South Lincoln

Director and Physical Therapist

Michael Zalman, M.S.P.T.

Michael grew up on a farm in south central Nebraska near Red Cloud and started his first business in seventh grade farming and ranching.

He had a life changing experience as he visited a patient on a burn center and decided physical therapy was the profession he wanted to pursue. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Science with an emphasis on teaching and coaching at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He then advanced his education to earn a Master of Science Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Kansas Medical Center. Michael worked at Lincoln General Hospital for 5 years where he gained and great deal of experience in the field working with trauma, cancer, psych, orthopedic, and neurological patients. He was also given the opportunity to develop the rehabilitation portion of the hospital’s Rehab Care Center, the first of its kind in Lincoln. His experiences allowed him to launch into his own facility in March of 1999 – the beginning of Husker Rehab and Wellness Centers. Michael continues to have daily hands on patient care while working as President of the company and managing day to day operations of the South Lincoln facility. His emphasis is in postural restorative therapy and functional ergonomics as it relates to postural position. He specializes in dysfunctional postures of the spine with emphasis on the neck and lumbar-pelvic relationships as well as upper-quadrant and shoulder dysfunction. He has developed a network of health care professionals with a Multidisciplinary Integrated Medical Team approach involving interventional pain doctors, spine doctors, vision specialists, oral facial pain specialists, specialist in the field of shoe wear and orthotics, as well as orthopedic specialists in his patient care. Michael and his wife, Dr. Carmen Zalman love their work and enjoy spending time with friends and family. They have two children Skyler and Currey.

• Originally from Red Cloud, Nebraska
• Teaching Certificate in Natural Science from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln
• Master of Science Degree in Physical Therapy, Kansas University Medical Center
• Founding member of the North Lincoln Business Association
• Member of St Joseph parish in Lincoln
• 40 under 40 Young Business Person of the Year 2007
• BBB Honor Roll Member
• Multiple other community related activities and organizations

BSPTA

Halie Trimble

Halie grew up in the small town of Prague, Nebraska. She went to Prague Public School and graduated in 2010.

She attended Clarkson College’s PTA program and graduated in 2012 with her license. She was part of the first BSPTA program at Clarkson College’s PTA and graduated in 2019 with a her Minor in Women’s Health as well. She chose the field of physical therapy due to her compassion to help others and have a positive impact on the community. Halie loves to spend time with her family and friends, going out to eat and participating in different activities, such as watching and playing sports.

• Originally from Prague, Nebraska
• Graduated from Prague Public School
• Attended Clarkson College and graduated in 2012 with Associates of Applied Science of PTA
• Attended Clarkson College and graduated in 2019 with Associates of Applied Science of PTA and Minor in Women’s Health
• Licensed PTA

MS, PT, ATC

Kelli Reilly, MS, PT, ATC

Kelli graduated with distinction from the University Nebraska Medical Center in 2000. A native of Shickley, NE, Kelli attended the University of Nebraska Kearney where she obtained a degree in Fitness and Leisure Management: Athletic Training.

Kelli continued her academic studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana where she obtained a Masters Degree in Kinesiology and her national Certification in Athletic Training. She taught undergraduate classes while at Indiana University and published research in Kinesiology. Kelli returned to Nebraska to continue her professional education at the University Nebraska Medical Center where she and only two other students, were chosen to represent their institution’s physical therapy student body at the National APTA conference. While attending PT school, Kelli worked as an A.T.C for Jennie Edmundson Sports Medicine in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Kelli began her physical therapy career at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE treating both inpatient and outpatient clients, but quickly transferred to the staff of New West Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine where she worked for 9 years both as a clinical PT/ ATC as well as a Clinical Instructor to UNK Athletic Training students. Relocating to Lincoln in 2009, Kelli has been employed as a contract physical therapist for four Lincoln outpatient orthopedic clinics on a PRN basis, including Husker Rehabilitation and Wellness, PC.

