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.

Instructor - Rietschel

Meghan Rietschel, MPT, PRPC

Meghan Rietschel, MPT, PRPC (she/her) originally from the heart of Packer country in Eastern Wisconsin, Meghan graduated from The College of St Scholastica in Duluth, MN in 2000 with her Master of Arts in Physical Therapy and relocated to the Twin Cities area. Initially, an orthopedic therapist, Meghan wanted nothing to do with pelvic health, nor knew much about it! After the birth of her own children, she developed pelvic pain and was on a quest to find a path of healing for herself and realized what a profound impact her pelvic health therapist had on getting her life back! These experiences opened her up to a whole new passion and dedication she never imagined that would also have such an impact on the patients she serves. She has been an advocate for pelvic health for all genders over the past several years.

Meghan has presented to several community groups, doctors’ groups, as well as other therapists on pelvic health treatment, differential diagnosis, and chronic pelvic pain. Additionally, she serves as a clinical instructor for DPT students and is on faculty for the MHealth Fairview Women’s Health Residency Program.

Meghan believes in educating and empowering patients to get better, live a more active and healthier lifestyle, and educate all on the importance of pelvic health.

Meghan is a Clinic Supervisor and Clinical Specialist at MHealth Fairview Sports and Physical Therapy in Fridley, MN. She primarily treats patients of all genders with chronic pelvic pain, incontinence, and complex colorectal conditions.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 kids, 2 dogs, quilting, camping, and being outdoors!