Our physical therapy staff members are educated and skilled to provide you with the care that you need to enhance your movement.


Staff members

Cole Carson, PT

***Performs Fit-for-Duty evaluations only.***

Co-Founder & Co-Owner

Cole co-founded Equinox Physical Therapy with his wife, Ruth Carson, in 1992. He graduated with a degree in Physical Therapy from St. Scholastica in 1984. Recently Cole has enjoyed doing ready to work and return to work assessments as well as practicing in the home health field. In his spare time, Cole likes to ride his motorcycle, ski, boat, be in the outdoors, and spend time with friends and family. 

 

Ruth Carson, PT

Owner & Founder

Ruth graduated from the College of St Scholastica Physical Therapy School in 1984.She previously worked in Minnesota before moving to Alaska in 1986. She first worked  at Fairbanks Memorial until 1996.  It was during this time that Ruth and her husband, Cole decided to start a private practice. Ruth states: “I have loved being a small clinic owner. I have been fortunate to have had extraordinary and dedicated staff over the years which has allowed our business to continue to grow.  I absolutely love my job! Everyday is an opportunity for me to learn from my clients and to work on promoting wellness and movement. 

Monica Olson, PT

Monica graduated in 1984 from University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy.  She enjoys practicing in the outpatient orthopedic setting managing multiple orthopedic conditions. She enjoys the wide variety of orthopedic conditions and utilizes her manual skills, exercise, dry needling and patient education to achieve successful outcomes for her clients.  Outside of work she enjoys hiking, camping, skiing and being outdoors. She has a wonderful husband and two great children and has enjoyed living in Alaska and raising her family here.

Daphne Keeney, PT

Daphne graduated from Loma Linda University, California in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy. She has enjoyed practicing orthopedic rehabilitation with her patients at Equinox Physical Therapy since 1992. In addition to work she loves to ride her motorcycle, bike, golf, camp, exercise, and cheer on Nanook basketball and volleyball.

 

 

Kelsi Johnson, PT, DPT

Colin Campbell, PT, DPT

Austin Windsperger, PT, DPT

Dominique Baskett,

PT, DPT

Julie Ament, PT, DPT, MOMT, OCS

Kelsi graduated from University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences with a Doctor of Physical therapy degree in 2014. Shortly after she relocated to Fairbanks to begin her career. She has a passion for running and has directed her continuing education towards the examination and treatment of injured runners, however, enjoys treating all orthopedic concerns with a combination of manual therapy, exercise and education. She is currently certified in dry needling through Optimal Dry Needling Solutions. In her free time she enjoys running, hiking, plants, knitting and skijoring with her two huskies.



Colin was raised in Alaska and then graduated from Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, California with a doctor of physical therapy in 2021. He spends summer and fall in Fairbanks and then works in Anchorage in the winter. He is a strong believer in exercise, movement, and educating patients in anatomy and biomechanics, making them an equal partner in their rehab. He is a Vinyasa yoga instructor and uses principles from this in his physical therapy practice. Colin enjoys running, yoga, exercise, traveling, and carpentry/building projects in his free time.

Austin was born and raised in Minnesota and has a strong passion for health, wellness, and helping others achieve their goals. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Nutrition in 2022 from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University and went on to receive his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2025 from the The College of St. Scholastica. Outside of his professional life, Austin enjoys staying active through running and skiing, spending time in the garden, and playing the trombone. A dedicated sports enthusiast, he is also a proud supporter of Minnesota athletics and enjoys cheering on his favorite hometown teams. 

Dominique was born in Boulder; she lived in Seattle, Oakland, and Salt Lake City before making her way to Fairbanks. She also graduated from Samuel Merritt University with her DPT in 2021, eventually her classmate Colin convinced her to come work at Equinox. As a clinician, Dominique has a calm presence and holistic approach. She believes in meeting her patients where they are at and finding the right ways to challenge them to grow. She works with Orthopedic conditions as well as with Pelvic Health. She loves collaborating with everyday adventurers and getting folks back to their hobbies and passions. In her free time Dominique has strong yoga and meditation practice, likes to explore the outdoors, spend quality time with friends, read, travel, and try new things.

Julie has been practicing physical therapy in North Pole since 1995. She earned her Master of Science Degree in Physical Therapy from Arcadia University in Philadelphia in 1990. She completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy with Regis University in 2012. In her spare time Julie likes to garden, fish, camp, bike, ski and enjoy the Alaskan outdoors. She is a supporter of Nanook Sports, and is a fan of the Seattle Seahawks, the North Pole Patriots, and the Eielson Ravens.

Ashtyn Hess, Administrative Assistant

Destiny Todd,

Administrative Assistant

Lynn Pearson, Office Manager

Kendal Walters,

Administrative Assistant/Billing Specialist

Megan Arend,

Administrative Assistant/Billing Specialist


Ashtyn was born and raised in Alaska and joined the Equinox team in 2014 as a Billing Specialist. She enjoys spending her free time at the barn with her horses, taking drives in her truck with her loyal beagle riding shotgun, and embracing the Alaskan lifestyle she loves. Most of all, she cherishes time spent with her large family, whether they're fishing, camping, or out on four-wheeling adventures together. Her strong work ethic, dedication, and love for the community make her a valued member of the Equinox team.


Destiny was born and raised in Alaska and recently returned to Fairbanks after spending six years in Washington. She shares her life with her wonderful fiancé, their two children, and three energetic dogs who keep things exciting. In her younger years, she enjoyed racing cars and spent many years as a cheerleader, experiences that helped shape her adventurous and spirited personality. These days, she loves spending quality time with her family, especially her baby, toddler, fiancé, and beloved dogs. She has built a strong background in customer service since 2016 and has been working in the medical field since 2018, where she combines her passion for helping others with her dedication to providing exceptional care and support.

Lynn was born and raised in Fairbanks and is a proud mother of three and grandmother to eleven. Family is at the center of her life, and she enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones whenever she can. In her free time, she can often be found relaxing around the fire pit, fishing, or traveling to new places and creating lasting memories. She has worked in the medical field for the past six years, bringing valuable experience and a caring approach to her role. Prior to that, she spent many years working in retail, where she developed strong customer service and communication skills.

Kendal was born and raised in Alaska, but a piece of her heart will always belong to Wisconsin—where she visits whenever she can. She shares her life with her wonderful husband, two dogs, two cats, and a lively flock of 14 broody hens!

When she’s not helping people, you’ll likely find Kendal in her cozy sourdough cottage bakery, working on perfecting her craft and bringing her homestead dream to life. She’s been brightening people’s days in customer service since 2020 and has been a friendly face in medical reception since 2022.

Megan was born in Florida but has proudly called Alaska home for the past 24 years. As a mom to a busy toddler and owner of four beloved animals, her days are often full, but spending time with her family and pets is her greatest joy. When she's not working, she enjoys making memories with family and friends, exploring Alaska, and spending summers near the water whenever she gets the chance. Megan has nearly a decade of experience as an Administrative Assistant in the medical field, where her attention to detail and passion for helping people shine through in her work.