Kelli has extensive sports medicine experience as well as proficiency in treating post surgical orthopaedic patients. She has worked in a variety of very progressive sports medicine and outpatient orthopaedic physical therapy settings for over 20 years, adopting some rehabilitative approaches from some of the leading sports medicine facilities in the country. Kelli enjoys working with athletes immensely and also has a keen interest in biomechanics, sports nutrition as well as alternative therapies.

In her spare time, Kelli enjoys playing volleyball and golf, practicing yoga, helping others to live their best life, and spending time with her husband, John, and their 3 children. She holds a part-time position at her church and is an active volunteer at her children’s school.

Physical Therapist

Janna Vavra, PT, DPT

Janna is a Nebraska native, growing up on a farm near Crete. She attended Crete High School and was a multisport athlete in volleyball, basketball, track and cross country. Upon graduating she attended Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon as she had intentions of becoming a marine biologist. While at Pacific her interests remained in biology but her focus shifted to conservation. Janna became involved in riparian restoration and wastewater mitigation efforts. She became a student researcher and presented her results looking at the effects of DDT accumulation in white sturgeon in the Columbia River, at the Society of Toxicology conference during her junior year. In addition to research and conservation efforts, Janna continued her multisport ventures at Pacific, participating in basketball, track and cross country. While she enjoyed all sports, Janna claims she ran track and cross country to keep in shape for basketball during the off season!

Upon earning her Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Janna returned to Nebraska to work in the Biology Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a Research Lab Manager. While at UNL, Janna continued researching aquatic and marine ecosystems, but also gained the opportunity to learn about human microbiomes and participate in research related to human health. Janna co-authored seven peer reviewed publications and presented research at conferences in multiple countries. When Janna wasn’t busy asking scientific questions, she maintained an active lifestyle running half marathons, coaching basketball at a local community college, and participating in bicycle races.

A few of those bicycle races resulted in crashes, but Janna’s interest in physical therapy didn’t stem from an injury. Instead, Janna became interested in physical therapy when her nephew was born with Down Syndrome. His family lives in rural Nebraska and finding the care he needed was a challenge due to the lack of health care providers in rural communities. Physical therapy was one of the services he needed but wasn’t able to get. Janna wanted to help her nephew live a fulfilling life, so she decided a career switch was in order.

Janna attended the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, earning her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree this May. While at UNMC Janna was accepted as a Nebraska Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Scholar, completing 40 hours of didactic training, 40 hours of hands-on clinical experience in a rural setting, attending workshops, and building connections with rural health care providers each academic year in addition to completing UNMC’s physical therapy curriculum. Janna’s choice of clinical rotations included two rural hospitals, a pediatric setting, and an orthopedic outpatient setting, all of which she enjoyed tremendously.

Janna took her bicycle with her to each clinical rotation and continues to race bicycles competitively, competing in ultra-endurance gravel races across the Midwest. Janna was the first female to ever complete a 320-mile gravel race across Iowa and won a 100-mile gravel race in Nebraska this summer. In her free time Janna is a coach for Lincoln DEVO, a youth mountain biking program and volunteers at Clinic with a Heart, a free health clinic in Lincoln.

Janna accepted a position at Husker Rehab this August and is very excited to help patients return to living their most fulfilling lives!

Office Manager

Sydney Wilson

Sydney grew up in Omaha, Nebraska with her parents and two sisters. She attended Westside
High School and graduated in 2015.

Sydney graduated in 2019 from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln with a bachelor in Athletic
Training. In 2021 she received her Master’s in Educational Administration while working the
UNL campus recreation center as an athletic trainer.

Sydney has been with Husker Rehab since 2018 as a tech for the North Location. She is now the
Office Manager at our South Location in Lincoln.

Sydney enjoys spending time with her dog and family. In her free time she loves boating and
hanging out on the lake, having grill outs with friends, and just relaxing to have a great time.