Geraldine K. Highsmith, PT

Gerry has been the Director of Pediatric Therapy Associates since 1987.  She began practicing as a licensed pediatric physical therapist in 1976, when she graduated from the Physical Therapy Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Gerry worked with prematurely born infants in the Wake Med NICU and SICU for over ten years. During that time, she participated in a research project coordinated by the National Institute of Health (NIH) in which she provided infant assessments for a research project looking at environmental contaminants in human breast milk. She also assisted with writing a grant targeted to provide parent education in the home environment during the administration of the Bayley II developmental assessment scales. Gerry’s many areas of special training include advanced pediatric assessment and treatment, including the administration of the Brazelton Scales, the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and Sensory Integration Assessment Tools, the evaluation and fabrication of custom molded seating systems, splints and orthotics, splinting and casting, health-care administration, and clinical management. Gerry is also a feeding specialist. She established and dedicated ten years to a feeding and developmental therapy program at Wake Med entitled The Feeding and Developmental Learning Clinic. In addition, Gerry is credentialed as an Infant Toddler and Family Specialist, a Parents as Teachers (PAT) therapist, and a Parents as Teachers supervisor. 

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