AnthroClinic

Joan Takacs, D.O.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

I grew up in a strong Osteopathic Tradition. My Grandfather was a student of A.T. Still, MD., the founder of Osteopathy, and my father studied with Wm. Garner Sutherland, DO developer of cranial Osteopathy.  www.osteopathic.org &  http://www.cranialacademy.org/

After medical school and a rotating internship, I joined the faculty as instructor in the Osteopathic manipulation department at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, teaching, doing general practice and ER shifts. In 1983, I entered my Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R ) residency.

I came to Portland in 1986 after completing my residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Missouri, in Columbia, to develop and run (for 4 years) the inpatient rehabilitation unit in Eastmoreland Hospital. During that time, I also had my own outpatient practice, primarily in physical medicine, and performed assessments and IMEs for Northwest Pain Center. As a Physiatrist, I have performed countless EMG / NCVs.  For demonstration video on tests see   www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0uSpYd_Ics

I was discouraged with how often patients fail to improve with musculoskeletal pain. This prompted joining Geoff Baum, DO, orthopedic surgery, and John Takacs, DO to develop Synergy Rehabilitation, a multidisciplinary outpatient program. The economics did not support a physician owned PT, MSW, RN clinic and we were forced to let this go after 3 years.

Still on a quest to find a better treatment success with musculoskeletal  injuries, my interest was piqued at a Waldorf teacher and doctor course on the movement concept of Spacial Dynamics® www.spacialdynamics.com .  I am extremely impressed with the benefits of this modality. I invested the time to do the 5 year training (4 weeks spread throughout each year) and graduated from the SDI institute in 1999. I have dual board certification by the MD and DO PM&R boards. For information on the practice scope of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) see the web sites of these organizations at www.aocpmr.com &   www.aapmr.org

I am blessed to have a wonderful treatment team at the clinic. The primary care focus of my physician colleagues helps to keep my awareness of new treatments in primary care. I am board certified in Anthroposophical Medicine and provide this holistic extension of medicine for those adults and children requesting that approach.   www.paam.net

Always a student of movement I am a potter, and a student of classical guitar.

Dr. Joan

What is a D.O.?

What is OMT (Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment)?

What is anthroposophic medicine?