Adam Harner
Adam Harner graduated with his doctorate of physical therapy. He has been a physical therapist since 2000 and at Rady Children’s Health since 2008. Adam specializes in orthopedic and pediatric rehabilitation, and he is currently the physical therapist for the Down Syndrome Center at Rady Children’s Health. Adam serves as a mentor for new physical therapy graduates and as a clinical instructor for students currently enrolled in physical therapy programs.
Allison Angeli
Allison Angeli has been a physical therapist since 2012 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2013. She is a Board-Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist and is a Coordinator of PT Clinical Education as part of the student program at Rady Children’s Health. She has presented education courses on toe walking and torticollis. Allison’s goal is to provide outstanding patient care to her patients and families.
Ana Villanueva
Ana Villanueva has over 15 years experience working with children in a variety of settings and has been a licensed physical therapist with Rady Children’s Health since 2024. She specializes in pediatric orthopedics and has extensive experience supporting children with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and developmental delays. She is dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based care in a welcoming and supportive environment to help each child safely return to their prior level of function.
Ashley Bakhadj
Since graduating from SDSU in 2024, Ashley Bakhadj has been a Rady Children’s Health physical therapist, specializing in developmental, neurological, and orthopedic pediatric therapy. She has experience in outpatient, school-based, and home-based settings, where she delivers tailored interventions to meet the diverse needs of children. Growing up as a competitive dancer, she also has a strong background in coaching. Ashley’s goal at Rady Children’s Health is to promote healing and confidence through personalized, engaging interventions.
Andre Bell
Andre Bell has been a physical therapist since 2017 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2021. He has expertise in orthopedics, manual therapy and sports rehabilitation. Andre’s goal is to create a fun, exciting environment where his patients learn and grow while achieving their goals.
April Long
April has been a Physical Therapist since 2011 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2018 and at CCS since 2011. She is a pediatric certified specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). April’s goal in working at Rady Children’s Health is to deliver exceptional patient care and be a part of a multi-disciplinary team to enhance patient care.
Audrey Lynn
Audrey has been a physical therapist since 2024 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2024. She has experience in the areas of pediatrics, acute care and orthopedics. Audrey is a current member of the American Physical Therapy Association. Her goal in working at Rady Children’s Health is to provide holistic care to her patients and their caregivers to help empower her patients and help them achieve their goals.
Carly Craig
Carly Craig joined Rady Children’s Health – San Diego in 2024 and is a graduate from San Diego State University. She has experience in developmental, neurological and orthopedic physical therapy. Carly has a background in strength and conditioning and coaching competitive youth volleyball. Carly’s goal in working at Rady Children’s Health is to empower families with resources and education to meet their needs.
Christine Amacker
Christine Amacker graduated from the University of Southern California and has been working at Rady since 2021. She has experience working in both inpatient and outpatient pediatric settings. She has a passion for working with children with torticollis, developmental delay, orthopedic and neurological conditions. Christine also works in the Motion Analysis Lab in the Southern Family Center for Cerebral Palsy performing clinical gait analysis and research. Christine’s goal is to have every child meet their specific goals through fun and educational treatment sessions.
Christine Jeng
Christine Jeng has been a physical therapist since 2018 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2021. Christine treats both developmental and orthopedic pediatrics patients, with experience treating individuals with neurologic, genetic and orthopedic conditions. She specializes in vestibular disorders, as part of the Rady Children’s Balance Disorders Clinic team. She is a certified RockTape Advanced Taping and IASTM practitioner and is a current member of the American Physical Therapy Association and Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. Christine’s goal is to create a supportive, fun and collaborative therapeutic experience for each of her patients.
Courtney Gaardsmoe
Courtney Gaardsmoe has been a physical therapist since 2021 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2022. She has experience treating orthopedic and sports injuries and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. Her goal is to be an advocate for all her patients and their families and to provide fun, individualized care to help patients get back to the activities they love.
