Dr. Jordan Schmidt (Lead Therapist)

Hello and welcome! My name is Dr. Jordan Schmidt and I am a pelvic floor physical therapist. I am so glad that you have discovered Pelvic Balance Physical Therapy!

I was fortunate enough to grow up in sunny Florida on Clearwater Beach back when it was a laid back, small town vibe with my parents and three younger sisters. Yes, I am the oldest of 4 girls so you can only imagine the wonderful chaos that made up my childhood! Despite being the older, protective sister, I very much remained a kid for as long as possible playing games and enjoying beach adventures with my friends and siblings. My mom stayed at home with her four girls, which was a full time job itself, while my dad opened his own software business when I was 7 years old after a serious MRSA scare. The infection nearly caused an amputation of his right leg and caused months of unemployment due to quarantine. From an early age, I saw the importance of a strong support system, hefty work ethic, and a belief that God will help those who help themselves.

I always knew I wanted to work WITH people to improve their health and wellness but was unsure of the capacity in which I wanted to do so. Unlike most of my fellow physical therapists, I personally was never sent to PT, although there were more than a few injuries growing up that I should have rehabilitated. I was very fortunate to have a neighborhood family friend that expressed her passion for the PT profession and the ability to help improve the quality of life and functional abilities of her patients. She provided wonderful opportunities to observe her colleagues in various settings like outpatient orthopedics and in the hospital, so I could understand the diversity available within PT. I was hooked! 

After high school, I continued to observe as many settings as possible while attending Florida State University where I received a degree in Exercise Physiology. This particular course of study began to open my eyes to the sheer awesomeness and complexity of the human body. Required classes included anatomy, physiology, nutrition, food metabolism, psychology and exercise testing. I appreciated the foundation I was given at understanding that there is not one “thing” that can improve the body and restore health. Instead, exercise, food, mental health, and interpersonal relationships all play an important role. I continue to apply these concepts in my physical therapy practice today because we know that integrating all aspects of health achieves far superior results. 

Upon graduating from FSU, I attended the University of South Florida for my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. During my third year, I was introduced to the pelvic health specialty during a series of guest lectures. I was shocked that I had never heard of pelvic health physical therapy during any of my observation experiences prior to starting school. I was even more shocked that none of the people in my life were referred to this specialty, let alone heard of it. My mom who gave birth to four children and my grandmother who dealt with incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse for many years that led to surgery would have benefited greatly from this care. I was troubled by the numerous healthcare providers and procedures that the majority of patients go through before ever being referred to a pelvic health therapist. I also surprised myself by how comfortable I was discussing bladder, bowel, and sexual concerns since I grew up as a more conservative kid in a Catholic household. Because I knew how embarrassed I would be if someone were to ask me about those private functions, I wanted to create a safe environment for others to address these concerns and so my pursuit of pelvic floor physical therapy was born.

It was during my final clinical rotation that I was at a PT Pub Night, which is a local networking night for PTs and PTAs, that I ran into Molly. She had also gone to USF but had been 2 classes above me, so our interaction in school had been brief. We began to discuss my interest in pelvic health physical therapy and my desire to provide the most comfortable, effective care possible in order to make the process a success for patients. I also expressed the frustration I had felt with patients receiving varying levels of care for their pelvic floor conditions. Molly expressed her frustration with providing appropriate care within a conventional outpatient clinic that utilized insurance and her desire to share her knowledge to the community as a means to help even more women (and men) than she was physically able to fit in her schedule at a traditional insurance-based clinic. I was impressed by her drive and passion to share her knowledge with current patients, online through social media, and with other healthcare providers.

I feel so fortunate that our discussion that night led to Molly asking me to be an associate physical therapist of Pelvic Balance Physical Therapy! She has taken my knowledge from the USF DPT program and clinical rotations and further taught me to understand the intricacies that bring her patients’ success with various pelvic floor dysfunctions, including chronic pelvic pain. I have also continued to pursue additional coursework within the pelvic floor specialty since 2019, including interstitial cystitis/ bladder pain syndrome, pregnancy and postpartum care, and male pelvic health, specifically pelvic pain, so I can provide the most up to date treatment techniques for the women and men that I treat. Even more importantly, I want each person I work with to feel seen and heard as the individual they are, so we can work together as a team to address their goals. It is important that we as humans feel supported and empowered to improve our quality of life. 

I am lucky to have found an environment that fosters a safe, supportive healing environment and fosters the pursuit of knowledge to continue providing the best care possible for those we work with.  Additionally, utilizing a multi-dimensional approach to address impairments, including nutrition education, self-care habits, and, of course, movement, to provide patients with the knowledge and tools to take control of their health and wellness without relying on a healthcare provider is amazing!

 If you choose to trust us with your care at Pelvic Balance, I guarantee that it will be one of the best decisions you could make regarding your healing. Our partnership will consist of treatment that is individualized to YOU and tools that will allow you to successfully address your condition. Please remember that your health and quality of life matter! I can’t wait to meet you and get started on your healing journey.

Looking forward to working with you,

Dr. Jordan Schmidt, PT, DPT