Karen Kovacs’ inspiration to become a physical therapist came from the heart.

Physical therapy, she said, provides the “opportunity to study and integrate basic sciences like anatomy and physiology and neurology with working one-on-one with patients to help them recover from injuries and illnesses.”

“I also naively thought I would be trading a career as a teacher where I felt like a jack of all trades to become a true expert, only to realize that physical therapy has many different options for specialization,” Karen said.

Karen grew up in Saudi Arabia, but spent every summer at her grandmother’s home in Gloucester. She graduated from Christopher Newport University in 1988, and before moving to Illinois, taught 5^th grade at McIntosh School in Newport News.  

She graduated from physical therapy school in 2001 from Midwestern University’s Downer’s Grove, a suburb of Chicago.

“When my husband and I relocated to Gloucester, I chose Tidewater Physical Therapy because it is privately owned by physical therapists and not under a large corporate system,” Karen said. “I appreciate that our owners all treat patients and face the same challenges that I do when it comes to getting patients better during tough economic times in an evolving managed health care environment.”

Today, Karen is the clinical director of Tidewater’s Gloucester Point location.

Karen feels “fortunate because I work in the same community where I live. I know many of the patients I work with from community groups, my family, or they are friends of friends.”

Karen’s patients “will tell you that I always ask, ‘are you the same, better, or worse?’ Their response is what guides our treatment sessions. Naturally, I always keep my fingers crossed for each one to say, ‘I’m better!’”

The best is when she sees patients get better.

“A patient I will never forget was 15-years-old when he came to us. He had surgery and had been using a wheel chair for two months. I was supposed to get him walking but he was terrified to stand up and absolutely refused. After a lot of coaxing and encouragement and months of working together, he returned to a “normal” life. He’s in college now and still comes by to check in and let us know what’s going on with him.”

If you don’t see Karen in the clinic, chances are you’ll run into her helping build a stronger community through the Gloucester Point Rotary Club or living her own life stronger running and cycling throughout the region.

Karen is proud to support local races and events in Gloucester and recently started competing in and advising athletes on triathlons. Karen is a USAT Level 1 Coach.