Local PT wins regional healthcare award

KELLOGG –– Mountain Valley of Cascadia’s Director of Rehabilitation Tara Lodi, was recently presented with the company’s 2025 Peak Performer Award at the Cascadia Summit in Huntington Beach, California.  

Lodi, who has been with the company for almost 20 years, was nominated by her peers from Mountain Valley and then unanimously selected by company-wide committee to receive the award.  

Cascadia Healthcare, which operates 45 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities across Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona, including facilities in Kellogg, Silverton, and Coeur d’Alene presents the Peak Performer Award to a staff member that exemplifies Cascadia's Culture consistently, takes on extra tasks, had a great attitude and is a force for good for Cascadia. 

Lodi began working at Mountain Valley while she was a sophomore in high school, working full-time hours as a CNA before she graduated and pursued her degree in physical therapy. She was promoted to her current position 12 years ago and remained with the company ever since.

Emilee Kulin, CEO of Mountain Valley, spoke highly of Lodi, both as an employee and as an invaluable member of the Silver Valley community.  

“Tara accepted the position of Director of Rehab in April 2013 and hasn't looked back,” Kulin said. “Her dedication to her patients, her colleagues, and her community (a.k.a. her family) are truly remarkable to watch. She has turned the department around, not only clinically and culturally but also financially. This year, she assisted in the seamless transition of our therapy department to an in-house therapy department. She makes patients want to exercise, meet goals, and if you ask any post-acute former or current patient, or long-term care resident who their favorite staff member is, you can bet money that Tara will be first mentioned.”  

Along with her responsibilities at Mountain Valley, Lodi is also heavily involved in the Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Jackass Half-Marathon, and the president of the S.A.V.E. Coalition.  

“I’m grateful to have such a strong team around me that provides support and is always willing to try some of the less conventional treatment options that we’ve come up with over the years to help keep our patients engaged and to achieve their goals,” Lodi said. “I’ve always enjoyed helping people and taking care of people, which is why I love and enjoy my job so much. Even through the terrible times we experienced with COVID, I never once wished that I worked in a different profession.”  

Lodi’s job is one of the more challenging positions at Mountain Valley, even if she won’t admit it. Oftentimes, her job is to force people out of their comfort zones and get them back on their feet (literally and figuratively).  

According to Kulin, the more difficult the patient, the better Lodi is at her job.  

“Our patients frequently arrive and have run out of hope,” Lodi said. “I’ve always thrived off of taking the most complicated patients that hate therapy, and hate being here, and turning them around to absolutely thrive and be able to achieve their goals.”