Copelan Is New Physical Therapist At The Body Shop

Dr. Kate Copelan, née Riley, Physical Therapist, recently hung out her shingle at The Body Shop in Broadus. Copelan, a 2012 Broadus High grad and daughter of John and Julie Riley of Broadus, graduated in 2019 from the University of Montana with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. In June of this year, Kate married Kyle Copelan, son of Dale Copelan of Broadus.

We sat down with Dr. Copelan last week to hear her thoughts on her new profession, and moving home.

"My decision to follow the path of becoming a physical therapist really came about when I was young. My grandma fell on the ice and broke her wrist while checking heifers, and it made me upset to see her have to make big drives to larger towns to seek physical therapy care," she commented. "One of my goals from there on out was to help push for availability and access to quality care for those in rural settings."

Kate spent the two years following graduation working in Livingston, where she helped provide post-op and rehab care to patients, including mountain athletes and hunters who had been injured while out in the steep terrain of Southwestern Montana. Meanwhile, Kyle, a machinist by trade, was working diligently at his business, North Fork Precision, a CNC machine shop in Bozeman.

Moving home was always the goal, and when the opportunity arose for the couple to move to Broadus, with Kate joining Kristy Bowers and Kyle making ongoing plans to move the machine shop, the couple jumped at the idea.

Kate is certified in dry needling, a technique used to relieve pain and discomfort. She also provides a large number of other therapy techniques to help in patient recovery.

Additionally, The Body Shop has recently expanded their facility, with plans for a squat rack and other physical therapy related machines, in the space formerly occupied by Patten Bookkeeping. Michelle Patten and Patten Bookkeeping have now moved upstairs to expand their space, with both businesses still located at the site of the old KMJ's clothing building, across the street to the north of the courthouse. The building, under the ownership of Tom Brewer and Danny Johnson, has seen a major facelift, with the duo making significant improvements to the building.

Kate summed up her thoughts: "I am incredibly appreciative of Kristy laying the groundwork here at the Body Shop. I'm also excited to be working with our Care Coordinator Cindy May, who is essential in scheduling our patients and working to navigate the world of insurance, so we are able to help provide our patients the care they deserve, in a local setting. I'm thrilled to be home."