Dr. Shellina Herink, PT, DPT, a North Tama Class of 2007 graduate, pictured on Thursday, Sept. 18, behind the reception desk at her new physical therapy clinic, Redhawk Physical Therapy located in Suite B at 606 Third Street inside The Body Shop Gym & Spa building. Dr. Henrik’s clinic is now accepting new patients. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER – While Tama County has long boasted several options for physical therapy, until recently there was a lack of care provided by a clinician who both lived and worked in the community – that is until North Tama alumna Dr. Shellina (née Hayek) Herink hung a shingle this past summer in Traer, opening Redhawk Physical Therapy at The Body Shop Gym & Spa.

“I am professionally known as Dr. Shellina Herink; locals call me Shelli; my youth players call me Coach Shelli; and I have three children that call me Mom,” Herink, a licensed physical therapist (PT) holding a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT), told the newspaper in mid-September. “My connection to the Traer community has been since childhood.”

Herink, a North Tama Class of 2007 graduate, grew up on a farm near Clutier. Today, she and her husband, fellow Class of 2007 alumni Kyle Herink, farm in Carroll Township while their young children attend their alma mater. For nearly a dozen years, Dr. Herink was an employed provider — most recently by UnityPoint Select Physical Therapy in Toledo — before she took the leap in 2025 to go into private practice.

“I had a longing to be a more integrated part of healthcare within my home community for some time,” she explained. “[But] the logistics of purchasing and filling a brick-and-mortar building on Main Street seemed far too out of reach. I remained passionate for quality over quantity care while healthcare productivity demands were peaking in the rural areas. When I saw Carmen Erhardt open a brand-new public gym facility in [Traer last August] … my dream was no longer out of reach.”

Dr. Herink has full use of The Body Shop Gym & Spa’s equipment for her patients, but more importantly, the gym offers space and plenty of natural light for patients to move around.

A patient room at Redhawk Physical Therapy in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“My mission is to improve the well-being of our community,” she continued. “I fulfill that mission by providing wholehearted physical therapy care. I get to be a unique part of the community. It is fulfilling to take a patient having difficulty due to pain, dizziness, or other mobility deficits and help them get back to wellness. People are able to achieve improved mobility through my services, and the rest of the community is positively impacted.”

During her high school years, Dr. Herink played volleyball, basketball, track and field, and softball for the Redhawks. Her childhood interest in athletics, nutrition, and healing fueled her desire to pursue a career in healthcare after graduation.

“I considered athletic training, dietician, or physician assistant degrees, but realized through job shadowing I enjoyed the relationships and progression of care with patients [offered by] the physical therapy profession.”

Dr. Herink graduated from Iowa State University with degrees in kinesiology and health science, after which she attended graduate school at Des Moines University where she completed her doctorate.

Visiting with her at her clinic at 606 Third Street – located inside the same building that now houses The Body Shop Gym & Spa (the former Boldt Auction Company building) – it’s clear Dr. Herink couldn’t be happier with her decision to take a leap and go out on her own.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“I am happy to be a part of the community [as both a] professional and an individual. I am excited to get to be a part of trick-or-treating, the local festivals and parades, coaching, and helping with extracurriculars in town. I have even incorporated community volunteering into my hiring handbook – something you might not see in corporate healthcare.”

Currently, Redhawk Physical Therapy is open five days a week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to noon or by appointment. Her services are best suited to patients over the age of 8 years old.

“I am skilled and qualified to treat many conditions and needs. I have the typical spinal pain, joint pain, and tendon pain patients. I also see pre- and post-surgical patients and enjoy taking patients gently through all the stages of post operative recovery.

“I treat dizziness and balance deficits and concussion patients on concussion return-to-play protocol. I absolutely adore working with the young athletes and the amount of energy and hard work they put forth for return to sport. I am qualified in dry needling and cupping, and tend to incorporate education and hands-on treatment techniques within my 60-minute sessions.”

As an in-network provider, Dr. Herink accepts many different insurances including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare, and Midlands Choice (Cigna). Her clinic is currently awaiting in-network status with Amerigroup, Medicaid, Optum, United Healthcare, and Tricare West. She also has a self-pay/uninsured price list on her website, redhawkdpt.com.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“In Iowa, we are direct access which means not only do you have the right to pick your physical therapy provider, but for the first visit you don’t need a doctor’s referral for benefit coverage,” Dr. Herink said. “I will note, Medicare and Medicaid typically do require an overseeing physician after the first visit, so a written referral is best to have faxed to the clinic from your provider.”

Last Friday, Dr. Herink held an open house for Redhawk Physical Therapy ahead of North Tama’s Homecoming game that evening. This month, she plans to participate in the Traer Chamber of Commerce’s Fall Festival set for Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 5-7 p.m., and the Trick-or-Treat Mainstreet on Friday, Oct. 31 (Halloween) following the afterschool costume contest at the Memorial Building.

While she is known to many in the community as Shelli, she’s hoping to get on more folks’ radar as Dr. Herink.

“There are certainly other qualified therapists in town, but so far to my knowledge, there is no other therapist in Tama County that lives and works in the same community, and that is what makes me different. I am here for the community.”

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Herink, call the clinic office at 319-478-4242; schedule directly online by navigating to redhawkdpt.com and clicking Schedule Now; or have your physician fax a referral to 319-359-4140.