meet our team
Our name says it all! We are passionate about all things pelvic health. We have a combined 25+ years of dedicated experience in pelvic health therapy. Our goal in founding Empassion Pelvic Health was to provide a supportive, empowering and healing environment for our patients. We also want to provide to our community excellent, skilled care from pelvic health specialists. We have seen first-hand how limited the resources are for women and men dealing with pelvic health conditions. It is so rewarding to guide our patients to a place of relief, hope, and healing.
Dr. Melanie Abbott
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University, B.S. in Exercise Science
Graduate: East Tennessee State University, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Post Doctoral Pelvic Health Training: Herman and Wallace Institute for Pelvic Rehabilitation; Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Treatments
I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science. After taking a few years off to raise my children, I went back to school and earned a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from East Tennessee State University in 2013. I brought to physical therapy a lifelong passion for women’s issues and a strong desire to fill a void present in women’s health care. Therefore, after completing my doctorate degree, I began intensive training in pelvic health and orthopedics through Herman and Wallace Institute for Pelvic Rehabilitation, the Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Treatments, and an intensive 18 month mentoring program in pelvic health for women and men. Through this training, I developed a comprehensive and full body approach to treatment. I have extensive experience in treating pregnancy, postpartum, orthopedic, and pelvic health conditions. I am especially interested in increasing women’s education in their own bodies, giving each person individualized tools to get better and finding the root cause of each patient’s condition. I aspire to a wholistic treatment approach and have additional interest in nutrition, trauma, autoimmune disease, and chronic pain conditions.
My most favorite thing is to spend time with family, scattered all over the country. I love being a mom and grandma and think it is the best job ever. My husband and I love hiking, traveling and eating good food.
PT, DPT
Co-Founder
Dr. Noelle Eads
Undergraduate: East Tennessee State University, B.S. in Physical Education
Graduate: East Tennessee State University, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Post Doctoral Pelvic Health Training: Herman and Wallace Institute for Pelvic Rehabilitation; Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Treatments
I received my Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a concentration in Exercise Science from East Tennessee State University in 2010, and then went on to obtain my Doctorate of Physical Therapy at ETSU in 2013. After exposure to Pelvic Health in clinical rotations and falling in love with the specialty, I started immediately out of school with intensive continuing education for both Pelvic Health and Orthopedics through Herman and Wallace Institute for Pelvic Rehabilitation, and the Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Treatments. With over 10 years of experience, I have done extensive training in treatment of pelvic floor and total body conditions across the lifespan including issues related to pregnancy, postpartum, complex pain, auto-immune disease, urogynecological, colorectal, neuro, and orthopedic dysfunctions, and I apply my knowledge of biomechanics head to toe when working with patients.
My passion is working with each patient to thoroughly assess them as a unique individual to not only determine what is causing their symptoms, but why, and helping them understand what is going on with their body so they can be empowered to heal through a combination of hands-on manual therapy, exercise, and education. My partner Melanie and I founded Empassion Pelvic Health in order to deliver the highest quality care possible, and grow community awareness and outreach to help patients know that just because conditions are common, doesn’t mean they are normal, and help is out there.
In my spare time I enjoy running, hiking, traveling with my husband, John, and taking care of our fur babies - Albert, Henry, Melvin, and Maggie.
PT, DPT
Co-Founder
Dr. Whitney Gambrell
Undergraduate: East Tennessee State University, B.S. in Physical Education
Graduate: East Tennessee State University, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Post Doctoral Pelvic Health Training: Herman and Wallace Institute for Pelvic Rehabilitation
I received my Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a concentration in Exercise Science from East Tennessee State University in 2017, and then went on to obtain my Doctorate of Physical Therapy at ETSU in 2020. Prior to PT school, I already had a passion for working with pediatrics after working in an elementary school setting for years and extensive shadowing hours in the pediatric inpatient and outpatient settings. While in PT school, I was exposed to Pelvic Health in clinical rotations and fell in love with the population and specialty as a whole. Immediately after graduating and taking my board exam, I was blessed to take a job as a pediatric and pelvic health physical therapist. In addition to taking continuing education for pelvic health through Herman and Wallace Institute for Pelvic Rehabilitation, I also have received 2 years of extensive mentorship in pelvic health to expand and grow my skills. Regarding pediatrics, I have received 1 year of extensive mentorship after PT school, and I had the honor of being in the Vanderbilt Consortium Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program to further develop my critical thinking and interprofessional skills to provide family-centered services to children with disabilities and their families. I have accumulated over 4 years of experience, and have been able to successfully help and treat a multitude of individuals with various diagnoses across the lifespan, beginning from infancy related to pelvic health and pediatrics, such as pregnancy, postpartum, complex back, hip, and pelvic pain, urological and colorectal dysfunction as well as orthopedic dysfunction, and conditions related to pediatrics, such as developmental delay, torticollis, plagiocephaly, constipation, pelvic pain and Down Syndrome just to name a few.
