Eye on Health: Beacon orthopedic team helps EMT return to serving her community > Beacon Health System
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:09
Eye on Health: Beacon orthopedic team helps EMT return to serving her community > Beacon Health System
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https://www.beaconhealthsystem.org/news/2026/04/16/eye-on-health-beacon-orthopedic-team-helps-emt-return-to-serving-her-community/
https://www.beaconhealthsystem.org/news/2026/04/16/eye-on-health-beacon-orthopedic-team-helps-emt-return-to-serving-her-community/
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Eye on Health: Beacon orthopedic team helps EMT return to serving her community
Eye on Health: Beacon orthopedic team helps EMT return to serving her community
By
Heidi Prescott
Published Apr 16, 2026
For EMT Katie Ohda, living in pain wasn’t an option.
Katie’s shoulder problems began when she was a high school freshman and a dedicated softball player. She waited nearly five years before seeking help. By then, the labrum in her shoulder was completely torn. A prior surgery hadn’t worked, and she tried to push through the pain to finish her senior softball season in college while also serving her community as an EMT. Her body had other plans.
“So that really kind of put crew safety, patient safety, my own safety at risk,” Katie said. “And so I had to be able to step back and say, ‘No, this is important for me to get this done.'”
She was referred to Dr. LeeAnne Torres, an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon with Beacon Bone & Joint Specialists in South Bend. After updated scans confirmed the extent of her recurrent labral tear, Dr. Torres performed arthroscopic surgery, a procedure using tiny incisions.
“Her symptoms exceeded beyond what rehabilitation and all the physical therapy we did with her could maintain. We got updated scans to see the extent of her recurrent labral tear. We ultimately had proceeded with surgery and it was a long course for her, but she really did outstanding overall,” Dr. Torres said.
The demands of Katie’s job soon surfaced another problem: a torn labrum in her hip. She called Dr. Torres again and underwent a second surgery, nearly identical to the first.
“So it’s kind of crazy to think back from like a year ago. I was laying in a bed unable to move without crutches and a lot of help. And now I’m again meeting my goals like serving my community and helping my community, and that is just everything to me,” Katie said.
A year later, Katie credits her recovery to sticking with rehabilitation and physical therapy, something Dr. Torres pointed to as well.
“She soared. I mean, she stands out today as one of the patients that came in very early with relief that I would not necessarily have anticipated as quickly as she did. And she had lived in such pain from the extent of how bad the pathology was in each joint for so long,” Dr. Torres said.
Dr. Torres reminds others that you don’t have to live in pain.
Today Katie is a year out from her hip surgery, back on the job and moving freely, something she’s wanted from day one.
Watch the full Eye on Health segment from WSBT 22 below.
About
Heidi Prescott
Heidi Prescott leads media relations and patient storytelling at Beacon Health System. With 25 years as a journalist, she knows how to find the human angle in health care and connect with audiences. She specializes in media relations, crisis communications and strategic external communications. When she's not crafting stories, you'll find her behind a camera lens or exploring the outdoors.
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Services
Schedule Now
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Southwest Michigan Borgess patients—Welcome to Beacon
Three Rivers Health Outpatient Clinic Patients: Click here for important information
be_ixf;ym_202604 d_20; ct_50
be_ixf; php_sdk; php_sdk_1.4.26
https://www.beaconhealthsystem.org/news/2026/04/16/eye-on-health-beacon-orthopedic-team-helps-emt-return-to-serving-her-community/
https://www.beaconhealthsystem.org/news/2026/04/16/eye-on-health-beacon-orthopedic-team-helps-emt-return-to-serving-her-community/
Home
>
Eye on Health: Beacon orthopedic team helps EMT return to serving her community
Eye on Health: Beacon orthopedic team helps EMT return to serving her community
By
Heidi Prescott
Published Apr 16, 2026
For EMT Katie Ohda, living in pain wasn’t an option.
Katie’s shoulder problems began when she was a high school freshman and a dedicated softball player. She waited nearly five years before seeking help. By then, the labrum in her shoulder was completely torn. A prior surgery hadn’t worked, and she tried to push through the pain to finish her senior softball season in college while also serving her community as an EMT. Her body had other plans.
“So that really kind of put crew safety, patient safety, my own safety at risk,” Katie said. “And so I had to be able to step back and say, ‘No, this is important for me to get this done.'”
She was referred to Dr. LeeAnne Torres, an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon with Beacon Bone & Joint Specialists in South Bend. After updated scans confirmed the extent of her recurrent labral tear, Dr. Torres performed arthroscopic surgery, a procedure using tiny incisions.
“Her symptoms exceeded beyond what rehabilitation and all the physical therapy we did with her could maintain. We got updated scans to see the extent of her recurrent labral tear. We ultimately had proceeded with surgery and it was a long course for her, but she really did outstanding overall,” Dr. Torres said.
The demands of Katie’s job soon surfaced another problem: a torn labrum in her hip. She called Dr. Torres again and underwent a second surgery, nearly identical to the first.
“So it’s kind of crazy to think back from like a year ago. I was laying in a bed unable to move without crutches and a lot of help. And now I’m again meeting my goals like serving my community and helping my community, and that is just everything to me,” Katie said.
A year later, Katie credits her recovery to sticking with rehabilitation and physical therapy, something Dr. Torres pointed to as well.
“She soared. I mean, she stands out today as one of the patients that came in very early with relief that I would not necessarily have anticipated as quickly as she did. And she had lived in such pain from the extent of how bad the pathology was in each joint for so long,” Dr. Torres said.
Dr. Torres reminds others that you don’t have to live in pain.
Today Katie is a year out from her hip surgery, back on the job and moving freely, something she’s wanted from day one.
Watch the full Eye on Health segment from WSBT 22 below.
About
Heidi Prescott
Heidi Prescott leads media relations and patient storytelling at Beacon Health System. With 25 years as a journalist, she knows how to find the human angle in health care and connect with audiences. She specializes in media relations, crisis communications and strategic external communications. When she's not crafting stories, you'll find her behind a camera lens or exploring the outdoors.
Recent news and inspiring stories
Beacon neurosurgeon’s swift action restored a Michigan man’s quality of life
April 20, 2026
Medical Minute: Stress and men’s health
April 14, 2026
Memorial Hospital first in Indiana to send every newborn home with books
April 16, 2026
How one Beacon patient’s story emphasizes the power of prevention
April 16, 2026
Medical Minute: What’s behind your sneezes and sniffles?
April 10, 2026
Beacon announces Sarah Paturalski as President of Beacon Dowagiac, names additional leaders
April 9, 2026
Services
Schedule Now
Pay Bill