Danielle Hernandez
Danielle Hernandez has been a physical therapist at Rady Children’s Health since 2023. Danielle has experience in developmental pediatrics, sports, acute care and orthopedics. Her goal in working at Rady Children’s Health is to empower patients and families to achieve their goals and enable them to reach their highest potential.
Danielle Lindsey
Danielle Lindsey has been a physical therapist at Rady Children’s since 2012. She attended undergraduate school at San Diego State University, where she served as captain of the school’s Division I softball team. She later went on to play professional softball in Italy, where her team won the Italian Cup and league championship. Danielle is grateful for the life lessons learned while playing competitive sports, and she often applies it to her daily life and work. She has a special interest in developmental pediatrics and sports orthopedic rehabilitation. Danielle is a certified educator of infant massage and in 2020 became a board-certified clinical specialist in pediatric physical therapy. She strives to empower parents in being the experts for their child and to improve the quality of life for every patient she sees.
Doris Shen
Doris Shen has been a physical therapist since 2008 and has worked at Rady Children’s since 2011. She has special training in the areas of pain management, core strengthening, vestibular rehabilitation and physical therapy interventions for hematology and oncology patients. Doris’ goal is to help children and families increase their quality of life through physical activity and help them achieve their sports and activity goals, whatever they may be.
Elizabeth Hall
Elizabeth Hall is the Department Manager for Inpatient Developmental Services. She has been a physical therapist since 2004 and has worked at Rady Children’s since 2010. Elizabeth specializes in Bleeding Disorders, point-of-care musculoskeletal ultrasound, acute inpatient care, critical care, cardiac care including mechanical circulatory devices, NICU/early intervention, and children with neurological or genetic conditions across the lifespan. Her goal is to provide family-centered care to improve the child’s quality of life, promote health and wellness, and maximize every child’s potential.
Emily Mikels
Emily has been a physical therapist since 2020 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since September 2020. She has experience with pediatrics, adaptive sports, acute care and orthopedics. Emily’s goal is to provide children and families with the tools they need to succeed and live their lives to their fullest potential.
Eve Titus
Eve Titus graduated from the University of Southern California and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2023. She has a special talent for working with young dancers and performing artists as she was a competitive dancer for 14 years. She also specializes in treating congenital muscular torticollis in infants, she is trained in TMR Tots treatment methods to release myofascial tension in a painfree way. Eve’s goal in working at Rady Children’s Health is to create a welcoming, uplifting environment in treatment sessions that are uniquely catered to meet a child’s individual needs.
Hannah Walter
Hannah Walter has been a physical therapist since 2017 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2020. She specializes in developmental pediatrics, torticollis and orthopedics. Hannah’s goal is to help patients and families achieve their goals in a comprehensive, positive working environment. Outside of work, Hannah enjoys staying active and plays professional ultimate frisbee.
Heather Deja
Heather Deja has been a physical therapist since 2018 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2019. Her special interests include treating infants with developmental delays and helping young athletes overcome orthopedic injuries, especially dancers. Heather spent over 20 years training and competing in ballet and Scottish Highland dancing. She is currently a member of the American Physical Therapy Association. Her goal is to provide excellent, fun care that enables kids to achieve their highest potential.
Heather Waters
Heather Waters has been a physical therapist since 2014 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2015. She has a special interest in pediatric orthopedics, manual therapy and torticollis. She is a current member of the American Physical Therapy Association. Her goal is to provide patient-centered, quality care while helping children achieve their maximum potential in a fun and safe environment.
Heather Welham
Heather has been working at Rady Children’s Health since 2015 specializing in sports medicine physical therapy. She is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist and enjoys helping athletes return to the activities and sports they love. She also works at the Rady Children’s Richter Family Clinic for Balance Disorders and is involved in multidisciplinary research studies to help provide evidence-based care to patients.
Holly Elwell
Holly Elwell has been with Rady Children’s Health since 2004 as a member of the outpatient orthopedics and sports medicine team. Holly serves as a mentor for new physical therapy graduates and as a clinical instructor for students currently enrolled in physical therapy programs. Her mission is to facilitate each child’s return to sports, play and life activities and to educate young people about how to better care for their bodies.
