About Us

Peoplefirst: The Nation’s Rehab Provider and Employer of Choice!

Peoplefirst is a contract rehabilitation business with over 7,000 employees working with patients at over 600 locations across the country.

At Peoplefirst, our rehabilitation therapists play an integral role in helping people reach their highest practicable level of functioning. We provide an environment that gives our therapists the freedom to be passionate about patient and resident care while allowing them to have fun doing their life’s work.

Our Leadership Team

	Christopher M. Bird became President of Peoplefirst Rehabilitation Division effective April 21, 2008. He most recently served as Vice President, Operations & Business Development, Outpatient Services Division with Tenet Healthcare Corp. Previously, Mr. Bird was Division Vice President, Western Division with DaVita Inc., where he provided strategic and operational leadership for a geographic division covering southern California, Arizona and Utah. Mr. Bird earned a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University, a master’s degree in health policy and management from Columbia University, and an MBA from Harvard University.
	Katherine Gilchrist, Senior Vice President, Finance, joined Peoplefirst Rehabilitation in July 2007 after serving as the Senior Vice President, Finance for ResCare, a publicly traded healthcare services company also located here in Louisville. Katie is the Chief Financial Officer for Peoplefirst. Katie brings to the division's management team an expertise which will support and strengthen the success of Peoplefirst's financial and strategic initiatives.
	Gail Lingor, Senior Vice President, Long-Term Care Group Operations. Gail was previously Vice President, Rehabilitation Services. She joined the Company in 1994 as a SNF rehab site manager and later worked as Regional Director, Rehabilitation. Gail oversees the day-to-day operations of Peoplefirst's nursing center rehab business. Gail’s leadership experience at every level within the Company is instrumental as she works with our operators to effectively manage growth and labor management.
	Mary Van de Kamp, Senior Vice President, Clinical Operations, Peoplefirst Rehabilitation, began with the Company in 1995 as a speech pathologist and has held operations and clinical management positions. In 2000, she was named the National Director of Clinical Rehabilitation. Ms. Van de Kamp has a master’s degree in communicative disorders from the University of Wisconsin.
	Ross Johnson, Vice President, Human Resources and Recruiting, joined Peoplefirst Rehabilitation in 2004. After spending a number of years in the U.S. Marines he began his career in human resources and recruitment where he has worked for over 20 years. His experience ranges from Director and Managing Partner in an employment services consulting firm to working for a $400 million employment services company. Mr. Johnson has a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources and a master’s degree in Human Resources and Organizational Theory from Pepperdine University.
	Vonda Black, Vice President, Rehabilitation Services. Previously, Vonda was Regional Director, Rehabilitation. She joined the Company in October 1992 with both clinical and operational experience. Vonda manages the day-to-day operations of Peoplefirst's nursing center rehab business in the Midwest Region. Vonda has contributed to the success of Peoplefirst's significant growth in new non-affiliated business. She has successfully promoted culture, clinical, and financial excellence to operations in the Midwest Region.
	Stacie Bratcher, Vice President of Acute Operations and Business Development, joined Peoplefirst in 2009 and is responsible for the performance and growth of the acute care portfolio. Stacie is a physical therapist and has demonstrated expertise in the various venues along the continuum of care throughout her experience with privately held and publicly traded companies. She brings a focus on team building and service excellence, which will enhance the success of the company.
	Marty Ardron, Division Vice President, joined the company in 1998 and has responsibility for the hospital-based rehab programs in the West Region. A physical therapist by training, Marty has a diverse clinical and management background. He has a Masters in Business Administration and is passionate about customer service, clinical quality and employee retention.