Theresa Kulikowski-Gillespie, PA

My name is Theresa Kulikowski-Gillespie, and I am so happy to be joining the Kestrel Wellness Team as a physician assistant and health coach!

Here’s a little about me and my background:

I was a gymnast for 21 years (1982-2003).  I became an elite national team member at the junior and senior levels, earned a spot on the 1995 World Championship gymnastics team, and became the first alternate for the 1996 Summer Olympics. After falling one spot short of my Olympic dream and then tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in my knee, I decided to pursue collegiate gymnastics and was offered a full ride scholarship to the University of Utah in 1998. I had a successful collegiate gymnastics career winning the NCAA all-around and balance beam titles my freshman year and another balance beam title my junior year.

Upon retiring from the sport and having the rotator cuff repaired and spinal cord tumor removed, I struggled immensely. This depth of suffering drew me to the practice of mindfulness and meditation. Over the past several years, I have realized just how powerful and life-saving these practices truly are.

I became a physician assistant (PA) in 2007 (graduate of the University of Utah PA program) and joined the Army as a PA from 2009-2012. I deployed to Iraq in 2010 as the battalion PA. Unfortunately, I got quite sick right before returning from Iraq, and the following year, noticed a significant decrease in my exercise tolerance, ability to recover from stress, and my overall health.

Over the next several years, my life felt like it was turned upside down. I got married in 2013 to my husband Steve (who is still in the Army), had my son Mason in 2014, and about three months post-partum my entire body just crashed. I literally thought I was going to die. I had every symptom possible from intense muscle fatigue, inability to stand for more than a couple of minutes due to low blood pressure, brain fog, anxiety, insomnia, absolutely no stress tolerance, and the list just goes on.

I started researching everything that I possibly could within conventional medicine, functional medicine, naturopathy, energy medicine, nutrition, and meditation and saw too many medical providers to count. You name it, I tried it. I had to quit working in 2015 and became a full-time mom and wife along with trying to restore my health and inner balance.

Needless to say, this was the most challenging time of my life, AND it also taught me more than any other life experience or anything that I learned in PA school! I have come to understand a much more holistic approach to health and healing, and I look forward to supporting you on your path of wellness and living your best life.

I believe that the human body has an amazing capacity for healing, and all aspects of our being must be cared for in order for health and healing to manifest.  This includes tending to the body, mind, spirit and relationships, and therefore, my approach to patient care is one that addresses all of these key components of one’s life.

As we work together, we will incorporate mindful living along with evidence-based health practices to help you live your best life.  It’s important to know that you don’t have to take this journey alone.  We will be here to support you every step of the way, and I look forward to empowering you on this path to living a fulfilling and healthy life.