The career of Lisa Ann Hirn, DPT, PT, is a testament to her dedication, resilience, and passion for improving the quality of life of her patients. With a vast background in physical therapy and a distinguished military service record, her journey is marked by numerous achievements and a profound commitment to her profession.
Dr. Hirn’s academic path started, aimed toward another field, at Northwood University, where she earned an Associate of Arts in advertising in 1989 and a Bachelor of Business Arts in marketing and management in 1991. Realizing her true calling lay elsewhere, she earned a master’s degree in physical therapy from Baylor University in 1999 through the U.S. Army. She advanced her expertise by securing a doctorate in physical therapy from Baylor University in 2008.
Dr. Hirn has extensive credentials—the result of her pursuit of professional excellence. During her 20-year military experience she held specialty certifications in orthopedics through the American Physical Therapy Association, and sports and conditioning through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. She sought additional responsibilities and became a sexual assault victim advocate through the U.S. Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program and a master resiliency trainer through the U.S. Army and University of Pennsylvania. During Dr. Hirn’s time abroad, she was adjunct faculty for the University of Maryland, University College Europe teaching anatomy and physiology. She currently holds a pelvic health certification from Evidence in Motion, and an advanced bodywork certification from the North Carolina School of Advanced Body Work.
Dr. Hirn’s professional experience spans more than two decades, beginning with her role as a physical therapist in the U.S. Army. She held numerous key positions, including chief of rehabilitation service at Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital, rehabilitation consultant for the 65th Medical Brigade, chief of outpatient physical therapy at Fort Belvoir Army Community Hospital, and a brigade physical therapist assigned to the 25th Infantry Division. Her leadership roles also included working as the program manager for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command and as chief of inpatient physical therapy at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. During her military career, Dr. Hirn made significant contributions to soldier readiness and holistic patient care. She developed specialized programs for low back pain, injury prevention, strength and conditioning, and breast cancer rehabilitation. Additionally, she developed a wheelchair leg support, from concept to prototype, that was added to a national medical supply catalog. Dr. Hirn volunteered as the first physical therapist assigned to a combat unit, establishing the Stryker Athlete Warrior Program, a functional physical training initiative that saved the unit an estimated $300,000 in labor.
Dr. Hirn’s military service has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal with four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Army Achievement Medal with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters. Moreover, she received the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Service Bronze Stars and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, among other honors.
Dr. Hirn’s post-military career continued to reflect her focus on patient care and her professional growth. As a physical therapist at BreakThrough-PT and Sentara Medical Group, she furthered her education and specialized in pelvic health and postural restoration, fulfilling her longstanding goals in women’s health and orthopedic therapy. She ascribes her success to her love for her work and the values instilled in her by her parents, who taught her the importance of hard work and responsibility. Disillusioned with the advertising industry, Dr. Hirn found her calling in physical therapy after a chance encounter with the athletic trainer of the Atlanta Hawks, who became her mentor. This led her to the U.S. Army-Baylor University Physical Therapy Program, where she began her transformative work in health care.
Dr. Hirn’s adventurous spirit has been evident in memorable experiences such as flying in a helicopter over the Gaza Strip and a tandem parachute jump with the Golden Knights. These moments highlight her courage and the strong sense of camaraderie she shared with her fellow soldiers. A defining moment in her career was her deployment to Iraq with the 25th Infantry during the 2008 surge. Her mission included providing neuro-musculoskeletal care to the second largest population in the multi-national division – Iraq, assisting local leadership and their families with orthopedic injuries, to include traumatic amputation, and teaching basic physical therapy skills to local residents. These experiences underscored her ability to adapt and serve in challenging environments.
Leaving a legacy defined, in part, by her devotion to her patients, Dr. Hirn hopes to be remembered for her perpetual professional growth and remarkable contributions to military and civilian health care. The road she paved from advertising to physical therapy exemplifies the transformative power of dedication and perseverance. Keeping similar close company, Dr. Hirn’s husband is a retired sergeant major, who still serves as an instructor in the U.S. Army. As she transitions from her military career, Dr. Hirn aims to rejoin and contribute to her community, seeking a leadership role that will allow her to leverage her exceptional experience while continuing to make a meaningful impact.
