Denise Higdon was a competitive gymnast in high school, spending many long hours at the gym. She was happy to share her expertise in by coaching a girls’ gymnastics team at Wimbledon Sportsplex while she was in college, but it was another experience at the Sportsplex that led to her calling. When she was asked to teach private lessons to a young boy who was leaning to his left side due to a medical condition, she discovered the world of occupational therapy — and knew right away that it was the perfect career for her.
Today, Denise heads the WorkSite CARE Clinic, the only locally owned and certified woman-owned occupational healthcare clinic in Memphis. Get to know this week’s FACE of Memphis!
How did your career path lead to opening your own clinic?
I’ve been a licensed occupational therapist for over 30 years. When my employer re-structured in 1999 and phased out the on-site injury prevention programs I developed and created, clients insisted these programs continue. Companies said they would pay me directly to continue the programs, which paved my entrepreneurial journey and led to WorkSite CARE Clinic.
What was your initial vision for WorkSite CARE Clinic? How did it grow from there?
As a single parent, I knew I wanted the business to grow at a manageable and sustainable rate so I could balance being a businesswoman and a mom. I’d love to say I had a clear vision. What I had was a willingness to listen to our clients, problem-solve, and make strategic plans that helped them improve worker health and safety and reduce injuries.
Our clients prodded us to expand our service offerings to drug screens, DOT physicals, ergonomics, employment testing for new-hire candidates, return-to-work assessments, injury prevention, and employee wellness training.
In hindsight, I’d say my vision was to do whatever services are necessary to ensure industrial workers are physically able to safely perform their jobs.
What do you find most fulfilling about your job?
I get to meet and work with interesting, amazing people, sometimes at their worksites. These people work hard and are willing to show us their job tasks, help us understand their work, and then trust us to help them. I firmly believe people enjoy working overall. Sometimes, they just need to know someone is listening and cares. That’s me. I care.
What allows you to stand out from similar clinics?
Our customers are employees who work in factories and plants, drive and operate heavy machinery, load and unload materials, deliver packages, fabricate products, perform repetitive tasks during product production, and make or build things. We are dedicated to serving these individuals and this population. These are our people … We only see industrial workers and employees.
Switching gears, what do you do for self care?
Ha — busted! I work a lot because I love what I do. When I’m not working, I’m outside being quiet and clearing my head. When I’m inside, you can find me whipping up a concoction in my kitchen as a de-stressor. But my favorite thing is being with my supportive, close-knit friends. They keep me grounded and force me to stop working and have some fun!
What do you enjoy most about living in Memphis?
One of my favorite things about Memphis is randomly meeting interesting people, talking to them, and hearing their stories. People are fascinating and intrigue me. I appreciate every chance I get to talk to someone and learn about them. As a huge bonus, Memphis is the home of the best live music scene, hands down — so much talent and variety. It’s everywhere, and sometimes it’s even free. I’m an avid sports fan. Win or lose, I truly love the Grizzlies.
What’s your best piece of advice?
Be authentic. Know you’re responsible for your own life, treat people how you want to be treated, trust your intuition, know you are probably greater than you even know, and then go live your best life doing what you love to do.
Name three things you can’t live without.
Coffee, being outside, and watching sports (football and the Grizzlies).
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