Archived PT Alumni Stories

NSU Alumni on the Front Lines of COVID-19 - Rachel Lopez, PT, DPT

NSU DPT alumna, Rachel Lopez, PT, DPT, (Class of 2019), working as a physical therapist at the Miami Jewish, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) center in South Florida. Rachel has been working with the geriatric population of PACE prioritizing the most frail individuals who are at risk of significant functional decline due to quarantine and inability to attend PT clinic in the daycare. This includes visiting Patients at home and ALFs. Many times ALFs do not allow access to the houses and therapy is delivered on patio/outside under less than desirable conditions. In addition to therapy being delivered at home, Rachel has been active in the nursing home floor and in providing therapy for PACE participants in subacute rooms/floor. We appreciate your dedication and commitment to your patients and the community. We are so proud of you! Stay safe and healthy as you work toward taking care of all patients during this event!

NSU Alumni on the Front Lines of COVID-19 - Natalia Martinez, PT, DPT

NSU DPT alumna, Natalia Martinez, PT, DPT, (Class of 2017), working as a physical therapist at St. Catherine's West Rehabilitation Hospital in Hialeah Gardens, FL during the COVID-19 pandemic. She works in the inpatient rehabilitation department and skilled nursing area. We appreciate your dedication and commitment to your patients and the community. We are so proud of you! Stay safe and healthy as you work toward taking care of all patients during this event!

NSU Alumni on the Front Lines of COVID-19 - Stephanie Costa, PT, DPT

NSU DPT alumna, Stefanie Costa, PT, DPT, (Class of 2014), working as a physical therapist at Memorial Rehabilitation Institute in Hollywood, FL during the COVID-19 pandemic. She works with neurologic patients in the inpatient rehabilitation department. We appreciate your dedication and commitment to your patients and the community. We are so proud of you! Stay safe and healthy as you work toward taking care of all patients during this event!

NSU Alumni on the Front Lines of COVID-19 - Chris Wagner, PT, DPT

NSU DPT alumni, Chris Wagner (class of 2013), is working at Tampa General Medical Center on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chris has been working at Tampa General Hospital since 2014, specifically in the Hospital Based Rehab department. Over the past 5 1/2 years, he has assisted in many department and hospital led projects. He has helped with the integration of Physical Therapy in Observation unit as well creation of the Clinical Decision Unit. This unit is attached to the emergency department in which the therapist has an integral part of the patients plan of care while using our differential diagnosis skills. He has continued to further his education by becoming a Certified Lymphedema Therapist in 2017. He currently also part of the adjunct faculty at USF School of Physical Therapy assisting students with Hospital Based/Acute Care education in lab demonstrations, and in hospital education. Currently, Chris and his colleagues are now in the early stages of research for modulation/management of non-traumatic acute low back pain in the Emergency Department with the use of TENS vs. Opioids. Most recently Chris returned from CSM which he along with several other staff from TGH presented a poster on Post Operative Day Zero mobility and affects of discharge time. We are so proud of you! Stay safe and healthy as you work toward taking care of all patients during this event!

NSU Alumni on the Front Lines of COVID-19 - Valeria Bruno, PT, DPT and Kyle Magley, PT, DPT

NSU DPT alumni, Valeria Bruno (class of 2017) and Kyle Magley (class of 2017), working as physical therapists at Cleveland Clinic in Weston, FL during the COVID-19 pandemic. Valeria works in outpatient orthopedics with a specialty in Lymphedema and Kyle works in acute care from ICU to telemetry, including gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and neurological (specifically spine and craniotomy) units. They have also been working in the "Relaxation & Wellness Clinic" within the hospital, which is available to all caregivers. They provide therapeutic massages, active recovery with compression boots, and refreshments. It is a place where all caregivers from environmental staff, administration, and healthcare providers are able to take a moment for themselves. We are so proud of you! Stay safe and healthy as you work toward taking care of all patients and caregivers during this event!

NSU Alumni on the Front Lines of COVID-19 - Cydne Fuller, PT, DPT

NSU DPT alumni, Cydne Fuller (class of 2011), working as a physical therapist at John Knox Village (JKV) during the COVID-19 pandemic. She coordinates the outpatient therapy department at JKV and started the facility's Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) BIG program.We appreciate your dedication and commitment to your patients and the community. We are so proud of you! Stay safe and healthy as you work toward taking care of all patients during this event!

NSU Alumni on the Front Lines of COVID-19 - Sarah Brown, PT, DPT

NSU DPT alumni, Sarah Brown (class of 2011), is working with home health patients on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sarah works in the hard hit city of New York for Visiting Nurse Services of New York. She is a PT coordinator in the field currently treating COVID positive patients in their homes to help in their recovery at home post hospitalization, as well as seeing COVID positive patients that need care to prevent hospitalization. We are so proud of you! Stay safe and healthy as you work toward taking care of all patients during this event!

NSU Alumni on the Front Lines of COVID-19 - Jessica Marshall Vernof, PT, DPT

NSU DPT alumni, Jessica Marshall Vernof (class of 2011), is working as an acute care physical therapist at Boca Raton Regional Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. We appreciate your dedication and commitment to your patients and the community. We are so proud of you! Stay safe and healthy as you work toward taking care of all patients during this event!