Isabella Beal
Isabella Beal has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2023. She has experience working in Orthopedic and Developmental Pediatric settings. Isabella played collegiate soccer and continues to be passionate about individualized and sport-specific rehabilitation. She also worked as a Behavioral Technician using play-based early intervention and ABA techniques with neurodivergent children. Isabella’s goal is to empower patients and their family to allow them to reach their goals.
Jay Blumberg
Jay Blumberg is the Manager of Physical Therapy at Rady Children’s Health – San Diego. He joined the outpatient team in 2014 with a focus on sports rehabilitation and has since developed injury-prevention programs for youth and professional sports organizations. Jay frequently presents to athletes, coaches, and local high schools on sports medicine topics. He is also the author of a children’s book promoting youth health and fitness and has contributed articles to orthopedic publications. Before moving into leadership in 2023, Jay served for many years as the PT Coordinator of Clinical Education.
Jennifer Blazer
Jennifer Blazer has been a physical therapist since 2004 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2011. Jenn specializes in developmental pediatrics, torticollis, adolescent orthopedics and sports injuries. She is an American Physical Therapy Association-certified clinical instructor and has taken numerous continuing education courses in various areas, including hypotonia, kinesiotaping, and athletic injuries and rehabilitation. Jenn has played sports most of her life and enjoys working with young athletes. She also has previous experience in early intervention and enjoys working with children under age 3. Jennifer’s goal is to help children and families achieve their goals as quickly as possible.
Jennifer Harris
Jennifer Harris has been a physical therapist since 2001 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2002. Jennifer specializes in developmental pediatrics, early intervention, and torticollis. She has taken many continuing education courses in pediatrics treatment and is certified in Infant Reflex Integration therapy. Jennifer is also an American Physical Therapy Association-certified clinical instructor. Her goal is to provide family-centered care to improve the child’s quality of life, promote health and wellness, and maximize every child’s potential.
Jessica Garfin
Jessica Garfin is the Supervisor of Physical Therapy at Rady Children’s Health, where she has worked since 2008. She has been a practicing physical therapist since 1999 and brings extensive experience in orthopedic and sports rehabilitation. Throughout her career, Jessica has completed numerous advanced courses to enhance her orthopedic and sports training expertise. Her education includes coursework on a wide range of sports injuries, a year-long program in orthopedic manual physical therapy, and multiple Pilates courses focused on improving functional strength and movement. Jessica has worked with semi-professional female soccer players, male ice hockey players, and professional female volleyball players, supporting their rehabilitation and return to sport. While she values working with athletes at all levels, her true passion is helping young athletes, who she finds especially motivated and inspired to recover quickly and safely. In addition to her clinical work, Jessica has delivered numerous presentations to high school and college students interested in physical therapy, injury prevention, and sports rehabilitation.
Joan Connolly
Joan has been a physical therapist since 1985, and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2006. She has experience in the treatment of torticollis/plagiocephaly, gross motor delay, idiopathic toe walking, Down syndrome, and developmental delay. Prior experience includes working for California Children’s Services for 9 years, where she gained experience in the treatment of Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida. Joan’s goal is to help parents help their children.
Joy Pickering
Joy Pickering has been a physical therapist since 2000 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2015. Joy specializes in orthopedics. She has taken many orthopedic continuing education classes, including a year-long manual therapy course to further her skills as a clinician. Joy played soccer at UC Santa Barbara and still loves to play and watch her children play. Her goal is to provide excellent patient care and maximize each patient’s potential to return to sports or prior level of function.
Julie Chow
Julie Chow earned her degree from the University of Southern California and has been a practicing physical therapist since 2024. She joined Rady Children’s Health in 2025, focusing her work on orthopedic care for both pediatric and adult patients. Julie has completed several continuing education courses, including those on return-to-sport training and toe walking. A twin herself, she has a special interest in working with twins experiencing developmental delays, as well as patients with torticollis and young athletes. Julie is passionate about educating her patients, helping them manage their current conditions, prevent future injuries, and ensuring therapy is both positive and engaging.
