Education: KathleenStross (formerly Kathleen Deyo) earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, Texas in 1989. While working as a senior physical therapist on a Brain Injury Team, she started the first Vestibular Rehabilitation Program in Houston. While working with patients, conducting research, teaching PT students, and developing new therapy techniques she completed her post-professional Master of Science Degree at Texas Woman’s University in 1995. By then she had established herself as the expert in vertigo and balance disorders in the region. Her passion for the work is demonstrated by her commitment to educating and mentoring physicians and therapists while providing compassionate, creative care to patients from all over the world.

 Who is Kathleen Stross?
"I have always been an analyst. As far back as I can remember, I was trying to figure out how everything worked; taking apart the telephone, fixing bicycles and building things in the garage. My aptitude toward math and science led me to study petroleum engineering at the University of Texas, Austin. The mid-80’s was a very dismal time for the oil/gas industry and the job market was dry. I decided to apply to Physical Therapy school where I immediately excelled. The human body and the nervous system, especially the brain, excited me like no other engineering marvel. The mechanical model applied to the human balance system and biomechanics was the area which interested me the most at a time when we did not know what to do for dizzy patients. Brain injury survivors would awake from coma and begin walking again, only to experience vertigo each time they would turn their head. Our only response at that time was “well, then….don’t do that”. My independent study of research and observations from those all over the world sparked my interest in offering a better answer to these dizzy patients. At that time a comprehensive textbook or even a review article was not available. My steady and diligent search for information and absolute hunger for knowledge (which was not readily available) nourished my desire to create, understand, and apply new therapy techniques. Now, techniques I developed by trial and error are standard practice in the field. I often wish that I had been the first to put these to paper or introduce as my own. But I realize that my place at that time was to be with the patients. The best classroom for me was in the clinic with my patients. Through the years I have treated patients from five continents in the world famous Texas Medical Center. I have so many great stories. I learned about life, family, cultures, medicine, health, communication, and healing. Intuitive patients would look into my eyes to see my spirit, see things that I had not seen or even knew to look for. I now realize that those patients felt the connection of my mind and body with theirs, looking to release them from the patterns of ill health and dysfunctional movement. I know who these special patients are, because they gave me books. Books that they believed would help me along my journey. All of these books were very special gifts at a special time in my life, and provided nuggets of wisdom and carrots of encouragement at just the right time."

         
Kathleen fishing with her stepson Spencer. "With the right attitude anyone can be taught to do anything! You should have seenSpencer's face when he caught his first fish. That is why I have studied these many years, to see your face when you get better!"  Kathleen Stross