20 years has been a wonderful learning experience full of teachers that have come from all walks of life. Our patients have enriched my life with their stories, passions, experience, emotions, compassion, fortitude, and love. It is no wonder that our patients feel a loyalty to us and we to them because we build professional relationships that reciprocate goodwill, respect and good hearted fun. This experience has helped me build better listening skills and encourages me every day to share my life with others.”
The staff here are my rock. Every member is loving and compassionate with the desire to do their best work for each and every patient. The energy is motivational and keeps me true to my intended purpose. We each have mutual respect for the strengths and contributions the other brings to the table. On a lighter side, we at Hayden Lake PT like to have fun so we have developed relationships based on humor, ribbing and tolerance. Laughter and playful bantering are not uncommon in our clinic.
Our work is enhanced by a wonderful high tech facility that seems to run itself, however, behind the scenes is a dedicated team that keeps the cogs rolling and owners that have put their hearts into building a thriving business. I appreciate being a part of a fun-loving team working together to give our best to a wonderful community.”
Dee, PTA
“I like working at HLPT because of the great people I get to work with! We have an amazing team here at HLPT. Our front office staff do a great job keeping the wheels turning smoothly and make sure our patients get what they need while having a good time doing it. Our therapists are a group of really smart and really fun people that make coming to work something to look forward to. We have an atmosphere of mutual respect and team work that is hard to find but so great to experience! Our techs work really hard to take good care or our patients and keep the gym working like a well-oiled engine. But most importantly, we have incredible patients! We get to partner with some pretty great folks who make our days here fly by! We have made many friends over the years and have had the privilege of treating multiple family members. I am thankful to be a part of the team here at HLPT and appreciate the opportunity to serve wonderful people!”
Dahlon Hess, PTA
“I like working at HLPT because we work as a team towards our goals for ever improving care of the clients that come through the doors. Management goes above and beyond what they should to make sure staff feels like part of a family, which in turn, makes all clients feel like family as well.”
Dahlon grew up in the Midwest spending most of his time around the Great Lakes. After graduating in 1997 from Physical Therapist Assistant School, he spent three years working as a Traveling Therapist. After traveling, he worked in Chattanooga, Tennessee for three years, then back in Michigan for six years before moving to Coeur d’Alene in 2009. With his family, he enjoys snowboarding, camping, water skiing and many of the other outdoor activities North Idaho has to offer.
Monica Earp, PTA
Monica grew up in Lake Tapps, Washington and moved to Coeur d’Alene in 2015. She graduated from North Idaho College as a PTA with an Associates Degree. During her free time she enjoys, hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping, as well as spending time with her boyfriend and their fur baby Token (their 11 year old Husky).
“I enjoy working at Hayden Lake PT because I get to work with a great group of people who work together as a team in order to provide the best possible care to each and every patient. It is a fun and amazing atmosphere where coworkers are more like family and patients can come and feel comfortable to be themselves. Our patients are one of my favorite parts of working here, sharing stories, building relationships, and creating lasting friendships with them. I also like that we treat a diverse population of patients and that we provide personalized one on one care with each and everyone of them.”
Jessica Brusell, PTA
Coeur d'Alene Clinic
I feel privileged to have the opportunity to work here. The staff here are very kind, patient, and adaptable. I really appreciate the collaborative working environment and collective effort put forth to help our patients reach their rehabilitation goals. I love teaching our patients how to move in a safe and pain-free way.
Janice Smith, PTA
“I love working at Hayden Lake Physical Therapy for many reasons. Our business has several working components with front office, therapy techs, administrative staff, and therapists. We all work together as a good team and often help out in areas that are not our “normal” job. We communicate well with each other to provide the best care to our patients. We also have a “secret weapon”…a pool! I have found it amazing how well some individuals respond to aquatic therapy when gym exercises are too painful or exhausting.”
Did You Know?
Standing in chest deep water lifts up to 75% of your body weight off your joints.
