Lonnie joined Encompass Health in 1993 with a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology. Lonnie has been the amputee program champion since 2008, guiding his team in exciting community group outings such as adaptive golf seminars, first swim clinics, amputee running clinics, and diamondbacks games. Lonnie developed an amputee mentorship program to match new patients of amputation with peer mentors who have already obtained their prosthesis and have returned to daily life. Lonnie’s strength in meeting the patient where they are emotionally enables him to assist the patient in viewing the future with a positive outcome, developing a comprehensive plan to get there.

Lavonn joined Encompass Health Valley of the Sun as a registered nurse in 2010. In 2012, she received her certified rehabilitation RN and was promoted to a nursing supervisor in 2014. Laura has received her WCC^®, wound care certification. In 2019, she accepted the wound care coordinator role. She proved to be an engaged leader and has a passion for helping patients heal. LaVonn provides ongoing wound care education to the clinical team at Valley of the Sun and serves our patients with high quality wound care.

Derry joined Encompass Health Valley of the Sun as a speech language pathologist in 2002 with a master’s degree in communication disorders from Western Michigan University. She became director of therapy operations in 2004 with special interest in rehabilitation for the stroke survivor. In 2006, Derry became a program champion of the stroke program assisting the stroke team to consistently earn the Encompass Health Stroke Center of Excellence Certification as well as Joint Commission disease specific certification. The stroke team leads the community stroke support group, provides education in the community on stroke prevention, participates in several community events each year as a partner of the American Stroke Association.

Anna joined Encompass Health Valley of the Sun in 2017 after graduating from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona. Anna became the diabetic program champion in 2019 following a year leading a diabetic task force. She and her team have developed a strong and educational diabetic class for patients and caregivers. She finds interest in incorporating therapy treatments with on-going education for the diabetic population. She has been successful in educating the employees of Encompass Health with core knowledge for assisting in daily patient care. She looks forward to growth in this newly developed program for Encompass Health.

Stephanie joined the Encompass Health team in 2010 as staff RN and later served as a nursing supervisor for night and day shifts. As a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN), Stephanie shows innovative thinking and a distinctive leadership style enabling her to serve presently as the chief nursing officer. She received her master’s degree in nursing in 2019. In 2014, Stephanie took on the role as program champion for the cardiac team. The cardiac team has been Joint Commission Disease Specific Certified since the initiation of her leadership and partners with the American Heart Association for community events and educational opportunities.

Chris joined the Encompass Health Valley of the Sun team as an occupational therapist in February 2012 after graduating from Midwestern University – Glendale. He has a passion for rehabilitation for the oncology patient. Chris developed a formal oncology team and was named a champion in April 2016 implementing many new processes for the specialize care of the recovering cancer patient. Chris received his Lymphedema (CLT) certification in November 2019 to target many conditions that are cancer-related and is able to treat both inpatients and outpatients. The oncology program has many healing services not usually found in acute rehab such as meditation, music therapy, pastoral services, pet therapy, nutritional support, and relaxation/stress management therapy.

Jamie joined Encompass Health Valley of the Sun as a speech language pathologist in 2014 with a master’s degree in communication science and disorders from Northern Arizona University. As an engaged member of the speech team, Jamie’s passion quickly focused on patients who had sustained a brain injury. In 2016, Jamie became a program champion of the Joint Commission Certified brain injury program. She then became a certified brain injury specialist, which prepared her to be a significant resource for the team. Jamie also serves as the hospital’s non-violent crisis intervention instructor providing education and training to staff to manage challenging patient behaviors.