“My primary focus is returning function and improving quality of life for my patients. It is a privilege to work with them on their rehab journey.”
Dr. Perkey serves as a Medical Director for the St. Charles Rehabilitation Department.
Fellowship trained in Brain Injury Medicine, Dr. Perkey specializes in neuro-rehabilitation. This encompasses diagnoses that involve the spinal cord and the brain, and can include strokes, brain injury, spinal cord injuries, and multiple sclerosis. As the medical director of the inpatient rehabilitation unit at St. Charles Bend, she sees while they are in the inpatient rehab center, as well as follow up visits at the St. Charles Center for Orthopedics and Neurosurgery to provide continuity of care after they leave the hospital.
Prior to joining St. Charles, Dr. Perkey worked in a similar role at Providence Health and Services in Portland, Oregon and as a brain injury specialist at WellSpan Health in York, Pennsylvania. Her interest in medicine began at an early age, with a fascination of the human body and brain connection. She pursued a degree in cell biology and neuroscience in college and ultimately decided to pursue a career in medicine with influence from her mother, a nurse in the ICU. She completed her extensive medical training and was able to combine her passions of neuroscience and caring for others in this rewarding and unique role.
The most gratifying part of working in neuro-rehabilitation is working with the patients to help them regain function. The entire care team, including the nurses, therapists, and physician colleagues, is dedicated to help patients on their rehab journey. She joined the St. Charles Center for Orthopedics and Neurosurgery because it has the most comprehensive program for orthopedic, neurosurgical and physiatry care in the community, and is embedded in the St. Charles inpatient rehab system. This allows Dr. Perkey to provide continuity of care, seeing patients both in the inpatient and outpatient settings, to help them achieve their goals.
