Marshall Pediatric Therapy is a Values-Based Practice Where Families Find Support and Therapists Find Purpose

By Your Health Magazine

Your Health Magazine

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Marshall Pediatric Therapy is a Values-Based Practice Where Families Find Support and Therapists Find Purpose

Marshall Pediatric Therapy is frequently named as the top referral choice by leading pediatricians and children’s hospitals in Central Kentucky. With clinics in Lexington, Georgetown, Richmond, and Nicholasville, the practice has grown from one occupational therapist’s vision into a multidisciplinary care provider trusted by both families and pediatricians alike.

Founded in 2013 by Pam Marshall, OTR/L, and supported from the beginning by her husband and co-owner, Jim Marshall, the company has remained family-run throughout the years. Today, it offers occupational, physical, and speech therapy, applied behavior analysis through its Building Blocks program, as well as counseling, aquatic therapy, infant massage, feeding support, and telehealth sessions. It also provides specialized care for children with brachial plexus injuries and other developmental challenges that require targeted, individualized interventions.

While the company’s services have expanded over the years, its mission,”helping families build skills for life,” has stayed the same. This has drawn in families who want thoughtful, child-centered care and therapists who are looking for meaningful, long-term work in a place where values matter day to day.

A Workplace Culture Created With Purpose

Before launching Marshall Pediatric Therapy, Pam Marshall built her career over more than two decades in hospitals, school systems, and private clinics. Despite the variety of settings, she struggled to find a workplace that combined clinical excellence with a consistent sense of joy.

That disconnect eventually led her to form her team of therapists. From the start, the practice has followed five guiding principles: Family, Love, Excellence, Happiness, and Courage. Each one has a clear meaning behind it, and these expectations affect how the team functions daily. Decisions are grounded in compassion, respect, and the belief that families and coworkers deserve the same care they strive to provide to clients.

New team members formally commit to these values when they join the practice by signing an Honor Code that pledges integrity, accountability, and a promise to live out those values even when no one is watching. They also agree to follow a set of guidelines around communication, including a policy that discourages gossip.

When problems come up, team members are encouraged to go straight to someone who can help fix them. This helps maintain open communication, mutual accountability, and the strong team dynamics that are apparent at each of the four clinics.

How the Practice Became the First Call for Referrals

Marshall Pediatric Therapy knew it had become a first choice for care in the region when hospital and pediatric referral teams kept saying “Marshall is our first choice” over and over again. That feedback lined up with what the team was already seeing firsthand.

Internally, they track outcomes like any responsible healthcare organization, but they also look beyond the numbers. Clinicians celebrate the everyday wins, like a child reaching a developmental milestone, gaining independence, or graduating from therapy altogether. These small victories represent the heart of the work and remind therapists why they chose this field in the first place.

That same sense of purpose carries into the workplace culture. Staff often describe it as the best job they’ve ever had, not just because of the progress they get to see children make but because they feel genuinely supported by their team and leadership.

The environment is open and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on respect, honesty, and following through on commitments. Every therapist’s development is taken seriously, and people are valued not only for what they know but for how they show up and care for others.

Making Hard Choices With People in Mind

At the very start of the COVID-19 shutdowns, Pam sent out a late-night message letting staff know that in-person visits would need to stop. By the next morning, the team had already converted 95 appointments to telehealth. Within a month, they were operating at 85 percent of their typical pace, almost entirely online.

What stood out most wasn’t only the speed at which the transition happened, but also how team members were supported through it. No one was furloughed or had to burn through PTO or file for unemployment. Even those working fewer hours were still paid in full. This was a stark contrast to nearby hospitals that placed many of their team members on leave.

The company did everything it could to hold the team together while keeping the business afloat, showing up when it mattered most. In doing so, it reinforced its values and showed that integrity, loyalty, and empathy don’t disappear when challenges arise. Rather, they guide every response, especially in times of uncertainty.

Professional Development That Doesn’t Stop at Orientation

Even after someone gets hired at Marshall Pediatric Therapy, they continue to be poured into professionally. Every new therapist is paired with a mentor in their field, and that relationship can last up to a year, depending on experience.

Mentors and mentees meet weekly to discuss caseloads, clinical questions, continuing education opportunities, and professional goals. These sessions are documented and shared with clinic managers to ensure consistency and progress across all locations.

At the start of the mentorship, each pair sets shared expectations through a signed agreement that includes SMART goals and ground rules for collaboration. Mentors also stay in touch between meetings and work closely with clinic managers to create additional learning opportunities based on the therapist’s interests and needs. Therapists can observe colleagues in other disciplines, attend monthly check-ins, and connect with staff who specialize in areas like feeding, infant care, or neurodevelopment.

In addition to mentorship, therapists have access to a five-level Clinical Ladder program that outlines the path from new graduate to highly skilled, independent provider. Each level includes observation-based feedback, peer collaboration, and clearly defined expectations. Level 5 clinicians often hold advanced certifications and may have greater flexibility and autonomy in their schedules.

Rather than pushing people to advance for the sake of titles, the program is designed to support long-term growth in a way that’s practical, individualized, and lasting. Therapists are encouraged to take their time, build confidence, and pursue advanced roles when they’re ready, knowing they’ll be fully supported along the way.

Preparing the Next Generation of Pediatric Therapists

Marshall Pediatric Therapy remains focused on the present while also investing in the future of the profession. The practice serves as a clinical site for students from more than a dozen therapy graduate programs, including Eastern Kentucky University, where Pam Marshall earned her degree. High school and college students interested in pursuing therapy are also welcome for observation hours. 

That same commitment to mentorship and learning extends into the hiring process. Skills and experience matter, but so do curiosity, kindness, and a genuine desire to work with children. The staff is made up of people from a wide range of backgrounds, which helps them better relate to the families they serve and brings a variety of perspectives to the table.

Where Values Shape the Future of Pediatric Therapy

There are plenty of ways to measure growth in a healthcare setting, including patient volume, insurance authorizations, and billing numbers, but those aren’t the only things that drive the team at Marshall Pediatric Therapy. What carries weight are the experiences that don’t always show up on a spreadsheet.

For them, success shows up in the reviews parents leave, the goals children reach, and the breakthroughs staff celebrate together. It’s about the day-to-day impact that fosters trust, strengthens relationships, and deepens the connection between families and the therapists who support them.