Katherine Cwiklinski, DPT, was drawn to a career in physical therapy after sustaining a sports injury in high school. A cross-country runner, she developed a blood clot and stress fractures in her shins and spent three weeks in physical therapy. Her recovery process sparked an interest in the field, and she earned a Bachelor of Science in exercise physiology at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in 2001. She went on to achieve a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 2005. To supplement her degrees, Dr. Cwiklinski has also been certified as an ergonomics assessment specialist by The Back School, as a strengthening and conditioning specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and in LSVT Big, a therapy for Parkinson’s disease, from LSVT Global, Inc.
Embarking on her career as a physical therapist at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in 2005, Dr. Cwiklinski held this role until 2012, when she established Paragon Physical Therapy, LLC, a franchise of the FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers. Her team includes two other physical therapists, a clinical coordinator, an office manager and four physical therapy aides. In her dual roles as physical therapist and owner, she is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of her practice, from accounting to scheduling, as well as examining, evaluating and treating patients. Dr. Cwiklinski attributes much of her success to treating her patients like they are family, which creates a welcoming environment for patients to return if necessary.
Furthermore, Dr. Cwiklinski notes the value of networking, something that is key for patient referrals. In order to keep abreast of developments in her field, she maintains membership with the American Physical Therapy Association. As she looks toward the future, she hopes to continue growing her practice, open a second location, and mentor up-and-coming professionals. She considers establishing her private practice as a woman at the age of 33 to be her greatest professional achievement. In 2022, she was listed in the Women of Distinction Nationwide Registries. In her free time, Dr. Cwiklinski enjoys running, music, cooking, drawing, and playing the piano and saxophone.
