Inspired by Family. Driven by Passion.

Coming from a family full of physical therapists, it is no surprise that Ally Dunlay, PT, DPT, is passionate about her career!

Her parents Edward and Christine were already established in their careers as physical therapists when they met at a physical rehabilitation conference. Throughout their marriage, they passed down their mutual love and appreciation for the field to all three of their children. Along with Ally, her older sister Samantha and her younger brother Allan are also physical therapists, both working at an inpatient rehabilitation facility in Louisville, Kentucky.

 “You would think with all three kids choosing physical therapy they forced us into it, but they really didn’t. When you see your parents loving their jobs, it’s easy to fall in love with it yourself,” said Ally.

Doing gymnastics as a child, Ally also formed her own opinions of physical therapy while rehabbing several injuries and found that she loved building connections with her clinicians.

Through those experiences, Ally knew she wanted to do something in the medical field, and initially chose nursing, but soon realized that it was not the best fit. At the same time, her older sister was also changing her career path from speech language pathology to physical therapy. This ultimately gave Ally the nudge to switch as well. Once she started the core physical therapy classes, she knew she made the right decision.

After graduating, Ally began researching jobs in both Chattanooga and Nashville, leaning towards an inpatient setting. “When I toured Siskin Hospital and walked around the therapy gym, I felt like this was where I needed to be,” said Ally.

Christine Dunlay working with a Siskin Hospital patient in the mid 1990s.

She also shared a special connection with the organization through her mother, who also worked at Siskin Hospital from 1993 to 1997 as an inpatient physical therapist! Several long-time associates remember working with Christine, including Ally’s occupational therapy partner Alice Jacobi, OTR/L.

Now three years into her career and employment at Siskin Hospital, she could not imagine being anywhere else. Working on the orthopedic floor, Ally sees a wide variety of cases and is able to build close connections during their one-on-one treatments.

Ally Dunlay, with former Siskin Hospital spinal cord injury patients and fellow Siskin Hospital associates.

“We are guiding patients through a vulnerable time and helping them reach their goals. That is definitely the best part,” said Ally.

While she does not plan to influence her future children to continue in her family’s footsteps, she would not be surprised if they also fall in love with the field.

Thank you for your dedication to each and every patient, Ally! Siskin Hospital is thankful to have you on the team.