Investing in the future of our family
- Belong Dickinson
- Feb 18
- 4 min read
Finding our community in the Dickinson area
“This area is really great for kids… the library is amazing, the childrens museum is great.” - Emily Alessandroni
Meet Emily and Nick Alessandroni
We met in PT school in 2017 at Central Michigan University and completed our doctorate programs at Michigan Tech in 2020.
Nick is originally from L’Anse, Michigan, and Emily is from Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin. We knew we wanted to return to the U.P. after graduating so we could be close to family, and we love the outdoors.
After graduating from PT school, a friend working at U.P. Rehab in Marquette reached out to let us know U.P. Rehab was hiring in Kingsford. There were two openings, so we both applied and interviewed. Everyone was super nice, and it felt like a good fit. We knew we wanted to find something close together, what is closer than the same clinic.
When we first moved here, we rented while we looked for a house to buy. The real estate agent we worked with really knows the area, and he showed us the different neighborhoods. The people here are so welcoming, and it has a small-town community feel, but there is plenty to do. Emily was pregnant when we moved here so we were also making a big decision about where we were going to invest in the future of our baby. Marshfield has a great OB/GYN program.
Working at U.P. Rehab Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson
We work together, but we don’t work together if that makes sense. There can be a full day when we don’t see each other because we are with our own patients.
[Emily] I specialize in women’s health and pelvic floor physical therapy. Pelvic floor rehab is a very underserved area of physical therapy. It is very rewarding to be able to help people suffering silently from these ailments by connecting with them and helping them change a little bit of their lives.
[Nick] I specialize in vestibular rehab, which addresses dizziness and vertigo type of stuff. Similar to pelvic floor rehab, this is an area where people do not know how much PT can help alleviate their symptoms and be beneficial to their overall quality of life.
It's always fun to get people better and back doing what they love to do. We are both really happy to bring our specializations to the area. We are able to do that here in Kingsford thanks to the investments Marshfield Medical Center makes in the region, specifically at U.P. Rehab Marshfield Medical Center Dickinson.
Living in the Dickinson area
We have two kids, and this area is really great for kids. We live in a very kid-friendly, family-oriented, safe neighborhood. We can go on bike rides, walk down the road, and feel very safe. That's huge. The library is amazing, and the children's museum is great. We have a bunch of resources that the kids just absolutely love.
We also love to do anything outdoors—hiking, biking, snowshoeing, ice fishing, snow tubing. We also visit the apple orchard and pumpkin patch. We embrace the winters. It is nice that you don’t have to drive super far to get to experience these activities.
The Dickinson area is a sweet spot, a central location. The proximity to Green Bay is huge, we can get to Lambeau and back in a day but still be in a small town. We use Ford Airport to travel so the kids don’t have to sit in a car and wait around for a long time.
Dickinson County Library and Imagination Factory Children's Museum
Since our family is so young and we moved here at the beginning of the pandemic, we are still exploring ways to become involved in the community. Two resources that have helped us meet people and improve our quality of life are the Dickinson County Library and the Imagination Factory Children’s Museum.
The Dickinson County Library has an amazing children's section with books, puzzles, building blocks and other activities. It also offers many children’s programs, such as Lego Club, playgroups, and storytimes.
The Imagination Factory Children’s Museum has interactive learning opportunities for kids of all ages.
The tiny town is a mini-replica of the businesses you find in our community. The industry and healthcare rooms have exhibits by major employers in the region are an educational and interactive play experience.
What is something anyone considering the Dickinson area should know
“The community as a whole is just very welcoming. It has that small town community feel, but there are restaurants, coffee shops, and the brewery, and plenty to do. It isn’t super rural.” - Nick Alessandroni
About Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson
Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson provides access to top-quality care in the Greater Dickinson County Communities, with a medical center and 14 primary and specialty care locations united in a network of care close to home.
About the Dickinson County Library
The Dickinson County Library helps the community find its story. With three locations in Dickinson County, it strives to enhance the quality of individual, family, and community life by providing information, materials, and services that are readily available and responsive to the needs of all its patrons.
About the Imagination Factory Children's Museum
The Imagination Factory Children's Museum is a place where everyone belongs. The entire museum mirrors various elements of the community. The activities focus on all types of interactive play and creative learning for children: social-emotional, cooperative, physical, fantasy, games, sensory, team building and independent play.
コメント