Toni Goelz grew up in Belleville, Illinois with her brother and two sisters. She graduated from St. Louis University with a degree in physical therapy in 1978. Her dream of working with children was realized when she started her career at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. Upon leaving Cardinal Glennon, Goelz found a new home providing physical therapy services to long term rehab patients and acute neurology and neurosurgery patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. What a wonderfully fulfilling twelve years of challenges and satisfaction spent with the patients and family and staff on the 12th floor at Children’s!
Goelz toyed with the notion of leaving the work force in 2021. Fortunately, Craig Zaidman, MD, primary investigator with the pediatric neuromuscular research team, proposed a better idea. Goelz now works as a clinical evaluator with the neuromuscular team at Washington University.
The move from in-patient clinician to the research world has proven to be an enlightening learning experience and an exciting change. Though Goelz readily admits to having endured the trepidation which often accompanies career shifts, the entire neuromuscular team’s warm welcome and generous support eased the transition and instilled confidence.
Goelz is grateful to come to the campus each day where she enjoys interesting work, great co-workers and close proximity to old and new friends and colleagues.
When not at work, Goelz enjoys her many sources of gratitude — her siblings and nieces and nephews, friends, pets, the beauty of the outdoors and opportunities to be helpful in her community.