Bailee Burningham

"Why on Earth are you a pelvic floor physical therapist?" I get asked this question all the time. The long(ish) answer: I've always been fascinated by the pelvis. SO MANY THINGS happen there: The spine connects, the bladder and bowel are regulated, sexual functions are controlled, hips attach, babies grow, babies are birthed, and more! 10 years ago, during my first year of doctoral training at the University of Utah, I observed a pelvic floor physical therapist. To put it mildly, the experience broke my brain in all the best ways. I watched her evaluate and treat patients through a different lens than I had ever seen. Since then, I have never looked back. The combination of anatomical complexity, huge variability of symptom presentations, and importance of mental well-being in my patients make me more passionate about this field every day. The short answer: I find great joy in providing a much needed and overlooked service... and I can't help but enjoy teaching people about the pelvic floor and breaking their brains too.