Meet the physical therapists who bring personalized, one-on-one care to Empower PT.
Dr. Nick Peterson, PT
Nick is a Libby native who has spent his career bringing quality physical therapy back to the community he grew up in. He began as a Physical Therapist Assistant in 2001, later earned a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science in 2008, and completed his Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2011 — both from Eastern Washington University. After graduating, he joined Saint John’s Lutheran Hospital’s home health program, giving him the opportunity to return to Libby and give back to a community that had given him so much.
In 2021, Nick founded Empower Physical Therapy out of a growing frustration with the rushed, volume-driven model that has become the norm in the industry. He built Empower around a simple belief: every patient deserves consistent, one-on-one time with their physical therapist, every visit. Today, Empower offers that standard of care both in the clinic and in patients’ homes, serving anyone who values focused, expert attention and a therapist who is with them every step of the way.
Away from work, Nick is at home in the wilderness — backpacking, fishing, and trail running in one of the last best places on earth.
Christy Rusdal, PT
Christy grew up on a farm in Iowa, where sports and an active upbringing sparked an early interest in physical therapy and athletic training. She earned her B.A. in biology with a minor in athletic training from Luther College, followed by her master’s in physical therapy from the University of Iowa in 1998. She held athletic training certification from 1998–2012 and has been a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the NSCA since 2000. Christy has called Montana home since 1999, building a career that spans outpatient orthopedics, hospital care, pediatrics, skilled nursing, and home health.
Working with patients in their own homes has been a particular strength — it offers a window into how people actually move and function day to day, and allows for care that is tailored to their real life, not just a clinical snapshot.
Outside of work, Christy is active in her community and her family’s busy life. She and her husband Tim are members of Libby Christian Church and spend their time cheering on their four children — Sidney, Casey, Leah, and Jake — at school events and sporting competitions.
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