IngridHarm-Ernandes

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I have been a physical therapist for over 38 years and began specializing in Women’sHealthover26yearsago.Iwasa pelvic physical therapist in LI NY originally and then in the Duke University Health System for the last 20 years. At Duke, I was the Co-Director and a mentor for the Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residency Program, responsible for the Women’s Health team program development, and participated in national research projects. Most recently I am the author of “The Musculoskeletal Mystery: How to solve yourpelvicfloorsymptoms”.

I am married to my wonderful husband, have two great sons, a fantastic daughterin-law,andanamazinggranddaughter!

How did you get started in your career? In What Year?

I became interested in physical therapy many years ago while following a physical therapist as he was treating patients. My Dad suffered a severe hand injury and I saw firsthand what a significant improvement in function physical therapy made in my father’s life. When I saw how physical therapy could return people to performing tasks that were integral to their lives I was hooked. Physical therapists design strategies to improve function that is important to that individual as a whole. The beauty of the profession of physical therapy is that it allows you to combine knowledge of human anatomy and physiology with reasoning skills while staying mentally as well as physically challenged I graduated from PT school in 1984 and was ready to tackle the issues that concerned my patients I treated everything from back pain to ankle fractures, neurological conditions, and more As I progressed in my career, I discovered the subspecialty of pelvic physical therapy Pelvic physical therapy addresses conditions that people often are embarrassed to talk about let alone reach out for help Urinary incontinence, constipation, pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, and pain during and after pregnancy are often topics people don’t want to talk about and when they do they are often ignored or embarrassed Guiding my patients through difficult situations and allowing them to return to their life when they had given up was exciting for both the patient and myself

Who or what has been your greatest professional inspiration and why?

I don’t think I have one inspiration but many My patients are a major inspiration They work so hard at their physical therapy and fight through the pain and limitations to achieve their goals and that inspires me to work hard with them. I have had many mentors who have inspired me to push myself further and be better at whatever I do. Colleagues, professors, my own residents and students as well as fellow pelvic physical therapists have all taught me patience and thoughtfulness as a therapist and as a person. My parents have taught me hard work and steadfastness in whatever I do. Not to give up. My husband and family have inspired me to keep going when I think I no longer can.

What advice would you offer to someone starting out in your industry?

There is so much to learn and become proficient in, in pelvic physical therapy Particularly when you are first starting, it can become overwhelming at times to feel like you have all the right skills to offer your patient the best care possible My advice is to seek out mentors who can help you grow Mentorship is of vital importance for developing expertise in this field, building confidence, and being the best you can be for your patients Mentorship also demonstrates the importance of lifelong learning and giving back and as a result, encourages others to become mentors as they grow This begins a cycle of a supportive learning environment that benefits everyone

What professional challenges have you faced that have contributed to your overall success?

Pelvic physical therapy can be a challenge just as a specialty Many people, whether it is laying people or medical professionals, do not know what pelvic physical therapy is It has been a challenge over my entire profession to teach people what pelvic physical therapy is, how it can help individuals, patients, and their loved ones, and how it can help other medical practitioners’ patients I have presented regionally, nationally, and internationally to very diverse audiences and they are always amazed that there is a profession that can help pelvic conditions and that patients do NOT have to live with problems such as incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse, pain during or after pregnancy -- just to list a few conditions I believe that fighting for recognition of pelvic physical therapy and teaching so many people about the wonders of pelvic physical therapy have made me a stronger clinician and person It has taught me the worth of sticking something out and the importance of advocating for others Because my career has challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and speak in front of many people I have been able to successfully educate thousands upon thousands of people and make positive changes in their lives Overcoming challenges has helped me personally become a successful physical therapist, author, and presenter but it has given me a great gift as well. I am fortunate that I learned skills that have let me teach others to take care of themselves and their loved ones. I am honored that they have let me show them a path to returning to their life comfortably and confidently.

Are there any specific contributions you have made in your field which contributed to your success? (i.e. inventions/patents. Books authored or coauthored etc.)

I have been very fortunate to work with some brilliant people who have encouraged me to step out into areas that I originally did not feel were in my comfort zone As a result, I was able to contribute to numerous national research projects with the Pelvic Floor Disorders Network, where I worked as an interventionist, developed protocols, and became an author on shared research projects I am the primary author of the paper “Assessment of the Pelvic Floor and Associated Musculoskeletal System: Guide for Medical Practitioners”. I worked with some amazing members of the American Urogynecological Society on this paper that changes many medical practitioners’ practice patterns. Mentorship, as I mentioned before, is extremely important in the growth and success of any profession.