My goal is to always empower my patients to be educated about their bodies, teach my patients to be independent, serve my patients by providing the best quality individualized care, and help them to become advocates for themselves and others. I have a passion for finding the root cause of my patients' symptoms and helping them to understand the “why” behind their symptoms in order to stimulate the healing process through education, exercise, and manual therapy. I want to help my patients understand that they are not alone in their condition/symptoms and help is available. I am honored to be a part of Empassion Pelvic Health, and I can’t wait to meet you!
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, being outside in the summertime, and shopping.
PT, DPT
Dr. Brooke Tranbarger
Undergraduate: East Tennessee State University, B.S. in Allied Health Leadership
Graduate: South College, Doctor of Physical Therapy
I received my Associate of Applied Science and licensure as a Physical Therapist Assistant from Walter’s State in 2017. Immediately out of school I started working in an inpatient setting treating various conditions and age populations, with focus on orthopedic and post-op. After two years of working in an inpatient setting, I transitioned to working with pediatrics in the outpatient and school system settings. I developed a passion for the pediatric population during these three years. I was very fortunate to work with and be mentored by an amazing PT who is a Certified Pediatric Specialist over the duration of three years and apply that knowledge in clinical practice with various pediatric diagnosis and conditions with primary focus on neurological and developmental delays. While working as a PTA I learned so much and I am thankful for the experiences, but I knew I could do more to serve my patients better if I returned to school to complete my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. I received my Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Leadership from East Tennessee State University in 2020, and then went on to obtain my Doctor of Physical Therapy at South College in 2023. During PT school I had a mentor who introduced me to the specialty of Pelvic Health and I fell in love with the specialty and practice. I completed my last 12-week clinical rotation at a pelvic health clinic with extensive mentorship from a PT who had obtained her Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification. Over the past six years I have experience and success treating patients from pediatric to geriatric ages in different settings including issues related to orthopedic dysfunctions, neurological conditions, pediatric developmental delays, urological and colorectal dysfunction, pregnancy, and post-partum.
My passion is to continue with a life-long learning mindset and empower my patients through education. I aspire to help my patients understand more about their bodies by finding the underlying cause of the condition and the “why” behind their symptoms so can they feel empowered throughout their healing process invigorated by manual therapy, exercise, and education.
In my spare time I enjoy doing CrossFit, hiking and traveling with my husband, Tanner, and my dog, Banjo, and spending time with family and friends.
PT, DPT
Chelsea Thompson
OTR/L, ATC
Undergraduate: King University, B.S. in Athletic Training
Graduate: Brenau University M.S. in Occupational Therapy
Post-Graduate Pelvic Health Training: Herman and Wallace Institute for Pelvic Rehabilitation
I received my Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from King University in 2015. After working in a variety of settings including school athletics, occupational health, and private client training, I then went back to school and obtained my Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Brenau University in 2023. While in OT school, I was also a PT Tech at State of Franklin OB/GYN Pelvic Health Physical Therapy for 2 years where I assisted in treating thousands of patients with complex urinary, bowel, sexual, and pain issues, and I developed a passion for treating pelvic floor dysfunction after witnessing the life-changing impact of therapy on patients. I was also pregnant with my second child at the time and this allowed me to experience first hand how beneficial and necessary pelvic floor therapy is!
Following graduation I dove into specialized continuing education courses for Pelvic Health examination and treatment through Herman and Wallace Institute for Pelvic Rehabilitation, and an aggressive mentorship program where I received extensive training in treatment of pelvic floor and total body conditions including urogynecological, colorectal, neurological, orthopedic dysfunctions, and issues related to pregnancy and postpartum, which I am particularly passionate about.
I love to apply the skillset of OT when working with patients to adapt and modify their environments, lifestyle, and ADLs to help improve symptoms and quality of life as we are working on healing, and love helping patients assess and intervene in all aspects of what is occurring to cause symptoms so they can heal holistically and find long-term relief.
My favorite thing to do is to spend time with my husband, Zach, and our 3 children: Emery, Zaiden, and Zyla. We love to play outside together, watch movies, and travel.