Julie Klus
Julie Klus has been a physical therapist since 2003 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2009. She specializes in orthopedics, sports medicine, and neurologic rehabilitation with children and teens. She also has experience with acute care and developmental PT. Julie’s mission is to facilitate each child’s return to sports, play, and life activities in a safe and positive environment, and to empower them to take better care of themselves.
Kaleigh Duggan
Kaleigh Duggan has been a Physical Therapist since 2015 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2026. Kaleigh specializes in developmental, neurological, and wheelchair/equipment evaluations. She has completed extensive continuing education including the use and application of serial casting to the lower extremity. She is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy and is a current member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She has experience presenting at the local and national level through the APTA. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog and strength training. She is passionate about educating patients and caregivers, as well as empowering children to live their most independent, active lives despite barriers they may face.
Katelyn Christian
Katelyn has been a physical therapist since 2024 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2024. She has experience in both inpatient and outpatient pediatrics, specifically in the areas of developmental and acute care. Katelyn is a current member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. Her goal in working at Rady Children’s Health is to create a safe and collaborative environment to allow patients to reach their goals while having fun.
Katherine Keller
Katherine (KC) Keller has been a therapist at Rady Children’s Health since 1999. She has experience in both Pediatrics and Orthopedics. KC has played softball, soccer, and volleyball in high school as well as volleyball at a Division 2 University, where she went to the NCAA Division 2 National Tournament. She enjoys working with children and helping them achieve their goals.
Larry Berman
Larry Berman has been a physical therapist since 1987 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 1999, serving the needs of North County San Diego youth. Larry has specializes in orthopedic and sports medicine, exercise and manual therapy. His goal is to provide comprehensive and quality care to children and adolescents in our community.
Lesley Avilez
Lesley has been a physical therapist since 2017, and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2024. She has experience working in outpatient private practices and early intervention. She treats a variety of disorders including torticollis, developmental delay, idiopathic toe walking, as well as genetic and neuromuscular conditions. She has also completed continuing education in the topic of pediatric pelvic floor. Lesley has been board-certified as a Pediatric Clinical Specialist since 2022. Her goal in working at Rady Children’s Health is to provide a fun and nurturing environment for patients and their families to meet their movement and mobility goals.
Lindsey Dupont
Lindsey Dupont has been a physical therapist since 2013 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2014. Lindsey has experience in a variety of pediatric settings, including outpatient, inpatient rehabilitation and acute care. She specializes in developmental delays, torticollis, oncology and neuromuscular and orthopedic conditions. Her goal is to provide high quality care for children and their families in order to maximize their functional abilities while making exercise fun and enjoyable.
Lindsey Rooney
Lindsey Rooney has been a physical therapist since 2024 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2025. She has special talent in the areas of: orthopedics, treatment of post-operative conditions and sports injuries. Lindsey’s goal in working at Rady Children’s Health is to empower her patients to overcome the challenges that are involved in their PT journey and to help them to return to the activities that bring them joy.
Lisa Schroeder
Lisa Schroeder has been a physical therapist at Rady Children’s Health since 2015 at the Health Services location and has a special interest in developmental pediatrics, torticollis and orthopedics. She also supports physical therapy services through Children’s Care Connection (C3) in the South Bay. She became a board-certified pediatric clinical specialist in physical therapy in 2019 and is an American Physical Therapy Association-credentialed clinical instructor for physical therapy students. Lisa’s goal is to encourage her patients to reach their full physical potential by creating specialized treatment programs based on their individual needs. In her free time, Lisa enjoys running marathons and strives to promote the benefits of a physically active lifestyle.
