Did you know….
Jacob Barnes is the Therapy Program Manager at Park Avenue Health & Rehabilitation Center in Tucson, Arizona. Inspired by his Occupational Therapist mom, he began volunteering at Northwest Hospital in Tucson when he was 14 – only to be offered a paying job when he turned 16. After becoming bored with work in hospital transportation, Jacob trained to become a Patient Care Technician and ultimately, the hospital paid for him to complete the Physical Therapy Assistant program at Pima Community College.
This proven Ensign leader has an obvious talent for creating outstanding Animoji’s, but his hidden talent is crossing his eyes – while keeping one eye straight. He hasn’t revealed this talent to his 5 and 2 year old sons yet – but it will be interesting to see if they have inherited this strange but amazing ability! A Pittsburgh Steelers fan, Jacob spends his down time hanging out with his family, studying Jujitsu with his son, and when he gets the chance, scuba diving with his wife in places that include Jamaica, Mexico, Hawaii and California.
Some of Jacob’s biggest accomplishments as part of the Ensign family (so far ) have been being part of a successful IRO visit and also getting to be part of the Park Avenue Award. The Park Avenue Award is specific to Arizona and is modeled after the Southland Award. Not only does Jacob feel honored to be a therapy leader for the facility that inspired this award, he loves being part of the selection committee for subsequent awards.
Jacob also represents us at career fairs and therapy conventions. His best advice to recent therapy graduates is to be a sponge and learn everything possible from the therapists, nurses and other healthcare professionals we are surrounded by. Finally, whatever you do in your career, make sure you are having fun!