Joe Avolio, PT
Joe is the owner and clinical director of Athens Therapeutics. Joe graduated with a B.S. in physical therapy from the State University of New York at Buffalo in his hometown of Buffalo, NY. He spent the first 3 years of his career traveling across the country, working in numerous different states and clinical settings. Through that experience Joe experienced the full continuum of healthcare from pediatrics to acute care to inpatient rehabilitation to outpatient rehabilitation to home health to skilled nursing. Joe relocated to the Atlanta area in the summer of 1998. Over the next two years, Joe built a thriving practice in the Covington area for the Rehability and HealthSouth Corporations. While working as the clinic manager and lead therapist, Joe's mission was to bring a more wellness oriented, wholistic approach to healthcare into a corporate environment. Through-out his career, Joe has always utilized some form of hands-on, manual therapy techniques to facilitate the rehabilitation of his clients. He has learned numerous manual therapy approaches through continuing education and clinical instruction including Upledger¹s Craniosacral Therapy, John Barnes' Myofascial Release, Jones' Strain/Counterstrain, Muscle Energy Techniques, Butler's Neural Tissue Mobilization and others. His dilemma was that each of these approaches addressed different systems in the body and he searched for the best way to integrate these approaches. In 1999 Joe met fellow manual therapist, Lisa Klein, who introduced him to the approach that tied it all together, Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT).In June of 2000, Joe joined Lisa at her Athens office (The Body Dynamic) to study and practice the approach in depth. In December of 2000, Joe and his wife Tania (also a PT who specializes in IMT) were offered positions by the developers of IMT to work and train their official Centers. After a year sabbatical, training with the developers and top level clinicians of IMT, Joe returned to the Athens area to start his own practice, Athens Therapeutics. Joe's training has provided him the skills to successfully help patients with a wide variety of medical, orthopedic and neurological problems. He is a specialist in chronic pain and all painful conditions. Joe thoroughly enjoys being a part of the progressive atmosphere of Athens healthcare. He looks forward to serving the community and growing with his clients.
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Henry Pursner, PT
Henry and family relocated to Athens from the San Francisco Bay Area. Born and raised in New York City, Henry graduated in 1995 from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Sciences in Physical Therapy. Following graduation, he began traveling the country working with various cultures, medical problems and environments including neurological and orthopedic injuries. He soon began studying alternative and complementary ways in which to benefit the health and well being of his clients including Tai Chi, yoga, and cranial-sacral therapy. These studies continued to create a non-invasive gentle manual therapy approach to greatly improve a person's potential to heal themselves in a stress-free way. In 1998, he began to manage a large outpatient physical therapy office in the Silicon Valley region of California and utilized osteopathic/functional rehabilitation training to improve the lives of people with chronic pain, neurological, geriatric, and post-surgical issues. He began to use osteopathic treatments such as Strain-Counterstrain, visceral manipulation, and muscle energy technique, which are designed to improve a person¹s function through providing a freedom in their physical structure. Through further study in applied kinesiology, he deepened his understanding of the mind-body connection in the way that our thoughts alter the way that we live and move. In addition, he has incorporated nutrition as an important adjunct to wellness, which has stemmed from his extensive training in Integrative Manual Therapy. He looks forward to being a part of the progressive team at Athens Therapeutics to provide advanced and complementary healthcare.
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Maggie Reinberger, PT
Maggie received a masters of science in physical therapy from Arcadia University (formerly Beaver College) in 1987. Prior to working at Athens Therapeutics, she had extensive experience with all rehabilitation populations, first at Moss Rehab Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, then with St. Mary¹s Home Health Care Services in Athens, GA. Maggie met Lisa Klein in 1997, and was introduced to the ideas of Integrative Manual Therapy, and was struck with how these ideas were a synthesis of her life skills, as well as her therapy skills. She began taking courses, and working at The Body Dynamic in 2000. Prior to her degree in physical therapy, Maggie had graduated from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY with a double major in history and dance. She went to New York City to study dance, then returned to Ithaca, NY where she created and performed in dance productions. When she decided to return to school in physical therapy she learned she was equally interested in helping people heal, and move better, as she was in the analysis of movement, which originally attracted her. Her masters' thesis was a study of motor learning using mental practice. During her rehabilitation experience she was able to work with many populations, including head injuries, orthopedic surgeries, amputees, neurologic and pediatric clients. Her courses in IMT have brought together her interests in holistic care, with spiritual needs, and practical, effective techniques.
