WALLINGFORD, CT (May 18, 2012) –Erin Prastine, an inpatient physical therapist at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, was named the 2012 Employee of the Year during a ceremony on May 8. This award was established in 1992 by the family of a former patient Joseph A. Lindenmayer, who received care at Gaylord in 1991. According to his daughter, Josephine L. Gierer, the award acknowledges the kindness that was returned to her father by the employees at Gaylord. Erin is the 21st employee to receive the award.
“I feel so incredibly blessed and privileged to work each day with the most amazing people,” Erin stated at the award ceremony. “I would like to thank all my patients and co-workers for making my time here at Gaylord such a memorable and meaningful experience. I am such a lucky lady!”
Sonja LaBarbera, Director of Inpatient Therapy Services at Gaylord said, “Erin is the type of therapist every patient wants to have. She is compassionate, dedicated, highly skilled, and humble. She is very deserving of this honor.”
A resident of Middlefield, Prastine joined the Gaylord staff in 2005 as a staff Physical Therapist and is now a Level III Physical Therapist: Clinical Expert in SCI Rehabilitation. Erin received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology at the University of Massachusetts- Amherst and later earned her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy at Sacred Heart University.
Erin also joined the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, (NSCIA), Connecticut Chapter as a board member in 2005. She currently volunteers as the Coordinator of the ThinkFirst injury prevention program, which is sponsored by Gaylord and NSCIA. The program presentation includes a clinical overview that explains SCI from a medical standpoint, and a Spinal Cord Injury Survivor, who can relate their own experience to the audience. Erin is also a co-coordinator of the spinal cord injury support group that meets monthly at Gaylord. Both events are free and are available to the public. For more information on either topic, please call 203-284-2875.
We are truly honored to have Erin working with us at the Connecticut Chapter. She has been a valuable addition to our group and continues to be actively involved in providing our members, both current and new with information, resources and a friendly face at all of our events. Our heartfelt congratulations are extended to Erin as well as our thank you for her years of involvement with our Chapter. We look forward to working with her as she continues to assist people with SCI.