NSU Alumni on the Front Lines of COVID-19

A big shout out to our NSU PT Alumni and clinical instructors working at Cleveland Clinic Acute Care PT and OT Department during the COVID-19 pandemic. NSU Fort Lauderdale alumni include Susan Varghese '08, Megan Kim '13, Lauren (Weisberg) Bellinder '15, Carolina (Herrera) McGrath '16, Jamie Simanek '16, Kyle Magley '17, and Deanna Siroonian '19. NSU Tampa alumni include Jonathan Romero '19. Stay safe and healthy as you work toward taking care of all patients during this event! We are so proud of you! (NOTE: NSU PT Department donated PPE to the staff at Cleveland Clinic in FL)

NSU Neurologic Residency Graduate Laurianne Dib, PT, DPT Presents Case Report at APTA CSM 2020

NSU Neurologic Residency Program graduate, Laurianne Dib, PT, DPT, presented her case report entitled “Locomotor Training for an Individual with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: A Case Report” at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) in Denver, Colorado. Laurianne completed the NSU residency program in August 2019. Following residency graduation, she moved back to her hometown of Houston, Texas, and accepted a position at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) Memorial Hermann where she works as a physical therapist in the neurologic outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation settings. Laurianne will be taking the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Neurology board certification exam in March 2020. Congratulations to Laurianne on all of her accomplishments!

NSU Alumni Juan Carlos Saavedra, PT, DPT, CSCS Appointed as Professor and DCE at Keiser University

NSU alumni Juan Carlos Saavedra, PT, DPT, CSCS has been appointed to faculty and Director of Clinical Education at the Keiser University- Miami campus Physical Therapy Assistant Program. He is also adjunct faculty at NSU and has assisted in multiple courses grading practicals and participating in lab activities. He also works as a per diem PT at Select Physical Therapy. Juan Carlos states, "What I appreciate most about being an NSU DPT Graduate is the faculty’s commitment to developing the complete clinician. Critical thinking, assessment and psychomotor skills, along with cultural and ethical behaviors are stressed throughout the program, to make you the most marketable DPT when you become licensed and ready to practice." Juan Carlos is also member of American Physical Therapy Association, Florida Physical Therapy Association, and Academy of Orthopedic and Academy of Education. We congratulate Juan Carlos on all of his accomplishments!

Congratulations to our NSU PT Neurologic Residency Graduates

Congratulations to our 2018-2019 PT Neurologic Residency graduates. The residents were honored at the CAPE ceremony on August 16, 2019 on the NSU Fort Lauderdale campus. A clinical residency program in physical therapy is a post-professional learning experience in a focused area of clinical practice. The residents complete the 12 months program consisting of 1500 patient care hours, of which 150 hours were mentored, and learning experiences include collaborative patient care experiences, didactic courses focused on contemporary management of people affected by neurological disorders, scientific inquiry, evidence-based projects, and integration of principles of teaching/learning in physical therapy. Residents complete their clinical hours and are mentored at our long-standing community partner, Delray Medical Center in Delray Beach. Congratulations to our graduates! Pictured L to R: Rania Margonis, PT, DPT, NCS-Program Coordinator; Jason Berlongieri, PT, DPT-Residency Graduate; Laurianne Dib, PT, DPT-Residency Graduate; Syeda Ahmed, PT, DPT, CSCS-Residency Graduate; Melissa Tovin, PT, MA, PhD, CEEAA.

NSU DPT Program Recognized for Alumni Engagement

The NSU PT department program was recognized for the highest alumni engagement of 2019 at the Center for Academic Excellence (CAPE) awards ceremony on August 16, 2019. DPT Program Director, Dr. Jennifer Canbek accepted the award on the department's behalf. Congratulations to the NSU PT department on this accomplishment. Pictured: L to R Terry Morrow, PhD; Jennifer Canbek, PT, PhD, NCS; Dean Stanley H. Wilson, PT, EdD, CEAS

NSU Alumni on the Front Lines of COVID-19 - Stefanie Costa, PT, DPT

NSU DPT alumna, Stefanie Costa (Class of 2014), working as a physical therapist at Memorial Rehabilitation Institute in Hollywood, FL during the COVID-19 pandemic. She works with neurologic patients in the inpatient rehabilitation department. We appreciate your dedication and commitment to your patients and the community. We are so proud of you! Stay safe and healthy as you work toward taking care of all patients during this event!

Congrats to the Fort Lauderdale Graduating Class of 2019

Congrats to the NSU Fort Lauderdale DPT graduating class of 2019!

