"My choice to pursue medicine as my life’s work stemmed from my upbringing in rural Louisiana. My father, a gunnery sergeant in the World War II, sought to help improve the quality of life for retired servicemen in the department of veterans’ affairs, and enjoyed running a strawberry farm. My mother, a teacher for more than 50 years, and a woman’s high school basketball coach, encouraged me to reach out for an education which would lead to the fulfillment of helping others. My own interest in both science and performance art lead me to medical school in New Orleans and further training in Sacramento, California.
In California, the divergent medical culture exposed me to a broad and comprehensive scope of treatment options. I became most interested in the field of rehabilitative medicine working with patients after head or spine injuries. These individuals often had great loss of ability, and I sought to give them hope, and support them along with their loved ones through the rehabilitative process to restore their maximum functional ability.
As a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, or physiatrist, I try to draw on my background and medical training to formulate the best plan for both pain control and functional improvement, which is the heart-and-soul of physiatry. I have specialty training and interest in diagnosis with nerve conduction studies and EMG, electromyography. As a physiatrist, I can treat children with cerebral palsy, sports injuries, or adults with a stroke, spinal cord injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, hip pain, shoulder pain, neck and back pain and many challenges in between."
BOARD CERTIFICATION: Fellow, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
PHYSIATRY RESIDENCY: The University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 1986
MEDICAL DEGREE: Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, 1983
BACHELOR DEGREE: Louisiana State University, 1979
SPECIALTY TRAINING: Member, American Association of Neuroelectrodiagnostic Medicine
MEMBERSHIP: American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, American Association for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
Dr. Anderson is the mother of two grown sons who have followed her into medicine. Away from the office, she enjoys spending time with her two young daughters, dance, art, church work and her husband of 25 years.