Meet the Team
Since we opened in 2017, our Rehab United Seattle family has grown from a team of two to a team of four staff members! Our "cRUw" is key to our success as an organization and we truly take pride in the family we've built over the years.
Kelly Vanhove, PT, DPT, FAFS, ATC
Co-Owner, Clinic Director
Hometown: Winfred, South Dakota
Education: Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training – South Dakota State University; Master of Exercise Science – Arkansas State University; Doctor of Physical Therapy – South College; Graduate Fellow in Applied Functional Science (FAFS) - Gray Institute for Functional Transformation (G.I.F.T.)
Sports: Baseball, Football, Soccer, Running, Biking
Hobbies: Hiking/Backpacking, Snowboarding, Gardening, Crabbing, Finding Fun T-shirts
Favorite Foods: Tacos, Ice Cream (Dairy Free – I love my Full Tilt Ice Cream!)
Nickname: KJ
Fun Fact About You: I’ve separated both of my shoulders snowboarding. I separated my left shoulder jumping over a 2-foot bump at Keystone Mountain in Colorado, and the right one traversing the backside of Steven’s Pass. Through my momentary lapses in not being awesome snowboarding continues still be a major passion of mine that makes me yearn for winter each and every year!
Biography: Kelly was born and raised in Rushmore state of South Dakota where he attended Howard High School participating baseball, football, basketball, and wrestling. Kelly has been blessed to be able move around the United States while being an athletic trainer for the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Since graduating from South Dakota Stated University in 2003 Kelly has went on to pursue three more degrees achieving his Master’s in Exercises Science, Associates degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant and then finally his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Kelly landed in Seattle in 2011 and has developed a great fondness for the Emerald City, from exploring the amazing Cascade and Olympic mountains to Puget Sound that provides so many amazing opportunities for fun and adventure.
Kelly’s work history includes time spent as a licensed physical therapist and certified athletic trainer that includes over 14 years of experience in outpatient physical therapy. He has worked as a certified athletic trainer for USA Pro Beach Volleyball; along with experience as an athletic trainer for the Chicago Cubs Baseball club. Kelly is a Fellow of Applied Functional Science through Gary Gray’s GIFT (Gray Institute Functional Transformation) Mentorship program. This 10-month mentorship taught him the appreciation and in-depth knowledge of understanding the principles of neuromusculoskeletal chain reaction biomechanics. Applied Functional Science utilizes a strategic plan of action employing all forms of movement, dimension, and influence tweaks. This allows him the expertise and confidence to implement and manage all functional techniques of assessment, rehabilitation, training and conditioning, performance, and prevention.
Kelly’s physical therapy philosophy is to help his clients seize the connection between mind, body and spirit in order to create an enriching life that will help them rehabilitate from their injury. His approach in physical therapy will be based on principles, not theory. The field of physical therapy is exciting as there are more experiences to be gained, and new approaches to be understood.
Kelly makes a point of creating and encouraging and open environment with his clients, where he will get to know them and let them know that they are being understood. "I want to take the time to relate to their goals, where they are and where they want to be, and together we will achieve them. I believe if I can live up to the standards that I have set for myself as a person, that when my career comes to a close I will look back and see that that I just didn’t provide an exercise or a technique, but that I was able to change somebody’s life."
In his spare time away from RU Seattle, Kelly enjoys spending time with his very beautiful wife, Sarah, their two dogs Dakota and Ollie. He also enjoys hiking/backpacking, gardening, snowboarding, and trying to be an amateur home improvement specialists.