As the healthcare industry continues to see increased demand for qualified healthcare professionals to provide much-needed care, Upstream Rehabilitation and our team are ready to meet the challenge to help make a difference in our patients’ lives.
Meet some of our leadership team and hear what inspires them to work at Upstream Rehabilitation.
Ron Kuerbitz, Chief Executive Officer
Hi, I’m Ron Kuerbitz, the CEO of Upstream Rehabilitation. I started my career as a corporate and securities lawyer in Chicago. I pivoted into healthcare more than 30 years ago, and since then I’ve been responsible for overseeing companies specializing in everything from manufacturing to home dialysis, home infusion services, physician practice management, and primary care delivery.
In my recent positions as CEO for Agilon Health and Fresenius Medical Care, I was fortunate to lead teams that were instrumental in developing industry-leading growth and innovative business models that helped to contribute to the value-based care movement in this country.
On a personal note, my wife and I reside in Gloucester, Massachusetts with two rambunctious German Shepherds. I met my wife in college, and I went to law school largely because she wanted to be a lawyer, and I wanted to be with her. We have one son who lives in New York. I’m an avid runner when I’m not an injured runner, and I love to ski.
I’m also an avid reader, mostly history. I love my job at Upstream because I know we’re providing care that has an immediate and visible impact on our patients’ lives. By relieving their pain and improving their mobility and function, we’re helping them to remain independent and return to an active lifestyle.
Today there’s a huge demand for physical and occupational therapists in many underserved communities in this country. Upstream has a responsibility to expand access to the high-quality care we deliver, and we’re committed to providing that service to more communities in need. I am not a clinician but my role at Upstream allows me to contribute to improving the health of millions of people, for that I mean incredibly grateful.
Casey Kalb, Division President
I’m Casey Kalb, Division President for Upstream. A company where I’ve worked and called home for more than 12 years. As an avid and competitive lacrosse player at the University of Kentucky, I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Health Sciences, along with a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy. I later went on to receive my doctorate at Shenandoah University. Currently, I am working toward a certification in leadership and management at the Harvard Business School.
Throughout my life, I’ve made it my quest to continue learning the science of examination, evaluation, and intervention skills, and the art of the patient and provider relationship. I have made personal investments in developing my own clinical leadership and management skill set to have a greater impact on patients, providers, physicians, and payers.
When I’m not working, I’m in Maryville, Tennessee with my wife and two children. We love to explore new towns together in our Airstream. I also enjoy playing the guitar and working on home renovation projects. I am so proud to work for Upstream because I believe we are fundamentally striving to make a more accessible, sustainable, and favorable economic environment for rehabilitation professionals and their support system. I believe Upstream is changing the way healthcare is delivered, and creating better access for patients requiring rehabilitation services than any other provider in the country.
Chad Barker, Division President
I’m Chad Barker, Division President at Upstream Rehabilitation. So I was playing high school basketball, I was in the 9th grade, and that was when I had my first knee surgery. And so as part of the rehabilitation process, I felt like what they were doing really resonated with me personally. So I started my career at Rush Hospital in Meridian, Mississippi. I started their sports medicine program and was able to advance through to become the Director of Rehabilitation.
While I was there they paid for me to get my MBA. And so I wanted to continue to grow not only myself personally, but I knew that I wanted to have a business to actually go back and help the communities where I grew up. And so I was able to start my first clinic, and with some really talented partners we were able to grow our original business to nine locations.
I’m most proud of being a part of Upstream Rehabilitation because [of] the opportunities that we give to young clinicians that are coming up, as well as the ability for us to go in and treat in those communities where they can go home, and take care of those patients that they grew up with, and those families. And we’re also able to help them achieve their dreams. Whether it’s clinical specialties or whether it’s a professional career track where they want to start to get into administration and learn more about the business of healthcare. Healthcare is going to continue to evolve and the great thing about physical therapy moving to a doctoring profession, we’re well-positioned to be the leader in musculoskeletal care. We will be the top of the funnel as we start to triage those patients, but it’s about creating early access with intensive care so that we can treat more patients and basically help them have better outcomes.
Malynda Carruth, Division President
I’m Malynda Carruth, Division President for Upstream Rehabilitation. My personal mantra is “opportunities don’t happen, you create them”. And I’m committed to working hard in everything I do. During my college years at Georgia State, I was a competitive athlete. I played both D1 basketball and fast-pitch softball. I started with Upstream in 2010, as a physical therapist and clinic director in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
With the encouragement and help from my leaders and peers, I returned to PT school to get my doctorate. It was a challenging two years, and I would not have gotten through it without the support and encouragement of my team, and for this I’m extremely grateful. Today I still love sports, I’m an avid Georgia bulldog fan, go dogs. I also like golf, snowboarding, traveling, and I enjoy spending time with my partner, my family, and my friends.
I’m proud to be with Upstream because of the tremendous focus on clinical excellence and outcome-driven results. We are expanding our footprint to communities in dire need of physical and occupational therapy, which is very rewarding to me. As a leader at Upstream, I love our company culture, our partnership model, and our focus on personal and professional growth. I can honestly say that we are changing the healthcare landscape for the better.
Elevate Your Career with Upstream Rehabilitation
At Upstream Rehabilitation, we’re passionate about making a difference in our patients’ lives. Whether you’re a new grad or a seasoned professional, there is no shortage of opportunities for you to build and enhance your career with the largest pure-play outpatient physical therapy provider in the country. Led by our leadership team, we’re rapidly expanding across the nation with our family of brands.
Take a look and apply to our open job postings for clinical and non-clinical physical therapy positions nationwide and join our team here at Upstream Rehabilitation!
