Josh Kim
Name:
Yong Bin “Josh” Kim
Specialties:
Currently pursuing advanced training in pelvic health physical therapy.
Empower History:
Joined Empower Physical Therapy in September 2025
Hometown:
Seoul, South Korea
Background & Inspiration
What inspired you to become a PT?
My own rehabilitation journeys—recovering from disc herniations during military service and a stroke in college—showed me how life-changing physical therapy can be.
Rob Minturn
Rebekah McConnell
Empower History: June 2025
Hometown: Born and raised in Rowlett, Texas, now living in Palmer AK
Background and Inspiration:
- What inspired you to be a PT? I always knew when I was younger that I would want to get into the medical field. Through sports injuries of my own, I fell in love with the PT profession. I loved how my PTs made it possible for me to return to the sport I loved playing.
CJ Charniak
What inspired you to be a PT? When I was in 5th grade my grandpa received a double lung transplant and that was my first look into the rehabilitation and recovery process. From there I knew that I wanted to be involved in helping others recover and get back to living their daily lives.
Where did you go to PT school? University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.
Read full blogJeff Porter
Specialties: Pediatric athletics, Orthopedics
Empower History: NEW Provider as of February 2025
Background and Inspiration:
Raised with a father in the Navy so I’ve lived all over the Lower 48. Most of my home roots reside in Tennessee. I went to undergrad in Alabama at Faulker University where I played college soccer. I got lucky enough to play semi-pro soccer in the PDL for the Nashville Metros.
Read full blogRachel Koehler
Empower History: 1 Year
Hometown: Hayden, Colorado
What inspired you to be a PT? I’ve always been drawn to the field. I love helping people, laughing with people and I love the challenge of designing unique care plans for my different patients and their unique goals.
Where did you go to PT school? The University of Montana
What is your background and experience in this industry?
Read full blogMary Hui
Mary Hui is excited to return to her hometown of Wasilla to join the Empower Team. She ventured into the lower 48 for college, attending the University of Minnesota where she played rugby and earned her bachelor’s degree in Parks & Recreation. This allowed her to work seasonally across the country in various roles. Her many summers spent as a hiking guide in Denali National Park opened her eyes to the challenges faced by those unable to fully participate in recreational activities due to physical limitations.
Read full blogRebecca Fisher
Specialties: Certified Lymphedema Therapist, Pelvic Floor level 2
Empower History: May 2024
Hometown: Laramie, WY
What inspired you to be a PT? I love that PT empowers patients to heal themselves
Where did you go to PT school? University of Montana
What is your background and experience in this industry? 9 years of experience working in outpatient rehabilitation.
Read full blogRachel Stokes
Dr. Rachel Stokes joined the Empower team in December 2022. She moved to Anchorage from Pittsburgh, PA as a military spouse and immediately fell in love with Alaska.
Rachel earned a business degree from Geneva College in Beaver, PA, but after finding the corporate world unsatisfying, ultimately returned to Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA for her Doctorate in Physical Therapy where she could pursue her true passion – Pelvic Health PT. She also has an Associate in Psychology degree from the Community College of Allegheny County which she applies to better navigate the tough and sensitive conversations that can come along with this field, to include providing Trauma-Informed Care.
Read full blogBriana Leatham
Briana joined the Empower Physical Therapy team in 2022. She and her husband moved to Alaska in 2019 after she graduated PT school in 2018 and now have one daughter that is almost 1 year old. She grew up in California and had lived there her entire life until moving to Alaska. They both decided to move to Alaska because of how beautiful it seemed and the opportunity for an adventure together.
Read full blog