Luci Schmeiser
Luci Schmeiser has been a physical therapist since 2010 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2011. She is local to North County San Diego, growing up in Escondido. Luci competed at the national level in track and field while attending school at Cal State San Marcos. She specializes in working with children of all ages and was a preschool teacher and high school track coach before becoming a physical therapist. Luci’s goal is to serve the needs of North County San Diego youth.
Maranda Silver
Maranda Silver began her career at Rady Children’s Health in 2019. She specializes in pediatric acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, hematology and oncology, critical care, early intervention, and developmental delay. Maranda is an American Physical Therapy Association certified clinical instructor and is passionate about mentoring students. Her commitment to mentorship began prior to her clinical career, when she worked as a college academic advisor supporting first-generation students in achieving their academic goals. A former NCAA Division I gymnast and five-time All-American, Maranda integrates her strong foundation in movement into her clinical practice. Her professional mission is to enhance the quality of life for children and their families through movement, education, and advocacy.
Mary Kaleta
Mary Kaleta has been a Physical Therapist since 2010 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2023. Mary has special talent in the areas of neurodevelopmental diagnoses, limb deficiencies, and wheelchair mobility/assessments. Mary has extensive experience in equipment evaluations that include but are not limited to both wheeled and power mobility assessments and training. She is a Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist and is a current member of the American Physical Therapist Association (APTA). She was a former Pediatric Resident at Munroe Meyer Institute and helped develop Gillette Children’s Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency program. In her free time, you can find Mary training for competitive rowing. Mary’s goal is to help each child progress in their own personal journey and help them find joy in every step.
Meeta Jost
Meeta Jost has been a physical therapist since 1999 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since October 2003. Meeta specializes in the areas of pediatrics and orthopedics and is currently the physical therapist for the Cardiac Prevention Clinic. She enjoys running races in her spare time, as well as snowboarding and hiking when she is not chasing her two little girls. Meeta’s goal is to return her patients to full function as quickly and safely as possible.
Meg Sioui
Meg Sioui has been a physical therapist since 1990 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2022. Meg has expertise in typical and atypical development, juvenile arthritis, torticollis and idiopathic toe walking, and is NDT trained. Her goal is to continue to develop her pediatric physical therapy skills and to positively affect the experience of patients and families.
Megan Wagner Ashton
Megan has been a physical therapist since 2021, and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2022. Megan specializes in developmental pediatrics and torticollis with clinical experience in developmental, orthopedic, and genetic conditions. She is a current member of the American Physical Therapy Association as well as the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. Outside of work, Megan enjoys beach volleyball, rock climbing, and hiking. Megan’s goal is to support children and families in their growth and development and create a fun and enriching environment.
Meghan Bochnak
Meghan Bochnak has been a physical therapist since 2011 and has worked at Rady Children’s since 2019. Meghan has a special interest in neurologically involved patients, including those with spina bifida, cerebral palsy and neuromuscular disease. She is a board-certified pediatric clinical specialist and a current member of the American Physical Therapy Association. Her goal is to continue to deliver excellent care for patients and their families while helping them achieve their goals.
Megan Fay
Megan Fay has been a physical therapist since 2019 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2024. Megan has expertise in the area of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and is IPNF level 4B certified. Megan’s goal in working at Rady Children’s Health is to help patients play and interact with their family and friends.
Megan Roffers
Megan has been a physical therapist at Rady Children’s Health since 2025. She has experience in orthopedic and sports rehabilitation, including concussion management, and is certified in the Barbell Rehab Method (BRM). She is passionate about helping young athletes safely return to their sport while learning to lift and move with confidence. Megan’s goal in working at Rady Children’s Health is to help every child leave therapy feeling stronger, more confident, and ready to return to the activities they love.
Monica Sheppard
Monica Sheppard has been a physical therapist since 2001 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2004. Monica specializes in developmental pediatrics, early intervention and torticollis. She has a background in school-based therapy, as well as outpatient clinical practice. Monica is an American Physical Therapy Association-certified clinical instructor. Her goal is to make a difference in the lives of children and their families and to help them achieve their goals. Outside of work Monica enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors with her family.
