TRAVERSE CITY — Aubrey Jabour, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Founder of Northbound Physical Therapy, has been awarded the Emerging Leader Award by the American Physical Therapy Association of Michigan (APTA Michigan). The award honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional service, leadership, and commitment to advancing the physical therapy profession.
Jabour serves on the APTA Michigan Board, where she advocates for improved access to physical therapy services across the state. In her volunteer role, she helps coordinate educational opportunities, organizes professional events, and connects practitioners with resources that support both their development and the communities they serve.
“I am incredibly honored by this recognition,” said Jabour. “My passion lies in strengthening our profession and helping people gain access to preventive and conservative treatment like physical therapy. Thank you to everyone who has attended events, supported advocacy efforts, or encouraged me along the way. I’m proud to continue this work for my community and my profession.”
Jabour launched Northbound Physical Therapy to provide services to individuals and organizations in Northern Michigan. Her practice offers physical therapy, senior wellness, direct care worker training, and ergonomic services to help people prevent common challenges with work and aging. For more information about Northbound Physical Therapy, visit: www.northboundpt.com.
Three new board members have been named to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Grand Traverse. They are:
Sarah Ellis brings over a decade of healthcare experience, with a strong background in nursing leadership, behavioral health, and addiction services. She currently serves as a Territory Business Manager for Alkermes, where she supports providers and patients in navigating treatment for addiction and mental health conditions. Sarah’s professional journey has included roles at Traverse Health Clinic, Munson Medical Center, and Michigan Medicine, where she has consistently demonstrated a commitment to compassionate care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations. Her dedication to mental health advocacy is deeply personal. Sarah lost her husband, Darek Purgiel, to suicide, and this profound loss has fueled her passion for suicide prevention, education, and support for families affected by mental illness.Natalie DeYoung
is new to Traverse City, but not to mental health advocacy. In college a friend suggested, from personal experience, that Natalie may have anxiety and depression. Since her diagnoses, she has been passionate about “paying it forward” and sharing her story so others never feel alone in mental health struggles. Natalie graduated from Northern Michigan University. She brings to NAMI-GT, previous experience in nonprofit leadership, community health, and a career in communications, marketing, and public relations.Ginger Kadlec has nearly 40 years of leadership and marketing experience and is a retired technology and non-profit executive who directed professional services operations for two Indianapolis-based software development companies and most recently served as CEO of the Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center. Before that, Ginger worked for the e-government leader NIC where she served in various capacities including subsidiary president of the state of Indiana operation, regional manager for the central U.S., and vice president of a business process automation project for the California Secretary of State’s Office. A graduate of Butler University, Ginger has served on numerous boards and standing committees, including the boards of three child advocacy centers, as well as local chapters of the American Red Cross, United Way, and the First Responder Support Network based in Angwin, California.