Going the extra mile for the right fit.

Spotlight: Jessica Bjorlie, L.A.T., Heartland Orthopedic Specialist Athletic Trainer

Jessica drives an hour each way from her home in Benson to work at Heartland Orthopedics in Alexandria. For many, that might seem like a deal-breaker, but for Jessica, it’s worth every mile. “I used to have a two-minute commute, but the workload was killing me,” Jessica explains. Her previous employer “didn’t align with my views of athletic training as a profession very well. When I did an interview with Heartland, I was like, ‘Can I start tomorrow?’ because I loved it so much.”

As one of Heartland’s athletic trainers, Jessica splits her time between working alongside Dr. Lindley, Heartland’s neurosurgeon, and serving student athletes at Ashby and Brandon-Evansville schools. It’s a dynamic role that keeps her on her toes.

“Part of the beauty of being an athletic trainer is no day and no week is the same,” she says. “I have time in the morning to prep, then I’m usually with a provider in the afternoon, or I have a school visit. During basketball season, there’s three or four games a week, so I’m typically at a basketball game in the evening.”

What makes the long days manageable is the strong team culture at Heartland. “We all band together,” Jessica shares. “We have people in all different phases of life. When I had my baby, other athletic trainers were able to come alongside me and say, ‘Hey, this is how it works as a working mom.’ We all work together really well to understand each other and collaborate.”

That flexibility and support is crucial for Jessica, now a mother to 17-month-old Evan. Despite the demanding schedule, she’s found ways to balance her professional passion with family life, aided by an understanding team that helps cover when daycare closes, or when life throws other curveballs.

Jessica’s path to athletic training started in high school, where she was a three-sport athlete in cross country, basketball, and track. Her own experiences with sports injuries and physical therapy sparked her interest in the field. Growing up in Benson, she saw firsthand the need for athletic trainers in rural areas. “We had to share our athletic trainer with four other schools at the time, so he was only there maybe once a week. That was one of the reasons why I wanted a career in rural sports medicine.”

For Jessica, the most rewarding part of her job is helping people.