I was also extremely fortunate to be an integral part of the first pelvic physical therapy residency program in the US. In addition, I mentored many urogynecology, family medicine, and pain specialists. My most recent contribution is authoring the book: “The Musculoskeletal Mystery: How to solve your pelvic floor symptoms”. I feel this is one of the most important contributions I could make. It opens up the door for understanding how the body works, why someone may have symptoms, what their conditions are, how pelvic physical therapy can help, and how the person can help themselves. I hope to bridge the gap of understanding and get patients and their loved ones the care that they need

What do you do in your free time (volunteer, work, hobbies, etc.)

I enjoy many different activities. When my boys were younger my husband and I was greatly involved in their sports and band activities. Volunteering was centered around these activities as well as Civil Air Patrol. I spend a great deal of my time educating a variety of different groups around the county and even the world about pelvic health and continue to advocate for improved awareness and pelvic health care overall. I enjoy gardening, painting, and the outdoors whenever I can. I am finally learning to take a deep breath occasionally and enjoying what is right in front of me!

What would you like readers to know about you and why?

I am the child of immigrants who worked so hard to help me find a great life I try to follow their example They never gave up even under terrible circumstances and odds They taught me that with perseverance things will happen I feel that has helped me in all aspects of my life I feel honored that patients have opened up to me with what are quite often very difficult situations and have let me guide them along to a better life I couldn’t ask for a better profession than that

What is your favorite quote and why?

These 2 following quotes both exemplify what I have tried to attain throughout my life We all feel that everything is going against us at some time Realizing that that is often what gives us our lift puts a different spin on how we are feeling and can put the “fight” back into our goals. "When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it." -Henry

Ford

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that count.” -Winston Churchill

What 3 tips will you give someone who is struggling to live healthy?

Start with just one or two changes and add on changes as you progress Stick with it but don’t worry if you are doing things perfectly We all fall off the bandwagon Don’t beat yourself up about it Jump back on when you are ready Advocate for others When you advocate for others you will find that you will help yourself as much as you help them

What kind of legacy would you like to leave the world?

I would like to leave behind a legacy where patients get pelvic care earlier, better pelvic care, and that pelvic care is a normal part of everyone’s health care. The method to achieve that would be 3 pronged:

Through patient advocacy. Educating patients about their bodies, what their symptoms may be, and how they can seek help. Making information accessible regarding urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic pain, pelvic care during pregnancy, prostate issues, prolapse and so much more This should be common knowledge for everyone

Through medical practitioner education Pelvic health, particularly pelvic physical therapy, should be part of all medical practitioner training Sharing educational resources, training with other practitioners, and workshops that increase this knowledge base will make referrals to pelvic physical therapy easier and quicker

Teamwork This is for everyone Many pelvic conditions can not be treated by just one type of practitioner If we approach it with an interdisciplinary approach medical care is more complete We look at the patient as a whole, not as a part The patient is an extremely important part of this team When the patient takes an active role, problems can often be solved more easily A patient is more willing to take an active role if they are better educated

Each one of these prongs is addressed in my book My hope is that over time my legacy can be easily achieved with knowledge from my book. People can advocate for themselves and others. There will no longer be a struggle to get information out there about pelvic health and pelvic health care will just be a normal part of overall health care.

What are some misconceptions about pelvic health?

People think that pelvic issues are just normal. They have to live with them because they happen frequently and we just “put Band-Aids on it” rather than solve it. They laugh about “peeing in our pants” as if that should be accepted. People stop living their lives because they have so much pelvic pain and no one knows what to do about it. They live with pain with sex or stop having sex because of the pain because they have been told that happens after pregnancy or during menopause. These conditions are indeed common but they are NOT normal. They can be treated by pelvic physical therapy. Their lives can be restored. They do not have to live with these symptoms.

Why did you write the book?

After years of seeing patients have delayed treatment because either they did not know to ask for pelvic PT or their practitioner did not realize the patient could benefit from PT, I decided that it was time to write a book that helps the patient find their way to treatment much earlier Education is key to people advocating for themselves and for others The book is designed so that both the patient and practitioners can see how the anatomy is interconnected with the diagnosis It explains teamwork, pelvic PT, and self-care All the building blocks to receiving better care My hope is that pelvic health discussions become part of everyday health discussions and difficulty accessing pelvic health care becomes a thing of the past