Hi everyone!
Dr. Suma here, and I'm really excited that you've found the Three Little Ducks blog!
Today we are going to get a bit personal so you all can get to know me and There Little Ducks a bit more.
I'm originally from Lakeland, Florida. It's about 40 minutes away from Disney World, so I grew up spending a ton of time at theme parks.
In middle school, I won the county spelling bee, and I went to Washington D.C. for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Unfortunately, I was eliminated the round before the televised portion of the competition.
I attended the International Baccalaureate School in Bartow, Florida for high school. During my time there, we were ranked the #2 best public high school in the nation. It was a very rigorous program and I left with a TON of college credits and with a knack for studying.
From there, I went on to study Sociology at the University of Florida. Go Gators! It was an incredible experience but I chose to graduate a year early. During my time at UF, I really fell in love with physical therapy and working with children. I volunteered and participated in a research program that engaged in exercise programs for young adults with intellectual disabilities.
I went on to pursue my Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. During my time in Miami, my love for children and infants grew and I served as a nanny and babysitter for several Miami families and resorts. I continued my pediatric training with a rotation at Winnie and Arnold Palmer Hospitals for Women and Children. To this day, they are the largest NICU in the nation. This rotation was life changing! It validated that my path was to serve infants and children.
After a couple years of working as a pediatric physical therapist in Florida, I was recruited to Maui. I served as the lead physical therapist for Maui County's Department of Education for a few years and then served as a physical therapist for Imua Family Services' Early Intervention program.
In 2021, I moved to Oahu. Here on Oahu, I worked as a physical therapist for the Department of Education and for United Cerebral Palsy's Early Intervention program.
My passion for infants and children runs deep. I am deeply committed to serving the community of Oahu and empowering families to feel confident in their skills as caregivers.
I look forward to meeting you all soon!