Dr. Rebeca Segraves, assistant professor in PNWU’s School of Physical Therapy, has long been committed to improving women’s health. As her passions shaped her path, she saw the impact that healthcare disparities were having on women. Committed to doing whatever she could to end those disparities, Dr. Segraves began focusing on the widespread maternal-related health struggles impacting women in America.
In her research, which was recently published in The Journal of Women’s & Pelvic Health Physical Therapy, Dr. Segraves implores that we can drastically reduce the physical and mental strain in women throughout the country by prioritizing function and rehabilitation as part of treatment plans after birth or major pelvic surgery.
“Occupational and physical therapists ensure that anyone who comes into the hospital, for any reason, has the ability to return home independently with the necessary resources they need to function,” explained Dr. Segraves.
By increasing access to such interventions, women can receive earlier and ongoing treatment and, in turn, decrease their risk of suffering from cardiovascular conditions, abnormal bleeding, hypertensive disorders, musculoskeletal dysfunction, and cesarean wound injury.
“Nearly 7-million women are living in areas where there is low, or no, access to maternity care,” Dr. Segraves added, referencing a 2022 Maternity Care Deserts Report, which notes that access to such resources is worsening. “As a result of the inseparable connection between physical recovery and mental health, equipping future healthcare providers to collaborate with other disciplines to enhance community-driven care is a priority.”
As an assistant professor in PNWU’s School of Physical Therapy, Dr. Segraves is working to extend her knowledge and perspectives to a new generation of healthcare providers.
“Dr. Segraves’ passion and dedication to this type of work is infectious,” said Dr. Peggy Trueblood, founding director of PNWU’s School of PT. “She embraces the challenges of rural practice. Her research will help others, including our students, see the importance of this area of practice for physical therapy.”
“At PNWU, we’re disrupting the premise of withholding early access to care to underserved communities on the basis of race, age, gender, location, or ability to pay,” Dr. Segraves explained. “The vision that PNWU has to improve health throughout the Pacific Northwest aims to dismantle these inequities in care.”