Class of 1996 Alumni Stacey Futterman educates the public on pelvic floor physical therapy

Stacey Futterman Tauriello, PT, MPT, WCS, BCB-PMD certified, Master's PT class of 1996, was a recent guest on SiriusXM 110 Dr. Virginia Sadock’s Show to discuss the role of physical therapy in the management of pelvic health. Dr. Sadock is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and an attending psychiatrist at NYU Tisch and Bellevue Hospitals. She is the author of over 50 articles and chapters on sexual behavior, including the effects of drugs on sexual function, and lectures extensively in the United States and abroad. This broadcast was focusing on pelvic floor dysfunction, how that affects our sex lives, and how a pelvic floor Physical Therapist can help. Stacey founded 5 Point Physical Therapy PLLC a speciality practice that treats pelvic floor issues as well as all musculoskeletal issues in NYC and now in NJ. She is a faculty member of the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehab Institute, which provides comprehensive continuing education for the rehabilitation of pelvic floor and pelvic girdle dysfunction. Equal parts direct and compassionate, Stacey is an ideal advocate. Her passion is also educating the public on pelvic floor dysfunction as an orthopedic condition that can be easily treated. She is happily married and the proud mama of a 13 month old baby girl Lexi Paige. She now truly understands what the woman’s body goes through during pregnancy and post-partum and brings empathy and compassion to her patients. Congratulations to Stacey on this accomplishment!

NSU TDPT Graduate, Dr. Savionne Gayle,Elected President of Jamaica Physiotherapy Association

Dr. Savionne Gayle, NSU TDPT Class of 2018, joined the executive board of the Jamaica Physiotherapy Association as Secretary in 2012 with a mandate to serve her beloved profession. She served as Secretary from October 2012 until September 2015. She then went on to serve as Public Relations Officer from September 2015-March 2018. In March 2018, she ran for and was elected as the President, with the vision to apply her passion and leadership skills to move the profession of Physiotherapy to the forefront of the Jamaican medical fraternity. Since then the mandate of the executive board has been to engage and unite all Jamaican physiotherapists and lay the foundation for critical initiatives for the profession. Examples of these initiatives include, legislation for direct access and being a self-governing body. In addition, Dr. Gayle has been invited to teach in the Masters’in Physical Therapy Program at the University of West Indies. Dr. Gayle was also the TDPT class president during her time in the program and was instrumental in the development of a student mentor-mentee system for the TDPT program. Congratulations to Dr. Savionne Gayle!

NSU Alumni Opening Private PT Practice

NSU DPT alumni Eric Otero, PT, DPT and Kyle Moran, PT, DPT have established their own private practice serving active youth and middle aged adults in Broward and Palm Beach counties. The new facility will focus on sports performance. The pair plan to focus on individualized, high quality of care through promotion of the diversity of their physical therapy skills and knowledge. Eric and Kyle feel that is important to showcase all aspects of how physical therapists can address movement dysfunction and optimize patient performance. Eric states, "The only way things will change is if we challenge the system itself, and market ourselves with the different skill sets we provide." Pinnacle Movement and Performance's mission is to provide quality, safe, and cost-effective services to athletes and patients of all levels. By bringing together leaders and experts in physical therapy and performance training, we offer cutting edge services in the community to aid individuals in achieving their maximum potential. Our goal at Pinnacle Movement and Performance is to provide a long term solution to what is keeping you from the things patients enjoy the most. We enter into a commitment to the patient. By providing care in this manner, we can thoroughly determine the best approach to help fulfill patient needs and get people moving better and feeling better.

Kiley Gibbs, PT, DPT, PCS, Class of 2014, Publishes Case Report

After graduating from NSU’s DPT program in 2014, Kiley continued her education to complete a Pediatric Residency program through the University of Michigan- Flint in 2015-2016. She earned her Board-Cerification as a Pediatric Clinical Specialist in 2017. During her residency she began pursuing an interest in pediatric pelvic floor dysfunction, presenting a case report poster at the Association of Pediatric Physical Therapy Annual Conference in 2016 in Colorado. Kiley expanded the case report with fellow NSU Graduate, Lisa Kenyon, which has now been published as a peer-reviewed journal article in the Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy titled: “Biofeedback-Assisted Muscle Training for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction to Address Pediatric Incontinence: A Case Report.” In service to the profession, Kiley has served as an item-writer for FSBPTE, and as a content expert on the Pediatric Revalidation Project Team. Kiley is currently working in the outpatient setting treating a combination of general pediatrics and pediatric pelvic floor dysfunction. It is her goal to expand the knowledge of pelvic floor dysfunction in the pediatric population in order to improve the quality of life for children with incontinence.

Kevin Swieboda, PT, DPT, CSCS, Class of 2015, presents at APTA CSM

After graduating NSU’s DPT program in 2015, Kevin went on marry NSU 2014 graduate Stella Meyers, now Swieboda, and both began working for a PT Solutions in Asheville, NC in August of 2015. PT Solutions is a physical therapist owned private practice with primarily outpatient orthopedic clinics as well as inpatient services. In December 2015, Kevin opened a new PT Solutions clinic just west of Asheville as clinic director. After working for a year in the clinic, Kevin began the PT Solutions Orthopedic Residency program in September 2016. Kevin recently had the opportunity to present his Residency case series topic on the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy at Combined Sections meeting in February 2018 in New Orleans, LA. He also recently sat for a board certification exam in hopes of becoming an orthopedic certified specialist. Things he enjoys most about his current career path: working at the same company as his wife, countless continuing education opportunities, being able to run a clinic with opportunities for continued leadership growth, and the ability to travel with company events.