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Derick Alkema graduated from Bret Harte High School, where he played football his junior and senior years. During football, he developed an interest for sports medicine and athletic training and had planned on a career in orthopedics. However, Derick explains,” I decided that physical therapy would allow me to work with athletes on a more personal basis so that I could work with them from the time of injury all the way to returning to sports."

Derick earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and athletic training from CSU Stanislaus and master’s in physical therapy from CSU Sacramento. In 2010, Derick completed a six-month clinical rotation at Sonora Regional Medical Center before permanently joining the rehabilitation team. Derick received his Doctorate degree in physical therapy in 2014 from the College of St. Scholastica in Minnesota.

Derick enjoys that his career allows him to meet new people from all walks of life, all with unique stories, and he enjoys helping his patients return to the sports and activities they love. Derick is a huge sports fan and die-hard Raider fan. In his time off he enjoys fishing, hunting, hiking and sport shooting.