We continue our "Where Are They Now" series with Emily (Hnath) Norlock. She is a member of Cal Lutheran's first-ever women's golf team, which started in 2012. In the program's first season, Hnath helped the Regals place third at every SCIAC meet, including third at the SCIAC Championships. In her only season as a Regal, she tied for 18th at the championships, and was inducted into the CLU Scholar-Athlete Society. Now, Hnath is a pediatric physical therapist at NAPA Center. 

 

2008-2012 - I grew up in Minnesota and had no intention of choosing a school further than the surrounding states until I was at a college fair one freezing winter night. It was snowing, I was in boots, several layers, and just cold. I had also been to a few college campuses already and hadn't been able to decide on anything. At the fair I walked by a booth with palm trees and sunshine in a photo, Cal Lutheran) and when I went home I searched the website and that is when 'it' hit me, that "you'll know when you know" feeling. I knew I was supposed to go to Cal Lutheran. 

 

When I moved in, I knew no one. It was exhilarating. Of course, I did cry when my family left. They later told me they too cried all the way down Lynn Road to their hotel before getting on a flight home early the next morning. But I happened to be roommates with a girl who quickly became my best friend and we met so many other great friends almost instantly. I loved the freshman dorm environment with the courtyard in the middle, it fostered conversation, friendship, and a fun environment. It also happened that President Kimball was my Faculty advisor in Freshman Seminar and that was helpful to have him know me personally for one reason I'll explain below but another that CLU just felt like a small, tight knit community. I needed that being so far away from home. Second semester I met the love of my life, Jacob Norlock ' 12. I loved watching him play football at the old Mt Clef Stadium and I'll never forget that I missed the blackout game at the new William Roland Stadium because of a golf tournament. He won't let me live that down. We dated all through school and were married in August 2014. 

 

How was your experience with the team and other athletes? 

At the end of my sophomore year I found a fellow classmate, Emily Bullen, who also had a love for golf. At the time, there was not a women's golf team. Emily and I met in one of our Exercise Science courses and we decided to make an appointment with Jeff Lindgren, the men's golf coach, to discuss how we could go about getting a women's team started. He was so gracious to offer coaching the women's team as well. With his support, we were then able to meet with President Kimball, I'm not sure if it's because he already knew me or if he is just that accessible, but the rest is history! Our first season we placed 3rd in the SCIAC. I only was able to play my senior year but to this day, it's one of my most proud accomplishments. I had so many other friends who were athletes; football, soccer, basketball, waterpolo, baseball, tennis, track & field. Watching and cheering them on was a huge part of my time at CLU, that is pretty much all I did besides work events and put up/take down millions of chairs and tables for Dennis! 

 

I have been a pediatric physical therapist at NAPA Center, Los Angeles for the past 5 years. We help children with disabilities reach their best potential by delivering innovative therapy services. NAPA strives to provide children and families with hope by offering services in a playful environment using lots of unique tools within an intensive program. Los Angeles was the first location, founded by Lynette LaScala whose oldest son experienced a near drowning accident at 1 years old, after which Lynette made it her life's mission to help him reach his full potential and instill hope. Her journeys around the world inspired her to make the best and most innovative therapies available under one roof. Children and their families from around the world come to the clinic for the intensive program because of the significant progress they make towards their goals. Two clinics across the world have been opened since; one in Sydney, Australia and the other in Boston, Massachusetts. The next one is in Austin, Texas opening September 8th, 2020. I am so excited to help expand our outreach to more families! My husband, Jacob and I, will be moving there in less than two weeks! I will be the Director of Rehabilitation at the newest NAPA Center.

 

 

NAPA's vision is to promote and sustain inventive practice through education and interdisciplinary teamwork. We are committed to providing our therapists with exceptional learning experiences and remain connected with the academic community and current practice by acting as a teaching clinic. Every single day I work alongside my fellow physical therapists as well as occupational and speech therapists to be able to provide our patients with independence in every aspect of their lives. Being a part of a collegiate golf team helped me improve my ability to communicate, be accountable to others, and to strive to continue to better myself as a therapist. I was one of the captain's my senior year and that helped me grow in my leadership abilities. I've always been a quiet leader or the "lead by example" type. Maybe that is because golf is a quiet sport, I'm not sure, but what I know is that all the things I learned and experienced on the team are similar to what I am experiencing at work every day. I am so proud of helping start the Cal Lutheran Women's Golf Team and I feel the same right now, at this very moment, as we start the NAPA Austin clinic this next month.

 

Working so closely with families from across the world. I have met so many amazing families from Sydney, Melbourne, Dubai, London, Mexico, Canada, and all across the United States. To be able to help the children learn how to sit, stand, walk, or improve their independence in any capacity is incredibly rewarding. I have also been able to travel to several places around the world to see patients which is another benefit since I never studied abroad at CLU! 

 

 

It's crazy! I get in at 7:45am and start treating patients at 8am. I see each patient for 50 minutes and get 10 minutes in between to clean up before the next one, it's a fast paced environment and I love it. I am scheduled to see 7 patients per day. Usually 1-2 of those hours I have a training therapist or student with me to learn. I also have an hour of documentation time because each visit requires a note. There are other documentation tasks that I have to do like write progress reports, evaluations, or letters of medical necessity so that my patient's can continue to receive services or obtain durable medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, or orthotics. Sometimes I talk to doctors or other providers to make sure we coordinate care.

 

I guess I sort of always knew I wanted to do this. My mom is a pediatric physical therapist, so I was introduced to the field by her at a young age. Children with disabilities and their families can feel really isolated because "they are different" and it was nice to grow up watching my mom treat these families and kids no different than she treated anyone else. From a young age I babysat, coached a special needs soccer team, I worked as an aide in a special needs classroom, and nannied for several summers. I love kids and I love helping them become their best little selves. There was a short time, I thought I wanted to be a physical therapist for a pro sports team but I did one of my internships at NAPA Center and quickly re-realized that the pediatric world was where I was supposed to be.