Meet the Team
Proven Professionals

Luke Carlson
DPT
Luke received the Sport Medicine Provider award on March 11, 2011 by the Iowa High School Athletic Association in recognition of the service and care he gave to area high school athletes. Luke is a lifelong resident of Ankeny and was influenced toward healthcare by his dad who was a long-time and highly respected family physician in Ankeny, Dr. Rodney R. Carlson. Luke received his baccalaureate degree from the University of Northern Iowa, where he also played football. Luke graduated from the Des Moines University Doctorate of Physical Therapy graduate program in 1991. He worked at Mercy Hospital for 3 years before opening his practice in Ankeny.

Kate Novak
DPT, OCS
Kate has worked in Ankeny since 2012. She is orignally from DeWitt, IA. She attended Coe College where she ran track and graduated with her baccalaureate degree in 2006. She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Iowa in 2008. In 2015, she earned her board certification in orthopedics from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She joined Luke Carlson Physical Therapy in October, 2016 and became co-owner in 2023. Kate is a board member for The Titan Project and Ankeny Track Club. She enjoys playing trivia, running, yoga, and spending time with her family, friends, boyfriend, and dogs.

Drew Deiter
DPT
Drew is a lifelong resident of Ankeny. He graduated from Ankeny High School where he played football, basketball, and ran hurdles in track. He graduated from Iowa State University with a baccalaureate of science degree in Kinesiology and Health in 2017. He then went on to earn his Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Briar Cliff University in 2020. Drew enjoys staying active outside by biking, boating, hiking, fishing, and anything sports related.

Austin Emry
Physical Therapy Assistant
Austin received his Physical Therapist Assistant degree from Indian Hills Community College in 2015. He lives in Kellogg, Iowa, and has been working for Luke Carlson Physical Therapy since September 2017. When Austin is not in the clinic working with patients, he is working as a personal trainer and running coach. Austin enjoys running, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his friends and family.

Lindsey Kamerick
Physical Therapy Tech
Lindsey grew up in Carlisle, Iowa. She attended Grand View University in Des Moines and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology and Health Promotion. She began working at Luke Carlson in February, 2021. Lindsey began the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at Des Moines University in the fall of 2022.

Zach Kodatt
Physical Therapy Tech
Zach joined our group in February, 2022. He earned a baccalaureate and Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from Southern Illinois University in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Zach made the decision to pursue physical therapy and is currently taking the required prerequisites at Iowa State University. He and his wife moved to Ankeny from Lexington, KY in January, 2021. Zach enjoys working out and spending time with his family.

Jami
Office Manager
Jami has been a Physical Therapy clinic Front Office Manager in Ankeny since 2003. She was welcomed to the Luke Carlson Physical Therapy team in July, 2016. When she is not working, Jami enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, roller skating, going to flea markets, and spending time with her 3 fur babies. Jami is a lifelong resident of Ankeny, so you will be welcomed into the clinic by a smiling, familiar face.