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Meet Our Staff

 

Alison Starkey

PT MBA MHA CAPS CDP CFPS

Alison Starkey founded Gaitway of Charlotte in 2012. Originally from the United Kingdom, Alison completed her training at King's College London and then shortly after graduating, took a job in Ottawa, Canada at a regional trauma hospital. Alison made her way to the Carolinas by way of Boston Ma, where she worked at the prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital.

Alison worked at Carolinas Healthcare System/ Atrium for over 20 years in a number of positions but mostly at Carolinas Medical Center Main. Alison has also worked in Acute rehab, skilled nursing facilities, Assisted Living Facilities and Home Health over the course of her career.

Alison gained her MBA/MHA from Pfeiffer University. She also holds a CAPS "Certified Aging in Place Specialist", a CDP "Certified Dementia Practitioner, and a CFPS "Certified Fall Prevention Specialist" certifications.

Since launching Gaitway of Charlotte, Alison has enjoyed the challenge of doing the very best for each client that we serve. As Federal and private insurance programs continue to cut the services offered to the public, we continue to expand our impact with diversification of our service line, expanding the regions we serve and providing the very best customer experience possible.

Alison continues to be active in the community. She is a long-time member of the Centralina Falls Coalition, is an active Volunteer and Community Educator for the Alzheimer's Association as well as supporting her children's schools where she is currently the Chairman of the School Leadership team at Northwest School of the Arts.

Alison enjoys a wide variety of patient care but has special expertise in the treatment of medically complex and neurological injuries such as stroke, TBI, SCI and others. Balancing medical challenges with a successful treatment plan is what she does best!

In her spare time, Alison enjoys spending time with her husband and three teenagers as well as the movies and eating out with friends.

LinkedIn Profile

Alison Starkey
 

Kelly Schrader

PT

Kelly Schrader has been with Gaitway of Charlotte for 3+ years. Kelly has over 35 years of experience in the field of physical therapy. Kelly has experience in home health, long term care facilities and outpatient rehab. Kelly has a passion for treating patients with balance dysfunction, vestibular disorders including experience with BPPV treatment. Kelly is passionate about getting patients to their goal and returning to the previous level of mobility. 

Kelly is a 1989 graduate of Alvernia University as a PT Assistant followed by graduatin from SUNY Buffalo in 1996 as a PT. She lives in Charlotte with her husband, son, daughter and dog, Milo. She enjoys traveling around the world (recently Switzerland!) and getting away for a weekend of fun in the mountains.

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Cynthia Kirkwood

OTR/L

Cindy received her bachelor's degree of Kinesiology in 2000 from Penn State University. She worked as an Athletic Trainer before going back to school and graduating in 2004 with a master's in Occupational Therapy at UNC-Chapel Hill. She has worked over 11 years in skilled nursing, gaining extensive experience in treatments for neurological disorders, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and COPD. She has also worked in home health / outpatient services for almost 6 years treating patients and educating caregivers in the home and assisted living facilities. She enjoys working with older adults and patients with dementia. She is proficient in the Allen Cognitive Level Screen Assessment. The assessment allows her to assist patients, families, and caregivers identify functional abilities and strengths when safety deficits interfere with self-care independence and quality of life. In her personal time, she enjoys quality time with her family, traveling, exercising, and spending time outdoors.

Cynthia Kirkwood
 

Marisha Griffin

MSOT, COTA/L

Graduated in 2019 from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences with a Master of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy and in 2007 received an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant. In 2016, I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Forensic Science from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Embarking healthcare in 1997, provided an opportunity for me to explore a variety of healthcare settings including: acute care, physicians' offices, skilled nursing, assisted living, home health, and independent living has been a nurturing and rewarding opportunity to improve the overall health and well-being of clients of all ages across the developmental lifespan. Geriatrics has been my continued area of focus in the past 14 years of my career primarily focusing on improving the overall performance outcomes for various diagnosis including: cardiopulmonary disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, musculoskeletal, low vision, seating & positioning, and deconditioning. My goal is to continue cultivating the lives of members associated with the older adult population and to educate/train individuals classified as the "sandwich generation", to increase self-efficacy while promoting a safe environment. I am excited to join Gaitway of Charlotte to provide community based occupational therapy services related to aging in place to residences in South Charlotte and Fort Mill, SC.
On my spare time I enjoy spending time with my children, spouse, our dog Lucky, family, and friends, or just simply engaging in a wide range of indoor/outdoor leisure activities.

Marisha Griffin
 

Melinda Benner

PTA, CDP

Melinda graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in Recreational Therapy in 2011 then returned to Martin Community College to received her Associate Degree in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program in 2014. Melinda has experience in Home Health, Outpatient Setting, Orthopedics, School systems and pediatrics throughout the last 8 years and became a Certified Dementia Practitioner in 2021. Melinda is married with 2 small children, Harper and Hudson, and a sweet 14 year old dog named Kirra residing in Fort Mill, SC. Melinda has a passion for helping others to gain their independence back to increase quality of life!

Melinda Benner
 

Pixie Gentle

PT

Pixie Gentle is a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill Physical Therapy School class of 1986. With 35+ years' experience, Pixie has worked in many settings including outpatient clinics, acute care, skilled rehab clinics as well as home health. Pixie loves helping people to achieve their goals & function at their highest level. Pixie especially enjoys working with the aging population. In her most recent endeavor Pixie traveled the country helping to troubleshoot & problem solve issues in outpatient clinics & train staff. Pixie is thrilled to be joining Gaitway to allow her to follow her passion of serving others & to use her wide range of PT skills.

Pixie lives in Mt. Holly with her husband & 2 dachshunds (one of which is paralyzed & uses a doggie wheelchair). She is an avid traveler having traveled to all 7 continents. Pixie also loves the beach & spends as much time there as possible with her husband & pups.

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Gaitway of Charlotte LLC

Charlotte, NC 28270


Call Us
Phone: 1-833-GAITWAY

Hours
Mon: 9am-5pm
Tue: 9am-5pm
Wed: 9am-5pm
Thu: 9am-5pm
Fri: 9am-5pm (Evenings & Weekend by Appointment)
Sat: by appointment
Sun: by appointment

Public holidays by appointment.

Willing to travel outside of Charlotte on a case by case basis. Please call for more details