The Core Balance Team

Barbara Eby, PT, DPT, MEd

Vestibular Expert and CEO

Specialty: Vestibular, Migraine, and Concussion/Head Injury

Dr. Eby graduated from Grand Valley State University with a BS in Physical Therapy. She received her MEd in Exercise Physiology from Wayne State in 1994 and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Temple University in 2004.

In 1991 Dr. Eby began her practice at an outpatient traumatic brain injury center. Here, she realized she had a passion for vestibular care. Since moving to Kalamazoo in 1997, Dr. Eby has been a trusted provider of vestibular rehabilitation in the Kalamazoo metro area.

She is passionate about her calling and specializes in helping clients unravel the underlying issues even on the most complicated cases. She uses a holistic approach to care, and establishes solid relationships with her patients, while empowering them through education.

Dr. Eby is an APTA Clinical Educator, and is Competency Trained in Vestibular Rehabilitation and Cervicogenic Dizziness. She is also ImPACT and ASTYM Certified.

Dr. Eby, or more affectionately, Barb, has a caring and gentle way about her. She will always be the one ready to lend an ear, and she can make you feel like a million bucks, literally!

Autumn Woodward, PT, DPT

Clinical Director

Specialty: Vestibular, Orthopedic, Pediatrics

Dr. Woodward, or Autumn, as her patients call her, graduated with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Central Michigan University. Her therapy philosophy is to improve patients' understanding of their diagnosis, increase each patient's quality of life through healing, and provide patients with a strong home exercise program so they have the tools to maintain their improved status after completion of therapy.

One of her biggest passions is learning and growing as a clinician to provide the best care possible to her patients. She has experience with treating a variety of orthopedic and vestibular conditions, and enjoys working with patients of all ages.

She has a passion for working with children and sees all of our pediatric patients at Core Balance, as well.

She has a strong love of sports, being active, and enjoying the great outdoors, especially camping.

Autumn was recently promoted to Clinical Director at Core Balance due to her seniority, dedication, and expertise as a therapist and as a mentor.

Autumn is ASTYM Certified.

Carrie Barrett, PT, DPT, NCS

Physical Therapist

Specialty: Neurologic and Vestibular

Dr. Carrie Barrett earned her B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences from UW-Milwaukee in 1995, a Master's in Physical Therapy from UW-Madison in 2007, a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University in 2011, and her PhD in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences from Western Michigan University in 2023. She has over 26 years in clinical patient healthcare, 14 years as a PT in which she specialized in treating adults diagnosed with neurologic and vestibular conditions.

Dr. Barrett has been providing services in outpatient clinics her entire career. She is passionate about working with patients towards meaningful goals for best outcomes, regardless of how complex the condition. She firmly believes in using evidence-based approaches and exploring novel treatments. Her treatment philosophy is to use neurologic methods combined with creative, meaningful patient care to promote healing.

In 2015, Dr. Barrett earned a Neurology Clinical Specialist certification through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and in 2021, earned a Certificate in Expert Applied Geriatric Neurology. She is also an assistant professor, and an instructor in the WMU-DPT program since 2019.

Dr. Barrett, who goes by Carrie, has a compassionate and dynamic manner in providing the best care for each individual patient. Her favorite part of being a physical therapist is taking part in celebrating when patients meet their goals.

Mia Knight, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist

Specialty: Orthopedics, Neurological, Vestibular

Dr. Mia (Kaartinen) Knight graduated from MSU with a BS in Kinesiology and then pursued her doctorate in physical therapy at U of M. She is also trained in Parkinson's care and concussion management.

A native of Finland, she is fluent in both English and Finnish. Mia, a recent newlywed, spends her free time with her husband and her dog named Gimli. Mia loves hiking, in-line skating, traveling, and weightlifting.

She especially enjoys treating orthopedic and neurological patients, while empowering them to improve their quality of life and reach their goals. Mia is a lifelong learner, always striving to improve the way she treats her patients using research and experience as her guide.

Mia is LSVT BIG and PWR! (Parkinson's Wellness Recovery) Certified.

We are excited to have Mia on the Core Balance team!

Becky Sweet, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist

Specialty: Vestibular, Orthopedics, Geriatrics, Neurolgical

Dr. Becky Sweet graduated with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Andrews University in 2019. While attending Andrews University, Dr. Sweet was an Anatomy and Physiology Graduate Assistant.

Born and raised in Kalamazoo, Becky previously attended Western Michigan University and received her BS in Exercise Science. It was while Becky was working towards her Exercise Science degree at Western Michigan University that she first met and started working with Dr. Barb Eby.

Dr. Sweet has experience in Geriatric, Neurological, Orthopedic, and Vestibular physical therapy patient care. Dr. Sweet is interested in and passionate about working with people of all ages and is always looking to increase her experience, knowledge, and scope of care. Dr. Sweet is detail oriented, empathetic, and believes in supporting the whole person- not only physically, but emotionally and mentally, too. It is Dr. Sweet's goal to establish a genuine and trusting relationship with her patients to educate, empower, and motivate them to meet their goals and improve their functional mobility and quality of life. You'll most likely find that she will try to be one of your biggest cheerleaders!

