Instructors - Cathcart

Darla Cathcart, PT, DPT, PhD, WCS, CLT

Darla Cathcart, PT, DPT, PhD, WCS, CLT (she/her) graduated from Louisiana State University (Shreveport, LA) with her physical therapy degree, performed residency training in Women’s Health PT at Duke University, and completed a Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences. Her dissertation research focused on using non-invasive brain stimulation to augment behavioral interventions for women with lifelong vaginismus, and her ongoing line of research focuses on painful intercourse and post-Cesarean rehabilitation.

Darla’s certifications and training include Women’s Health Certified Specialist (WCS, board certification through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties). Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Physical Therapy (CAPP-Pelvic). Certificate of Achievement in Pregnancy & Postpartum Physical Therapy (CAPP-OB). Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT).

Darla began her women’s health physical therapy career in her first job while working with pregnant women with musculoskeletal problems in a private outpatient therapy clinic in Shreveport, LA (with a focus on spine rehab). While there, she developed and hosted an exercise class for pregnant women. She would go on to develop a mom and baby postpartum exercise class while in her Duke residency in Durham, NC. She went on to develop the pelvic, pregnancy, and post-breast cancer/lymphedema PT program at Christus-Schumpert Health System in Shreveport, LA. During this time, she participated in educating women in the labor and birth preparatory classes hosted by the hospital; she also taught the women’s health course for physical therapy students at LSU-Shreveport. Darla went on to serve as a full-time faculty member in the physical therapy program at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR, where she taught women’s health topics, documentation, therapeutic exercise, professional development, and human physiology. She recently owned a private PT practice that is dedicated to pelvic (bowel, bladder, and pelvic pain) and pregnancy/postpartum conditions in Conway, AR. Darla now is a full-time faculty member in the entry-level Physical Therapy program at Graceland University.

Darla currently serves as the President for the Academy of Pelvic Health of the American Physical Therapy Association. She has several peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed scientific publications. Amongst some of these, she co-authored “Clinical Summary: Urinary Incontinence” for PTNow.org in April 2015. She authored the chapter titled “The Female Hip and Pelvis” in Orthopedic Management of the Hip and Pelvis (S Cheatham, M Kolber, Elsevier, 2015). She chaired the committee for and participated heavily in the development of the Certificate of Achievement in Pregnancy/Postpartum (CAPP-OB) course series for the Section on Women’s Health of the American Physical Therapy Association. Darla has spoken and instructed many courses in local, national, and international settings on a variety of pelvic, pregnancy/postpartum, and other women’s health physical therapy topics. Darla has served as the Director of Education (2011-2014) and as Vice President (2015-2016) for the Section on Women’s Health, American Physical Therapy Association. She also served a technical expert panel member on Treatments for Fecal Incontinence, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in 2014-2015. She also volunteered as a Women’s Health Certified Specialist Exam Standardization Task Force member in May 2013. Darla received several awards from the Section on Women’s Health: CAPP-OB Instructor of the Year (2017); Course Site Hostess of the Year (2018); and Volunteer of the Year (2015). She also received Clinical Instructor of the Year while serving as a clinical instructor a pelvic health physical therapy student from Elon University in 2011.

On a personal note, Darla has teenaged twin boys. She is a lifelong runner and exerciser who loves dark chocolate, craft beer, and her four dogs.

Instructors - Reale

Jessica Reale, PT, DPT, WCS

Jessica is a board-certified specialist in Women’s Health (WCS) and is passionate about working with all people with pelvic floor disorders, especially those with chronic pelvic pain, urinary dysfunction and bowel dysfunction. She is a graduate of Gordon College with a B.S. in Kinesiology and of Duke University where she received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Jessica owns and treats patients at Southern Pelvic Health in Atlanta, GA, a specialty pelvic rehabilitation practice.

Jessica is passionate about pelvic health education, and works closely with Holly Tanner in writing and updating Pelvic Floor Level 1, 2A and 2B coursework. She also regularly guest lectures at local university DPT programs, and has presented at conferences, seminars, community groups, and various medical and physical therapy residency programs.

Jessica loves supporting other pelvic rehabilitation providers, and founded the Facebook group, Pelvic PT Newbies, as a place for safe questioning, learning and growth. She also established and runs a professional small group mentoring program several times each year. She also runs an educational blog on pelvic health topics through her website, and is active on social media @southernpelvichealth, spreading awareness of pelvic floor dysfunction and pelvic rehabilitation. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 daughters, staying active, and traveling. .