Patricia Starkey

Biography

Dr. Patricia Starkey is a Peoria native, and graduated from Iowa State University in 2015 with a Bachelors in Kinesiology and Health with a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies, after which she pursued her DPT at Bradley University and graduated in 2018. She began her career in the Chicagoland area at Athletico Physical Therapy, and completed an Orthopedic Residency program through Evidence in Motion in 2019 and was awarded her Orthopedic Board Certification Specialty in 2021. Upon returning to Peoria, she managed the Athletico clinic in Lacon, IL for 2 years, while also working as an adjunct faculty member at Bradley, teaching part-time in the KHS and DPT programs. Dr. Starkey started in 2022 as a full-time faculty member of the DPT program, and has teaching interests in Orthopedics, Women's Health, Patient Education and Health Promotion, and loves mentoring students and new clinicians. She continues practice as a Physical Therapist part-time at the Athletico Peoria North clinic, where she sees Orthopedic and Women's Health patients.  Dr. Starkey is also a Residency Mentor Leader and part-time residency/CEU instructor for Evidence in Motion's Orthopedic Residency, volunteers yearly with the Alzheimer's Association for their annual walk, and is active in her community with her parish church, St. Vincent de Paul and Peoria Notre Dame high school. Dr. Starkey plans to pursue her PhD in Leadership in Health and Human Performance from Concordia University in Chicago, and has research interests in bridging the gap between Orthopedic diagnoses and Women's health, such as pelvic floor strength in relation to balance, jump mechanics, and injury prevention in sports; as well as patient and therapist communication trends. Tricia and her husband, Luke are big Bradley, Iowa State and Notre Dame fans and love to spend time with their two little ones, Fred and Elaine, and their families and friends who also reside in the Peoria area. She also enjoys participating in rec league soccer and volleyball, enjoys doing yoga and pilates regularly, drawing and painting, and loves trying out new restaurants with her husband. Go Braves! 

Professional Experience

• 6 years PT experience
• Currently still working at Athletico Physical Therapy part-time
• 4 years Residency Mentor Leader for Evidence in Motion Orthopedic Residency Program
• 2 years Adjunct Faculty at Evidence in Motion

Teaching

Summer:

• PT 612 & 622

Fall:

• KHS 210
• PT 630
• PT 810
• PT 720

Spring:

• KHS 480
• KHS 306
• PT 770
• PT 700
• EHS 101

Scholarship

Research interests include pelvic floor impact in female jump mechanics, health and wellness promotion, and emotional intelligence and pain science. 

Service

Campus service: DPT Alumni Outreach Committee

Licensures and Certifications

Licenses:

• PT, DPT

Certifications:

• OCS (orthopedic clinical specialist)
• TDN Certfied (trigger point dry needling)