Samantha Ramos
Samantha has been a physical therapist since 2021 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2022. Samantha has a special talent in the area of developmental pediatrics, torticollis and sports orthopedic rehabilitation. Sam’s goal in working at Rady Children’s Health is to help patients achieve their goals in a collaborative and fun environment.
Shelly Rosenthal Kleiman
Shelly Rosenthal Kleiman has been a physical therapist since 2015 in Canada, and since 2017 in the United States. She has worked at Rady Children’s since 2021. Shelly specializes in inpatient rehabilitation and has a special interest in acquired neurological conditions and balance disorders. Shelly has completed continuing education in wheelchair seating, vestibular disorders and pediatric pelvic floor. Her goal is to maximize the quality of life of her patients and to motivate children to enjoy an active lifestyle to maintain health beyond their hospital stay.
Sierra Aparicio
Sierra Aparicio began her career as a physical therapist at Rady Children’s Health in 2013. Sierra specializes in acute inpatient care, critical care, cardiac rehabilitation, early intervention, neonatal intensive care, torticollis, and developmental delay. As an American Physical Therapy Association-certified clinical instructor, Sierra also enjoys mentoring students to help them find their passion in the professional realm. Her goal is to motivate and facilitate her patients and families to meet their goals with compassion and a positive attitude.
Susan Murphy
Susan Murphy has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2013. She is a board-certified sports physical therapy specialist and has an interest in sport-specific training. Susan has past experience as a competitive gymnast, competitive weightlifter and as a coach to high-level athletes. She enjoys helping athletes return to the sport they love. Additionally, Susan has a specialization in neuromuscular disorders and provides physical therapy services in the Multidisciplinary Neuromuscular Clinic (Muscle Disease Clinic). She also assists with collecting data for research and clinical trials to help improve the care provided to patients with these disorders.
Steven Shatzer
Steven Shatzer has been a physical therapist since 2018 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2020. Steven has expertise and interests in sports therapy and chronic pain management. He is a certified champion performance specialist. His goal is to help improve his patient’s abilities to perform at their highest level in any and all aspects of their lives. Steven is a Coordinator of PT Clinical Education as part of the student program at Rady Children’s Health.
Suzi Collins
Suzi Collins has worked at Rady Children’s Health for over 25 years specializing in adolescent orthopedics. She is devoted to the recovery and rehabilitation of youth athletes and has worked closely with the 360 Sports Medicine program since its inception in August 2012. Suzi utilizes manual techniques in combination with a progressive therapeutic approach. She aims to give each of her patients an individualized experience that allows them to quickly reach and exceed their goals.
Tina Deguzman
Tina Deguzman has been a physical therapist at Rady Children’s Health since 2016 and became a board-certified pediatric clinical specialist in physical therapy in 2022. She has experience working with children with torticollis, developmental delay, orthopedic and neurological conditions. She also supports the NICU Neurodevelopmental Clinic. Tina strives to help patients increase their functional mobility by providing individualized patient care and purposeful play.
Vicky Deguzman
Vicky has been a physical therapist since 2013 and has worked at Rady Children’s Health since 2022. She is a board certified pediatric clinical specialist and is especially passionate about working with infants, toddlers and their families. Vicky’s experience as a PT includes a variety of settings such as a level 1 trauma center, clinics treating neuromuscular diseases, early intervention in the homes, and school-based services. Vicky’s goal in working at Rady Children’s Health is to reconnect with the community in which she grew up and support and empower the families within it.
Zach Zimmerman
Zach has worked as a physical therapy assistant since 2012 before going back to school to graduate with his doctorate in 2019. He started at Rady Children’s Health in 2020. Zach has a special interest in improving biomechanics to enhance on field performance and minimize risk of injury. Over the years he has participated and coached a variety of sports and represented the US during a baseball tournament in Cuba. His goal in working at Rady Children’s Health is to educate children on the fundamentals of movement so that they can continue to live an active, pain free and healthy lifestyle.