Our Team
Dr. MeMe Earnest-Stanley,
DPT, ATC
Board-Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist (NCS), AIT, CARSS-II
Hi! My name is MeMe. I'm a licensed physical therapist and athletic trainer who is passionate about neurological rehabilitation, adaptive sports medicine, and increasing access to quality, sustainable healthcare. I believe in the power of movement and in the power of compassion- and I love what I do.
A mentor of mine once asked me what my “PT Love Story” was, and I really like reflecting on my vocation and growth through this lens - it essentially is the story of how Invictus came to be. So, while I could talk and write for hours on this, here’s the short version:
I first began working with individuals with disabilities while in undergraduate school at Wheeling Jesuit University; I played soccer there and helped organize the regional Special Olympic Games - every year was a blast and everyone’s favorite annual event on campus! That experience, as well as watching the 2012 Paralympic Games, really peaked my interest in working with adaptive athletes and people with neurologic impairments. Following my first year of physical therapy school, I began volunteering with the Cincinnati Dragons and Cincinnati Royals - the wheelchair basketball teams in Cincinnati. The athletes and families in this program have become family, and I fell in love with working with both youth and adult adaptive athletes as I attended practices and traveled to tournaments. It’s also through these athletes that I’ve learned the most about how I can best support people with disabilities as a friend and healthcare professional.
I graduated from the University of Cincinnati’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2019 and further specialized in neurologic physical therapy by completing a residency at the Cincinnati VA. During my residency, I truly began to form and find my professional identity. After I graduated from my residency, I began working in as a research physical therapist and teaching. I also started working with Team USA Wheelchair Rugby as an Athletic Trainer and Physical Therapist. I’m grateful to continue to learn from my patients, athletes, and coworkers everyday.
If I had to sum up my approach as a healthcare provider and coach, it would be ‘meet the people where they are.’ So, whether you want to improve how you get up from the floor or make it to the Paralympics, I want to help you get there. Rehabilitation, training, and coaching are a lot more than just looking at the current physical capacity of the human body. I started Invictus because:
1) I’ve seen too many (but not all!) physical therapists in the traditional setting do the minimum and not recognize the importance of intensity and proper dosing in rehabilitation.
2) I’ve worked with patients who were discharged from traditional therapy and asked, “now what?”
3) I’ve worked with adaptive athletes who’ve never had a strength and conditioning coach that knew how to push them while still utilizing science to help them achieve and exceed their performance goals.
My experience, education, skill, and passion are unmatched locally when it comes to neuro rehab and adaptive training, but it’s my passion to learn, collaborate, and utilize my skill set for the greater good that make me different. Invictus is truly my dream come to life, and I am looking forward to working with you!
“Where your talents and the needs of the world meet, there lies your vocation.”
Experience & Education
Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Cincinnati 2019
Bachelor’s of Science in Athletic Training, Wheeling Jesuit University 2016
Residency-Trained Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist, American Board of Physical Therapy Specialities
Adaptive and Inclusive Trainer (AIT), Adaptive Training Academy
Certified Adaptive Recreation & Sports Specialist Levels I&II, BlazeSports Institute
Co-Founder, The Bridge Adaptive Sports & Recreation
Director of Sports Medicine & Vice President, Greater Cincinnati Adaptive Sports Club
Medical Staff, Team USA Wheelchair Rugby
Associate Instructor in local Doctor of Physical Therapy, Masters of Science in Athletic Training, and Health Science University Programs
Vice Chair, Adaptive Sports Special Interest Group of the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy
Multiple Educational and Peer-Reviewed Presentations at National PT Conferences