Angela Heitzman

Angie’s path to becoming a rehabilitation professional...
In college I had planned to become a physical therapist. We were required to double major, so I chose psychology. When I was getting ready to apply to PT school during my senior year, one of my psych professors pulled me aside, said he thought I would make a good counselor and wondered if I had considered graduate school. Well, I hadn't thought beyond PT. He proceeded to tell me about the field of Rehabilitation Counseling, where he had gotten his Master's in Rehab prior to obtaining his PhD in psychology. Next thing I knew, I was packing up for Carbondale and starting my assistantship at the Evaluation and Development Center. As I was preparing to leave graduate school for the world of work, I was determined to work with people who had schizophrenia. Ronald Reagan, however, had different plans. There were no jobs to be had in mental health. I saw an ad in the local paper for a Rehabilitation Consultant doing workers compensation case management. The last thing I wanted to do was be a vocational counselor (HA!). The manager of the firm was an SIU grad, and that was all she wrote! I've been in the field ever since.

Angie’s rehabilitation education...
I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota; a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; a post-graduate certificate in Catastrophic Case Management and Life Care Planning from the University of Florida/Intelicus; a certificate in Medicare Set-Asides from the University of Florida/Medipro; and training in medical coding through Medipro.

How Angie developed her practice...
I began doing medical and vocational case management with workers compensation cases, then moved into long-term disability and automobile cases. I was also involved in training all of the new hires at our firm. After 4 years, I moved to a different firm. I started there as a consultant and quickly moved to management of the long-term disability and auto lines, while supervising other consultants. When I was pregnant with our second child, I had to go on bed rest. From that moment on, I have always worked at home. I gave up the management position and began to focus my practice on forensic cases. After a few more years, I got up enough guts to go out on my own and started Heitzman Rehabilitation. I've been on my own for 15 years.

Angie’s "Ah-Ha!" moments that shaped her rehabilitation career path...
When my psych professor recommended I go to grad school for Rehab Counseling rather than physical therapy. I had never heard of Rehab Counseling! When I realized I could be my own boss--that I had the capacity to run my own business and be successful. Too many to cover!

How IARP has served Angie’s professional development...
I have been on my own for 15 years now, but since the advent of the listserv, I have never felt on my own--I have the wisdom, assistance, companionship of hundreds of others grinding on in this business. Through the listserv, committees, boards, and conferences I have made some of my best friends. The work for the organization has been very rewarding. I believe it is crucial to be involved in your professional associations. It strengthens your profession and your place in it. Particularly when I have gained so much from an organization, it is my duty to pay it back. The continuing education available through conferences and webinars is top notch. Nothing else comes close.

Angie’s advice to folks considering a career as a rehabilitation professional...
Find a mentor (or mentors) and pull every last piece of information you can from that person. Explore all of the options the profession allows--case management, disability management, counseling, life care planning, etc. When you have some solid experience behind you, give forensics a try. It's a fascinating business and there is never a dull moment!