Zach grew up just outside Birmingham, AL in the suburb of Alabaster and went to Thompson High School, where he stayed active playing basketball and running track. After his time at Thompson, he attended Auburn university (War Eagle!) where he earned a BS in exercise science. As a part of his undergraduate education, Zach shadowed an occupational therapist who was also a certified hand therapist (CHT). After seeing the quality time a CHT gets to spend with their patients and the important role they get to play in getting patients back to doing the things that are meaningful to them, Zach knew this was the career he wanted for himself. After attending Auburn, Zach moved to Mobile, AL to pursue his master’s in occupational therapy at the University of South Alabama (USA) with the eventual goal of becoming a certified hand therapist.
During his time at USA, he served as president of the occupational therapy student honor society and was actively involved in the Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama (CMMSA)—a group that’s still close to his heart. He now works part-time with CMMSA, mentoring allied health students as they learn to integrate their faith into their healthcare practices. This includes organizing and leading student small groups as well as organizing an annual international medical mission trip, which has been an incredibly rewarding part of his journey.
After graduating from USA in 2020, he immediately joined the Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic, where he spent 4.5 years honing his skills treating a wide variety of operative and non-operative injuries and disorders of the hand and upper extremity with a large and diverse patient population. In June 2024, he achieved his goal of becoming a Certified Hand Therapist, and he is now thrilled to be part of the Refine PT and Performance team. He is specialized to treat hand, wrist, elbow injuries and more with the goal of getting his patients back to doing what is important to them.
Zach is also an expert in fabricating custom orthotic devices for the hand, wrist, and elbow as part of his treatment sessions if needed to protect healing structures, improve finger motion, or facilitate greater independence with daily activities.
Zach is married to his wife, Mattie, whom he met at Auburn. They have one little girl, and they are eagerly expecting their second child soon! Zach and Mattie both enjoy running (both have run their fair share of marathons), reading, watching Auburn sports as well as the show Survivor, playing with their girl, hanging with friends and family, and being active members of their church.
