Clifford Lafreniere PT cert MDT

Cliff trained at the University of North Dakota. He graduated summa cum laude in 1976. He has advanced skills in sportsmedicine rehabilitation and manual therapy skills. Cliff is a certified in Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment of the spine from the Mckenzie Institute. Cliff won recognition as the Small Business Person of the Year for Grand Forks in 1993. Cliff and Kathleen love the lake country and all that goes with living in the woodlands of Minnesota. They enjoy boating, snowmobiling, x-country skiing, river and lake kayaking and four wheeling. They take pleasure in the adult lives of their two children Heather and Russell. Heather works with her dad in Grand Forks. Russell lives in Florida. Cliff and Kathleen are also very fond of their pug companions. Cliff's motto is "You must have passion for what you do or it will never be satisfying".

Laurie Holte MPT

Laurie Holte, MPT., received her master's degree in physical therapy from the University of North Dakota in 2001. She started as a staff therapist for HealthSouth following graduation, where she worked until leaving with three other clinicians to open Achieve Therapy, LLC in 2003. Laurie specializes in outpatient orthopedics, women's health services for the treatment of urinary incontinence and pelvic pain, and is trained in Pilates based rehabilitation techniques. She considers herself to be a manual therapist, utilizing the techniques of McKenzie and Mulligan among others. Laurie and her husband Rick enjoy camping, athletics of any kind, and foremost, family time with their two young daughters.

Annette Palmgren MPT

Annette is proud of her small town roots in rural Madison, Minnesota. She graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead with a BA in zoology, chemistry and physical education. Her BS and MPT degrees in Physical Therapy are from The University of North Dakota.  Inpatient and outpatient Neuro- Rehab (rehabilitation from spinal cord or brain injuries) were Annette’s first areas of specialized training and clinical expertise. Advanced training in manual therapy and sports medicine lead to a more orthopedic-based outpatient practice.  She coordinated the start-up of Sports Acceleration in Grand Forks; and led a multidisciplinary Sports Medicine Team and Health and Fitness Program. In addition to a general PT practice, at Achieve Therapy, she specializes in the treatment of persons with osteoporosis, temporomandibular dysfunction and neurological rehabilitation.  Annette enjoys doing some home care physical therapy and occasionally assisting in nursing home coverage.

Michelle Aitchison ATC, PTA

Michelle, ATC, PTA, graduated from Moorhead State University in 1994 with a B.S. in Physical Education, Coaching, and Athletic Training. She began working with Great Plains Physical Therapy clinic in August 1994. She worked with fitness clients and as Head Athletic Trainer for Red River High School. Great Plains was sold to Healthsouth where Michelle served as a PTA for the satellite office in Crookston MN as well as providing home health PT services. Currently, Michelle heads up the office and business operations with Achieve Therapy. She also coordinates Achieve's Athletic Training services with area schools. She has served Fisher-Climax High School as their athletic trainer since 1995. Currently, she treats patients in the Achieve Therapy office in East Grand Forks.  Michelle lives in East Grand Forks, MN with her husband Mark, two daughters, and son.

Heather Walsh DPT ATC CSCS

Heather graduated from the University of Mary with a bachelors degree in Athletic Training then continued on with her education at University of North Dakota with a doctorate degree in physical therapy in 2004. She has continued her professional growth specializing in manual therapy, chronic pain and sport rehabilitation. Heather joined Achieve Therapy partners in 2005 as a physical therapist while providing sports coverage for Thompson, ND during the fall. Heather is currently treating patients at the East Grand Forks location.  Heather and her husband Anthony enjoy spending time outdoors at the lake, on the golf course and with their daughter and son.

Nicole Chine, MPT, OCS, CSCS

Nicole graduated from Baylor University in 2003 with a master's degree in Physical Therapy. She is an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Nicole spent 5 years in the US Army where she served as a physical therapist prior to moving back to North Dakota. A native of Leonard, ND, Nicole and her husband Nol enjoy spending time with their 2 children, attending hockey games and spending time at the lake.

 Tom is a native from Walhalla, ND where he found an interest in physical therapy due to a back injury from football.  He attended College at the University of North Dakota completing clinicals in a variety of settings from private practice to neurological rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  He graduated with his Doctorate of Physical Therapy in May of 2005.  Special areas of interest in Physical Therapy vary from back and neck pain, headaches, TMJ, orthopedics, chronic pain, post-surgical rehabilitation, shoulder pathologies and neurological disorders such as strokes and brain injuries.  He furthered his education by certified in ASTYM, a technique that helps regenerate the healing process in many chronic conditions.  Tom enjoys hunting, fishing, archery, and the outdoors.  He and his wife Katherine currently live in Thief River Falls, MN and looks forward to once again treating patients in the Thief River Falls and surrounding communities.

Lacey Wilcox, DPT, ATC, graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor's degree in Athletic training then continued on to receive her doctorate of physical therapy degree in 2011. Prior to joining Achieve Therapy, Lacey practiced at an occupational health clinic as an injury prevention and rehabilitation specialist specializing in work-related injuries. Lacey and her husband, Luke, enjoy spending time with friends and family as well as many other activities such as golfing, skiing, snowboarding and athletics.

Kelsey Hest received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND.  She enjoys working with a variety of patient populations and has a special interest in treating patients with sports injuries, treating women post-partum, and post-operative rehabilitation.  Kelsey has advanced training in treating urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and pelvic pain and she continues to pursue her Board Certification in Women’s Health physical therapy. 

Kelsey believes patients should have an active role in their rehabilitation and she places an emphasis on patient education.  Her treatment techniques focus on core strengthening and postural correction, manual therapy techniques, and functional exercise to help her patients return to their previous level of function.  Kelsey lives in Thief River Falls with her husband, Ben.  In her spare time, she enjoys playing volleyball, skiing, hiking, and running.