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Tania Avolio, PT
Tania graduated from University of Miami with a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy in December 1994. After her initial experience on the Neuro Team in an acute hospital in Florida, she became a traveling physical therapist. Here she experienced a variety of settings along the complete continuum of care, while traveling across the country. It was then that she became more exposed to manual therapy, but always had trouble applying it to her favorite population, the neurologically impaired. It was also through this journey that she met her husband, Joe, (also experienced in manual therapy), in Athens, GA. After three years of traveling, Tania went to work at Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in the Inpatient Rehabilitation department in her hometown of Atlanta. Working with pediatric brain injury and spinal cord injury patients, she quickly realized that there must be more that she could do for these patients other than traditional physical therapy. Through reading and a new friend with Integrative Manual Therapy experience, Tania began to use Integrative Manual Therapy techniques and principles. She was soon frustrated by the limitations the rehab environment had on this type of treatment. So after eighteen months, she began working as a pediatric home health therapist and joined fellow manual therapist Lisa Klein, at her practice in Athens, GA. Since that time she has been able to study and deliver what she believes is the most effective form of treatment, IMT. In December of 2000, Tania and Joe were offered positions by the developers of IMT to work and train in their official Centers. Her experience training with the developers and top level clinicians of IMT was an invaluable learning experience. Now Tania has joined her husband at his physical therapy practice, Athens Therapeutics, on a part-time basis. Her full time job as mother to the couple's three daughter, Eden Kira, and Siena, keeps her busy the rest of the time. Tania is excited to grow as a therapist and is honored to be a part of the Athens community!
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Jessica Rogers, PTA
Jessica is a graduate of Athens Technical College Physical Therapist Assistant program. During her education at ATC she was able to work with a diverse patient population in a variety of treatment settings including: Saint Mary’s Outpatient Clinic, Athens Regional Medical Center Acute Care Rehabilitation, and Park Place Nursing Home, as well as interning here at Athens Therapeutics. Jessica has been affiliated with the unique therapeutic approach offered at Athens Therapeutics for several years initially as a patient and now as a member of the therapeutic team. In addition being a licensed PTA she is a certified instructor of Integral Hatha Yoga with training in pranayama (therapeutic breathing), asana (postures), meditation, and deep relaxation. Jessica has shared her approach with both adolescents and adults for 7 years here in the Athens area, most recently at Athens Montessori Middle School. Her style of yoga is one in which the practitioner is gently guided through a series of postures with particular emphasis placed on breath awareness which will enable the patient to examine and release physical, emotional, and mental boundaries while increasing strength and flexibility. Jessica is very excited about joining her therapeutic yoga skills and the manual therapy techniques offered here at Athens Therapeutics to create a powerful healing experience.
