Doreen Gulley
Doreen Gulley is a dedicated rehabilitation professional with more than three decades of experience in physical therapy and patient-centered care. She began her career 33 years ago after taking a bold step by enrolling in the Community College of Rhode Island’s newly established Physical Therapist Assistant program before it had even received accreditation. After completing her prerequisites, she was invited to join the inaugural cohort when the program officially launched. Her final clinical rotation in orthopedics quickly led to a full-time opportunity, as her strong work ethic and clinical ability earned her immediate recognition and a position shortly after graduation.
Doreen went on to build an extensive career in outpatient orthopedics, working for over 20 years with various practices and developing deep expertise in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. She later transitioned into neurological rehabilitation an area she initially found daunting but ultimately embraced as both challenging and deeply rewarding. Currently, she works in a skilled nursing setting at Lincoln Woods Rehabilitation, where she focuses on restoring patients to their prior level of function. Her daily work emphasizes improving mobility, strength, balance, and independence in activities such as walking, climbing stairs, dressing, and bathing, with the goal of helping patients safely return to their previous lifestyles.
In addition to her clinical experience, Doreen is certified in LSVT, a specialized therapeutic program for individuals with Parkinson’s disease, and has been applying this expertise for several years. Her passion for rehabilitation is driven by witnessing patient transformation from limited mobility to full independence which continues to inspire her work each day. Even at 66, she maintains a highly active lifestyle, working out seven days a week and power walking up to eight miles daily, enabling her to meet the physical demands of her profession while modeling the importance of health and wellness.
• State Licensed PTA
• LSVT Certified
• CCRI - AS, Kinesiology and Exercise Science
• 1st Place, Age Group – 5K Race (2025)
• LSVT
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to working with great people and being part of a team. It's all about teamwork - positive people who are dedicated to helping their patients. Everywhere I've worked, we work together and get the job done. We bounce ideas off of one another, saying 'why don't you try it this way?' and we're always open to each other's suggestions. I've never had a day where I said 'oh, I gotta go into work today and I don't really want to.' It's enjoyable to go in because of the team environment and the motivation we give each other.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received is to keep your ears open to other options. Don't have a closed mind thinking 'this way, and this is it.' You need to have an open mind to other people's opinions. I've always had my ears open when somebody said 'Can I give you some advice? Maybe this way will be better?' I always say absolutely, because sometimes people think they don't want to step on your toes or make you feel like you don't know what you're doing, but I'm always welcome to that. And you should be. You don't have it all - you don't know it all, and you can't do it without advice from others.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
First, make sure you choose the right field for you, because there are different areas you can go into - orthopedic, pediatrics, whatever you want. Be a team player, not just a leader. Always listen to other people's advice, because you don't have it all. Don't think that you know it all or that you can do it without advice. I've always had my ears open when somebody offers suggestions, even when they're worried about stepping on my toes. Some people think 'I don't want you to say I don't know what I'm doing,' but I'm always welcome to that feedback. And you should be too.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
It's more difficult for young women entering the field now than when I started. There are higher standards to even get into the programs. The younger PTAs coming in want to prove themselves, but they're nervous that they won't get accepted because they're new grads. They're scared that people will look at them like 'she's new, she's got a lot to learn' or 'she doesn't really know what she's doing yet.' There's this fear of not having experience and not being taken seriously when you're just starting out. But if you do what you're supposed to do, everybody will follow and support you - you don't have to prove yourself in that anxious way.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
What's most important to me is that I'm still able to move the way I move and maintain my physical fitness. I value being able to lift what I lift and go to the gym 5 days a week. A lot of people at my age can't do what I do. I wouldn't be able to do my job if I didn't maintain this level of fitness. I work out 7 days a week and power walk 8 miles a day. I follow a keto diet, staying off carbs and red meat. A body in motion stays in motion - if you stay in motion, you're going to be better off, but if you don't, it's going to be 10 times worse. At 66, I ran a 5K last year and was the first woman in my age group to finish. After a while, the healthy lifestyle doesn't even bother me anymore - I can walk by sweets and potato chips and my body just doesn't crave it.