Dr. Carolyn Leyva

Dr. Carolyn Leyva completed her initial Physical Therapy education and training at the University of Illinois at Chicago, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree. This was following the achievement of a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Biology from Augustana College. She began her PT career at Central DuPage Hospital, and then progressed into several outpatient clinics throughout the western Chicago suburbs, focusing on orthopedic clients. With over 20 years of experience as a Physical Therapist, Dr. Leyva enjoys working with patients, athletes and injured workers of all ages. She values transitioning those nearing their final weeks of rehabilitation into independent exercising, often setting up programs at the patient’s preferred fitness center to assure continuity of activity.

In 2003 she obtained her Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist (CEAS) certificate, with the ability to review and optimize many work settings. This allows her to focus on the prevention or minimization of workplace injuries, as well as the ability to treat them if they should occur. She has organized and taught Back School educational programs for the local community, and performed other training sessions in body mechanics for newly hired hospital workers to prevent low back injuries. She has also attended a variety of continuing education courses to enhance treatment options, focusing on manual therapy.

In 2007, Dr. Leyva completed her postgraduate education for her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the Arizona School of Health Sciences, part of A.T. Still University of Health Sciences. Her thesis was a case study of an unusual shoulder injury and the corresponding rehabilitation.

When not in the clinic, Dr. Leyva enjoys gardening, traveling, working out, cooking and spending time with family and friends.