Staff

BIos

v    Melissa R. Reinhardt, MSPT – Along with being one of the owners of Her Health Physical Therapy, Melissa is registered physical therapist and a specialist in women’s health physical therapy.  Below is a basic description of her resume and course studies.

Ø     Experience - Melissa started out as a self-employed contract physical therapist.  She was later hired by the National Rehabilitation Hospital in one of their outpatient clinics.  There she began to develop her current specialties in treating women’s health including lymphedema, urinary and bowel incontinence and pelvic pain.  She also continued to develop her skills in the treatment of patients with sports and orthopedic problems.  She later moved to Chesapeake Physical & Aquatic Therapy (CPAT) where she spearheaded the growth of their women’s health program.  Finally she worked for Jennifer Chu, a physical therapist specializing in women’s health, at Individualized Therapeutic Rehabilitation LLC, where she continued to train and develop her skills in women’s health physical therapy.

Ø     Course Studies – Melissa has taken above and beyond the required course work for a physical therapist and has focused on courses that further her knowledge in treatment of women’s health.  Below is a list of some of the classes Melissa has taken:

§        Female Pelvic Floor Function, Dysfunction & Treatment

§        Female Pelvic Floor Function, Dysfunction & Treatment level 2

§        Female Pelvic Floor Function, Dysfunction & Treatment level 3

§        Functional Orthopedics level 1

§        Functional Orthopedics level 2

§        PTH536 NAIOMT Level 1: intro (an evaluative & manual therapy specialty course)

§        Lymphedema Management Leduc Method Certification

§        Athletic Injuries of the Foot and Ankle

Ø     General information – Melissa graduated from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI.  She now lives in Laurel, MD, is married to her husband Rich and is the proud mother of a gorgeous son Ryan and two adorable Chihuahuas, Chalupa and Chester. Melissa has a April 22, 2009 due date for her second child. 

v    Jennifer L. Ortiz, MPT – Jennifer is a registered physical therapist and an owner of Her Health Physical Therapy. She is also specializing in women’s health.  Below is a basic description of her resume and course studies.

Ø     Experience – Jennifer started as a self-employed contract physical therapist working at multiple locations.  This flexibility allowed her to develop and maintain her skills in neuro-rehabilitation, outpatient orthopedics, woundcare, and sports physical therapy.  She then worked for 2 years managing the Physical Therapy Department at University of Maryland Student Health Services treating varsity athletes, club athletes and the general student population.  Later she worked at The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center LLC as a staff therapist treating outpatient orthopedics, sports injuries and post-surgical dysfunction.  This is where Jennifer began to develop an interest in specializing in the treatment of women especially female athletes and pre- and post-natal conditions.  Finally Jennifer worked at Washington Adventist Hospital where she continued to develop her interest in women’s health and lymphedema.

Ø     Course Studies – The additional specialty courses Jennifer has taken have focused on breast cancer recovery, osteoporosis treatment and prevention, certified strength and conditioning, pre- and post-natal treatment and exercise, core strengthening and women’s health treatment with focus on urinary incontinence and pelvic pain.

Ø     General Information – Jennifer graduated from Loma Linda University, CA. She now lives in Silver Spring, MD, is married to her husband Lester and is the proud mother of two little boys, Lucas and Caleb.  Jennifer also loves participating in triathlons.

Ø     Presentations:  Jennifer has regularly presented at the Howard County Wellness Center on the topic of osteoporosis and how correct body mechanics, posture and strengthening can dramatically improve bone density.  Jennifer has also been a guest lecturer at churches, mom groups, physical therapy and physical therapy assistant programs on the topic of women’s health.

v    Jill Marie Arnold, DPT – Jill is a registered physical therapist working at Her Health Physical Therapy. She is working towards a specialization in Women’s Health. As a student, Jill authored an article for the January edition of the Physical Therapy Newsletter (2006) regarding the importance of practitioners listening to the patient and speaking from a patient’s perspective.

Ø   As a student, Jill had many different clinical affiliations, which broadened her experience and background in physical therapy. She had the opportunity to work at Kenned Krieger in the Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Unit, which allowed her the opportunity to manage/ teach mobility skills to patients with different levels of spinal cord injury and collaborate the plan of care with other medical professionals as with the families of the patients. In addition to this, Jill was also able to have one clinical site at Oneill Physical Therapy, where she was able to work beside the owner, Lorraine Oneill, treating patients with incontinence and/ or pelvic pain. As a student, this made quite an impression and fueled the fire of Jill’s passion for working in the Women’s Health. Since graduation, Jill has been working in an orthopedic setting, but also getting the privilege of treatment patients post- breast cancer surgery and working with fall prevention.

