Yá’át’ééh (Hello)

Lynnette is from Grandfalls, Arizona, a rural area located on the Navajo reservation. She is an enrolled member of the Diné (Navajo) tribe where she has received much inspiration and growth from her family, community, and culture. Growing up, she saw physical ailments from family and friends, as well as her own sports related injuries (high school and college intramural sports - lots of fun but boo for injuries!). Health care access was accessible but limited as she later discovered as an adult that her family and community are directly impacted by social determinants of health and social injustices. Lynnette is aware of rural living and city needs as she experienced the long commutes of Northern Arizona, living both on and off the Navajo reservation, she attended school in Flagstaff, Arizona from pre-school to high school, then attended college. These factors influenced Lynnette to seek education and obtain a degree to help people improve their lives through healthy living and movement, thus, becoming a licensed Physical Therapist.

Being a physical therapist meant that Lynnette wanted to help others improve their quality of life. In doing so, she received the Indian Health Service (IHS) Scholarship and started her career working on her reservation by treating patients from various tribes and rural areas of Northern Arizona, as well as volunteering for various youth sports and community events. She received the University of New Mexico Physical Therapy Program Alumni of the Year Award for her work with her tribe. Lynnette has worked as a direct patient care provider and also served as the Director of the Physical Rehabilitation Department at one of the hospitals on the Navajo reservation in Arizona. She moved to the State of Washington and assumed the role of Clinic Director for an outpatient orthopedic clinic (shout out to Port Orchard and towns west of the Puget Sound!). She then returned to the State of Arizona to provide direct patient care at outpatient physical therapy clinics in Flagstaff while starting her business, IINÁ Physical Therapy.

Lynnette has always enjoyed community involvement and her aspirations led to her co-founding the Indigenous Physical Therapy Network (IPTN), promoting community action by founding the Pinon Career Information Fair (PCIF), guest speaking at educational and professional settings, as well as pursuing her entrepreneurship endeavors via IINÁ Physical Therapy. Through her vast personal and professional experience, she enjoys sharing knowledge with volunteers, students, and colleagues. She holds various certifications: Dry Needling, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Clinical Instructor, and Board Certification for Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. She has contributed as a voice and a perspective from an Indigenous background into various conversations. Lynnette’s goal is to positively impact her profession and community locally and nationally, to promote wellbeing, and to contribute to a larger cause that will help each person live a better life.

Lynnette’s areas of interest include: orthopedics, sports, injury prevention, ergonomics, pain management, dry needling, vertigo, health and wellness, advocacy.

Outside of work, Lynnette enjoys being with her family and friends, traveling, hiking, movies, art, stretching and moving, food journey, learning, and laughing.