Shelton Resident Named a "Healthcare Hero"

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, a nonprofit rehabilitation-focused healthcare organization headquartered in Wallingford, is pleased to announce that Shelton resident Kimberly Hopkins, PT, DPT, was recently honored with the 2023 Hartford Business Journal Healthcare Hero Award.

Hopkins was recognized for helping to co-creating the Exercise for Life (EX4L) Program at Gaylord Physical Therapy in Cheshire. EX4L is a no-cost exercise class designed to improve the health, quality of life, and independent living skills of people with paralysis and other disabilities.

In partnership with physical therapist Phil Silverio, PT, DPT, OCS, Hopkins launched EX4L in 2019 after noting a gap in community exercise resources available to individuals with paralysis and other physical disabilities. Since then, the program has empowered more than 50 individuals with varying physical capabilities to pursue their fitness goals through high-intensity circuit training, yoga, Pilates, and strength and conditioning workouts. The sessions also provide education on topics ranging from nutrition to home exercise.

“Kim volunteers a considerable amount of her personal time to run and staff sessions on evenings and weekends and has spent countless hours applying for funding to purchase adaptive exercise equipment and to keep the program free to all participants,” said Jacob Hunter, PT, MSPT, OCS, senior director of outpatient therapy services.

“Her advocacy and dedication to improving the health and quality of life for people with paralysis and physical disabilities makes him an extraordinary therapist. I am thrilled that she is recognized with this very deserving honor.”

To learn more about the free EX4L program at Gaylord Physical Therapy in Cheshire, contact (203) 679-3533.

About Gaylord Specialty Healthcare:
Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is a rehabilitation-focused, nonprofit health system headquartered in Wallingford, Connecticut, that provides inpatient and outpatient care for people at every point in their journey from illness or injury to maximum recovery.

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is anchored by Gaylord Hospital, a long-term acute care hospital, and includes Gaylord Outpatient Services and Gaylord Physical Therapy for patients who require diagnosis and treatment on an outpatient basis. Gaylord's Milne Institute for Healthcare Innovation is a hub for accelerating world-class rehabilitative research, technology development and innovation to improve the quality of life and function of people around the world. Together, these entities deliver a complete continuum of rehabilitative care driven by clinical experience, innovation and human compassion.

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