Jill is the President of the Maryland chapter of Women's Health Physical Therapy Section of the APTA.

Ø   Course Studies- Below are classes that Jill has taken to date.

• Intimate Human Behavior

• Introduction to Women’s Health

• Osteoporosis: An Evidence Based Approach to Evaluation and Treatment

• Clinical Insights into Foot Biomechanics and Orthotic Therapy

• Maitland Australian Technique Level 1: Basic Peripheral

• Pelvic Physical Therapy Level 1

• S1: Introduction to Spinal Evaluation and Manipulation

• Pelvic Floor Function, Dysfunction + Treatment (PF2A)

• Functional Orthopedics 1

Ø   General information – Jill graduated with her doctorate of physical therapy from University of Maryland, Baltimore. She is currently living in Columbia, MD, married to her sweetheart, Daryl, and is the proud mother of a beautiful baby boy named Ethan as well as a yellow Labrador Retriever, Brady and a Black Lab / Golden Retriever, Lady! Jill enjoys photography, crafts, traveling, and recently completed her first triathlon.

Laura Fazio, PT, DPT -

Laura graduated from University of Maryland at Baltimore with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy.

Before becoming an employee at Her Health Physical Therapy, Laura completed an internship at Her Health Physical Therapy where she developed an interest in treating clients with women's health diagnosis including incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain and pre- and post-natal care.

Laura is currently working toward a specialty in women's health and a manual therapy certification. Also in February 2010, Laura will be presenting the "Effect of Strain-Counterstrain, Home Dialator Therapy and Hamstring Stretching on Sexual Function for a Patient with Dysparenuria: A Case Report" at the Cmbined Sections meeting for the American Physical Therapy Association.

Laura is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and a member of the Women's Health Section of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Presently Laura lives in Owings Mills, MD with her sweetheart Ryan and their toy poodle Nala. She enjoys traveling, hiking, the outdoors and she recently completed her first triathlon!

Sharon Baxley, PTA -

• Sharon joined our staff in December of 2008.  She graduated with an associate’s degree in applied science from Northern Virginia Community College for Physical Therapy Assistants in 1993.
• Since graduating, Sharon has worked in several settings including skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, assisted living and independent living centers as well as outpatient orthopedic clinics.  By experiencing different settings she has been able to develop her skills in neuro-rehabilitation, aquatic therapy, outpatient orthopedics and women’s health physical therapy.
• Sharon has taken multiple continuing education courses during her 15 year career including pilates, lumbar stabilization, pelvic physical therapy level 1 and she is a certified kinesio-taping practitioner.

v    Rachel Gussman, C.M.T. – Rachel Gussman is a graduate of the Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy in New York City. She is nationally certified to practice massage therapy and holds certification in Maryland and a license in New York State. She has been practicing massage since 2003. She trained under myofascial practitioner, Carrie Taylor in New York where she learned to address specific injuries as well as general postural rebalancing work all with the use of myofascial techniques. She is also trained in Swedish and Shiatsu techniques. Her work focuses on working with the client as opposed to working on a client. She teaches her clients stretches and exercises for self-care to help maintain the treatments. Rachel also holds a Bachelors degree in American Studies from Goucher College.

As of Aug. 15th, 2008, any new client will receive a 10% discount on their first massage.
Rachel also offers packages for those who want to accomplish more long-term goals, those who want to make a commitment to their health, or if you just love massage!

v    Trisha Johnson – Trisha is a staff member of Her Health Physical Therapy and especially essential to the operations of the business.  Trisha has worked part time as a childcare provider since she was 15 and into her first two years of college.  She also worked with children at a summer camp for 7 years, often working with large groups of children of all ages, some with disabilities.  Trisha also works as a personal trainer and is developing exercise classes for increasing triathlete and female athlete strength and conditioning.

Ø     Trisha lives in Silver Spring, MD with her husband Ben and continues to participate in gymnastics as well as triathlon.  Trisha loves animals and is the proud “mother’ of several adorable animals.

v    Jessica Dukes

Erica Wonsowicz -