Sheryl Fairchild
Sheryl Fairchild is a retired physical therapist, healthcare leader, and long-time medical author based in Richmond, Texas. She is best known for her 43-year career in rehabilitation medicine and her extensive contributions to clinical education through textbook authorship with Elsevier. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from The Ohio State University and entered the profession through a competitive certificate program that transitioned her from pre-med studies into physical therapy.
Fairchild built a diverse and influential clinical career working across hospitals, nursing homes, home care, and sports medicine environments. She held leadership positions such as Director of Rehabilitation and Wellness Services at Memorial Hermann Healthcare System and served in similar director roles at multiple medical centers. Her work included overseeing rehabilitation programs, developing care protocols, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to improve patient recovery and functional independence. She also played a key consulting role in establishing early sports medicine centers across the United States, working closely with orthopedic surgeons and healthcare executives.
Beyond clinical practice, Sheryl Fairchild is widely recognized for her long-standing role as a co-author and editor of the textbook Principles and Techniques of Patient Care, a foundational resource used in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology education. Over more than two decades, she contributed to multiple editions of the book, helping train generations of healthcare professionals. Retired from clinical practice, she remains respected for her contributions to rehabilitation science, healthcare education, and her commitment to advancing patient-centered care throughout her career.
• The Ohio State University - BS
• Homecoming Court at Ohio State University
• St. Joseph's Indians (South Dakota) - Education Support
• Special Olympics
• Doctors Without Borders
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success probably to my mother and father. I was very lucky to have parents who worked hard. I was the first person in my family of 11 aunts and uncles on one side and 7 on the other to even go to college and graduate. When I started, my mother didn't want me to go - she said 'You're not going to college.' But I said 'Oh, yes, I am.' They supported me once they realized that I wasn't going to leave. I just think it's important for people to have a good self-image, and I was given that, and to have a self-drive. My parents instilled in me the importance of working hard and believing in myself, which carried me through my entire career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would suggest that they have a PT friend who can nominate them to get in, because that's how hard it is to get into physical therapy now. Unfortunately, they look at your grades - they're looking at people with straight A's. The reality is, a lot of those people don't have common sense. The last couple of years, the therapists that come out don't have any social skills to communicate with a patient, and it's tough. If they were smart, they'd be looking for an all-around person who can have a B and choose somebody with common sense. My suggestion, if they really want it, is to go to a rehab facility and observe what they do. TIRR is the best one in Texas (T-I-R-R), and the Cleveland Clinic has a great rehab in Ohio, and Rusk Institute in New York City. These places are phenomenal - they have the worst of the worst patients who are the best of the best patients because they want to do whatever they can to be independent. It's a great place to learn and see if that's what you want. You've got to find out what you really like, and just stick to it.
Locations
Elsevier
Richmond, TX 77406