Becky enjoys being active and spending time with her husband, daughter, and dog, as well as her family and friends. She has a love for camping, kickball, volleyball, and travelling! Oftentimes, you will find Becky trying to seek out the humor and positivity in life and spreading that happiness to others.

Becky is ASTYM certified.

We are happy to have Becky on our team!

Meredith Fidler, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist

Dr. Meredith (Fidler) graduated with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in May 2024 from the University of Findlay in Findlay, OH. Meredith strongly believes in the power of nervous system regulation and evidence-based health education. She invests in her patients to help them take control of their pain and symptoms, decrease deeply-rooted physiologic stress and facilitate healing. She believes that knowledge is power and wishes to share her knowledge to arm her patients with information, helping them maintain their independence and lead the most optimal version of their lives.

Meredith desires to learn and grow as a neurologic and vestibular specialist, finding her passion in treating complex neurologic diagnoses, degenerative disease, chronic pain, concussion and balance deficits. She takes a biopsychosocial approach to her care, creating a safe space for her patients to pursue both functional and holistic health goals. She also believes that age is just a number, aiming to help all of her patients feel empowered, strong and youthful, no matter what stage of life they are in.

A newlywed and new Michigander as of June 2024, Meredith has enjoyed discovering new places while traveling and backpacking around the state and the country with her husband, Daniel. Meredith and Daniel are originally from Cleveland, OH. Meredith also enjoys swimming, dancing, reading, 80s music, horseback riding, pickleball, volleyball and spending time with her large Ohio family. She loves to laugh and make others feel supported through humor, empathy and kindness.

Meredith is LSVT BIG and PWR! (Parkinson's Wellness Recovery) Certified.

We are super excited that Meredith is on our team!

Our THerapy Dog

MINNIE

At Core Balance Physical & Vestibular Therapy, we believe that physical therapy is not just about treating injuries. It is about our patients and their well-being. ...And Minnie is all about our patients, so she fits in perfectly!

Minnie is an 8 year old English Cream Golden Doodle who takes her job of greeting and cuddling patients very seriously.

You will often find her carrying around a stuffed "baby", and following around Barb and her patients. But, at the top of the hour, you will find her in the waiting room, greeting all the patients as they arrive.

She brings lots of smiles all around, and we LOVE having her on our team!

Our Office Team

Angela Kava

Office Manager

Angela graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, and a minor in English and Early Childhood Education. She comes to us with a wide-range of experience. She taught elementary school at a private school in the Kalamazoo area for 18 years, and then worked as a Teaching and Learning Technologist for two years.

A few years ago she decided to move into a new career. She has since worked as a Sales and Training Manager for her sister's company...where she put her tech and teaching skills to work! She also dabbled in Life Enrichment, where she shared her love for teaching, crafting, yoga, and spending time with senior citizens. She finally landed here at CORE BALANCE, and we couldn't be happier!

Angela's strengths lie in organization, efficiency, grammar, and helping others. She keeps all the behind the scenes "stuff" (like this website) under control so the therapists can do their very best work! She has a passion for decorating and shopping... and if you love dogs, especially Golden Retrievers, then you already have a lot in common with Angela! She also recently became a cat mom, too!

Office StaFF

Daysie Huber

Lead Office Assistant

Daysie is a student at Western Michigan University, studying Exercise Science with a minor in Geriatrics. She originally came to WMU for nursing. Her attention was drawn to physical therapy when she attended physical therapy for a lengthy stent after a jet ski accident. She then switched her major to exercise science and she plans to attend PT school after graduation in 2024.

Daysie has two energetic boxers and loves that they willingly share lots of kisses! She also loves the winter and cold weather activities. She spends a lot of time up north at the family cabin, snowboarding at Nubs Nob with family friends.

We are glad to have Daysie on the Core Balance team! Be sure to say hi to her in the front office!

Allisan Barrett

Office Assistant

Allisan graduated from Carroll University in 2022 with a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Behavior and a minor in Music. She accepted the position at Core Balance to gain greater perspectives in physical therapy. She hopes her knowledge of animals and music, as well as what she learns from working at Core Balance, will help govern her decisions in continuing education (possibly in the therapy realm).

Allisan is originally from Wisconsin and recently moved to Michigan after graduation. She loves to run/race ultra-marathons and is always looking for a new outdoor adventure. Outside of training and racing, she enjoys knitting, doing crafts, riding her bike, and playing the piano and french horn.

We are happy to have Allisan on the Core Balance team!

Jessica Molnar

Office Assistant

Jess is a student at Western Michigan University. She is studying to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant. She enjoys playing Lacrosse at WMU.

We are happy to have her smiling face on the team!