Angelle Falgoust Brown, LOTR, CHT
Born in New Orleans and raised in Thibodaux, Louisiana, Angelle Falgoust Brown grew up steeped in Cajun culture, family, plenty of trips to Grand Isle, and all things South Louisiana. She attended LSU, with some memorable detours along the way, including a semester in Boulder, Colorado, and a summer studying in Paris, France. Combining leadership with her natural aptitudes of caring for others alongside action-based problem solving, Angelle found her career direction while observing occupational therapists create intricate custom splints for burn patients. She was fascinated by the combination of anatomy, science, ingenuity, and hands-on problem solving. She went on to earn her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from Texas Woman’s University in the Houston Medical Center in 1997.
Five years, and many hours of hand therapy practice later, Angelle earned the distinction of Certified Hand Therapist (CHT), one of the highest levels of specialization in upper-extremity rehabilitation. Since becoming a CHT, Angelle has pursued extensive continuing education extending beyond the hand and upper extremity to the whole body. Her comprehensive approach considers posture, alignment, movement, and the interconnectedness of body systems, not only as they relate to the reason a patient came to therapy, but to the way that person functions in everyday life. Most recently, she added upper-extremity Dry Needling to her clinical training.
Building Brown Rogers Therapy
With core values centered on treating every patient as an individual and providing exceptional care grounded in professional expertise, Angelle co-founded Brown Rogers Physical Therapy with Ginger Rogers in 2004. She strongly believes in connecting to a patient as a whole person, not just a body part, on a path of healing beyond the orthopedic injury or physical condition. She has steadily aligned staff, operations, and actions around this foundational tenet.
Through this holistic approach, Brown Rogers Physical Therapy has been operating for over 22 years, proudly serving the greater Baton Rouge area, and often refered to as the best and most specialized, most professional clinic in town.
Why OT?
"I chose OT because at its core it is creative and holistic, with a patient’s ability to function in all aspects of life considered when developing a treatment plan. I also knew I’d like the innovative side of working with adaptive equipment and custom splinting.”
CHT and Launch
“A certification in hand therapy (CHT) is the highest specialization for an orthopedic-based OT, and was a path to work in the outpatient setting, where fellow therapists are motivated toward specializations and research-based care. Becoming a CHT was also a vital piece of starting an orthopedic clinic with proven skills. Brown Rogers Therapy was my vision, beyond imagination, I wanted to put action toward co-creating something with a larger purpose to help others. I have always had awareness of the importance of the connection of body systems and anatomy, have always emphasized good posture as it relates to the upper extremity and all functioning, and I have an ever-growing awareness of the mind-body connection to overall well-being. I wanted the business model to reflect this awareness of the whole person.”
What is your greatest lesson learned in business?
“One of my constant internal battles has been learning not to overcomplicate the message! When I opened Elevate Wellness Studio on Goodwood Blvd. in 2017, I assumed that connecting this unique, holistic, private-pay health and wellness model to our established insurance-based Brown Rogers Therapy practice would equal instant success. So, initially, we mixed the marketing of the two concepts. Unfortunately, right as we turned a corner and even had a waitlist for private pay PT, 2020 happened. At that time I was the sole owner, managing the 2 orthopedic locations, a small pelvic health clinic and Elevate. Between that 2020 chaos and confusion and other personal things, I decided to close.
I pray I will never be that overwhelmed again. Many times since, I’ve reminded myself of lessons learned from that endeavor, am glad that the struggle has better informed me as a leader, and therefore guided the business in more enlightened ways! I tell myself, how I feel about something is one thing, how I communicate it should be another. To not go too deep, lol, like I am right here! If this business was selling icecream, it would be easier messaging!”
Over these 22+ years, what makes you most happy about the business?
Angelle’s favorite moments tends to happen outside the clinic: hearing someone's reaction when she mentions Brown Rogers Therapy.
“As the years go by, Brown Rogers has become part of so many people’s lives. People connect the name with good feelings about their therapist, our staff, or even the physical space because it reminds them of their experience with us.
I love when someone gets excited to tell me how they know Brown Rogers: ‘I went there!’ ‘My aunt went there!’ ‘My dad went there!’ ‘My therapist was awesome!’ or ‘I tell everyone who needs therapy about y’all!’
Those moments are humbling because they remind me that the positive impact continues beyond any one patient, therapist, or treatment session. Healing and happiness associated with us get passed along.
I love that I can still be directly helping a patient while also working behind the scenes to create the foundations that allow this much bigger picture to exist in Baton Rouge. At this point, Brown Rogers is much bigger than any one thing, or any one person. and that makes me incredibly happy.”
Fun Fact:
Angelle rarely follows a recipe. She would much rather open the refrigerator, see what ingredients are available, and create something from there—which, come to think of it, is a fairly accurate reflection of how her brain works everywhere else, too.
What do you want the public to understand about therapy?
“We (PT/OT) are the best route for a conservative approach to musculoskeletal injuries and conditions! It is your choice to come to therapy, it’s your choice where you want to go to therapy, and PT has direct access, so you can get in asap even while waiting to get to an MD. Don’t hesitate, we can help you, and in just a few visits you will understand more about your reson for therapy, AND start to feel better with a collaborative plan. ”
Angelle Brown is an HTCC-certified hand therapist and sole owner of Brown Rogers Physical Therapy & Wellness, serving Baton Rouge and the surrounding South Louisiana community since 2004.
