2024 Health Care Champions Specialty Provider: Mandi Brantley

Mandi Brantley’s drive for her profession is fueled by the many opportunities to serve her local communities.

“My drive and motivation to excel as a physical therapist is as simple as taking care of patients,” she says. “I strongly believe that as a clinician it is my duty to meet the daily needs of my patients in order to improve their quality of life, improve their pain that affects their daily mobility and increase their independence within the home that allows them to live a fulfilling life.”

Brantley first became interested in physical therapy when her father was involved in a head-on collision in a car accident when she was in her freshman year of high school.

“He was seriously injured, resulting in an extensive hospital and inpatient rehabilitation stay that involved all therapy disciplines,” she says. “My dad had to learn how to walk, transfer and perform basic self-care tasks independently with close assistance from family, most importantly my mother. I was able to witness how the effects of therapy and rehabilitation slowly gave my dad his life back. He is a walking miracle to this day, and I am proud to say that this moment in my life and the life of my family nurtured my motivation and passion to become a physical therapist, to repay that same care to my local community members.”

In her career, she has led a team of physical therapists at the CMH Stockton Outpatient Rehabilitation Clinic and previously served six years as athletic trainer for Stockton’s athletic teams. She has made it a passion to serve her rural community and its future possibilities.

“When I began serving at the Stockton facility, I was the only physical therapist serving approximately 30-40 patients weekly,” Brantley says. “Now after approximately nine years, the clinic has grown to now employ four full-time therapists and additional float staff serving 90-100 patients weekly.”

Through her passion for the job, she has been able to see many patients return to their daily life, including work and sports, and improve their quality of life.

“I have been able to witness many patients work diligently towards their personal goals of returning home after a recent surgery, hospitalization or inpatient rehabilitation stay,” she says. “Helping patients and family members work through the daily challenges of those goals to reduce the burden of home living drives me to pour my heart into my role as a physical therapist.”

Outside of the office, Brantley has represented CMH in local chambers of commerce and other organizations. In addition, she has been able to help give back to the university that gave her a beginning in her career.

“I was recently invited to participate in the Doctor of Physical Therapy review board for Southwest Baptist University CAPTE board of accreditation,” she says. “I was given the opportunity to represent my role as a clinical instructor and alumni of Southwest Baptist University during this meeting. This opportunity also fueled my passion to serve my profession and career as well as give back to the college institution that served me well during my educational journey to become a physical therapist.”