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Susannah Haarmann, PT
Susannah graduated from the University of Georgia in 2003 with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and received her Masters in Physical Therapy from North Georgia College and State University in 2007. As a masters student Susannah was exposed to patient care in a variety of settings including acute care at Athens Regional Medical Center, outpatient orthopedics at ProTherapy in Demorest, GA, home health with Global Rehab in Dahlonega, GA and neurological rehabilitation with CarePartners in Asheville, NC. Susannah previously worked as an acute care therapist at St. Mary’s Hospital before joining the team at Athens Therapeutics. Susannah was drawn to the profession of physical therapy for its ability to make measurable differences in people’s physical function and improve their overall well-being and quality of life. She appreciates working with a variety of cases from orthopedic to neurological clients. Susannah is currently expanding her skills as a manual therapist and has a specialized interest in women’s health
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Teresa Morneault, PT
Teresa is the owner and operator of Body in Motion, Inc., a personal wellness firm specializing in one on one training and rehabilitation using the Pilates method and equipment. Through Teresa’s relationship with Athens Therapeutics, patients will have access to individualized therapeutic exercise sessions using this approach. Sessions may be part of a patient’s ongoing physical therapy program or are available as an adjunct or aftercare intervention to maintain the goals met during physical therapy. Teresa graduated with a Master in Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA in 1997. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the same university. Her primary emphasis has been in outpatient physical therapy; however, she has worked in all areas of rehabilitation. While living in Virginia, she co-developed a women’s health program with emphasis on pregnancy, pelvic pain and incontinence. In 2007, Teresa took the Polestar Pilates Rehab Series* consisting of 350+ hours of training to include observation, self-mastery and instruction. This series included mat and equipment instruction. In 2008, she passed the Pilates Method Alliance certification, the universal standard for quality assurance within the Pilates community. Teresa believes that effective treatment requires that the whole body be assessed and incorporated in the treatment program. She utilizes exercise, manual therapy and patient education to achieve patient goals. Her philosophy is that educating the patient about his/her condition empowers the patient to heal and self-manage their condition.
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Maresa Smith OTR/L
Maresa Smith is a 2002 graduate of the University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences where she obtained her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Since that time she has had the opportunity to work with a variety of patient populations including orthopedic and neurologically impaired children and adults. She enjoys working with all patient populations and specializes in upper extremity injuries and splinting. Maresa is originally from Atlanta , GA and is also a 2000 graduate of the University of Georgia . She and her husband Andy, who works as a physical therapist, recently moved to the Athens area. While not at work she enjoys hiking, running, and spending time with her son Carson and golden retrievers, Boone and Molly.
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Melissa Hamlin
Melissa is the office manager for the Athens Therapeutics main office in Athens. Besides her responsibilities as office manager, Melissa leads the Therapeutic Meditation sessions offered for groups as well as individuals. She has spent weekends during the past 2 years in upstate NY, studying a variety of meditation techniques. In the past, she has been a teacher for 10 years, teaching 3-6 year olds, and has worked as a home parent educator. Melissa has an adopted son, Zach who has been known to help out a lot at Athens Therapeutics.
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Cindi Paulin
Cindi is the Office Manager for the Winder branch office. She has spent most of her life in the accounting field, but enjoys working in a "health oriented" atmosphere. She has taught country western dancing and been a floor trainer at Curves. She enjoys her menagerie of pets and competes in country western dancing.
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Bud Newton
Bud is a consultant for the Athens Therapeutics yoga programs. He is a National Yoga Alliance certified instructor with over 500 hours of training in yoga practice and theory and yoga therapy. He studied in Atlanta with Graham Fowler of Peachtree Yoga Center and has also studied Ashtanga yoga, Iyengar yoga, Anusara yoga, and Kripalu yoga extensively. He has co-facilitated yoga workshops in Mexico with Brian Kest from Los Angeles, California and Saul David Raye, one of the leading trainers of Thai Yoga Therapy in the United States. Bud also leads cultural and spiritual study groups to the Yucatan region of Mexico. His yoga classes here in Athens combine physical movement with breathing meditation, training on how to focus our mind and body, as well as humor and playfulness and deep insight into our beautiful human nature. All of his classes are small and geared towards beginners and differing levels of physical ability.
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Julie Red Bear
Julie is our Family Enrichment Consultant and is the facilitator of our Parenting Support Groups. She is the mother of three and is very experienced with adoption and foster care. Julie’s background is in teaching and social services. She has worked with families on parenting through DFCS and has facilitated groups on women’s issues, effective communication within the family, family crisis management, and child abuse prevention. She specializes in strategies for coping with developmental and behavioral issues. She is also certified to teach the Active Parenting program. Julie is very excited about bringing her expertise to the Athens Therapeutics' Kids First Program.
