About Us

OT ETC

Val Plummer, OTR/L: owner, president of O.T. Etc., Inc., starting out in 1994. O.T. practice includes 25 years of direct pediatric experience, with 20 years at the Children's Hospital in San Diego. At least 10 of these years were also spent in the 24 hr. care pediatric convalescent hospital. SIPT certified, with strong expertise in sensory based problems affecting feeding/oral motor coordination, organization of behavior, anxieties, developmental delays, and a variety of syndromes. val@ot-etc.com

Jill Bordokoff, MSOT, OTR/L : joined OT Etc. in June 2004, a graduate with honors from Grossmont College's Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Jill worked as a COTA at OT Etc. for 5 years before earning her graduate degree from Belmont University in Tennessee. Jill is a certified Interactive Metronome (IM) Provider and IM-Home Provider, and has also been trained in interventions using Vital Links’ Therapeutic Listening program. Jill has additional expertise with the Handwriting Without Tears program and the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol.  She regularly attends professional seminars on Autism, feeding and other topics geared towards pediatric intervention programs. She is a member of AOTA and OTAC. Jill@ot-etc.com

Rebecca Braman, OTR/L: is a graduate with honors from Boston University's Masters of Occupational Therapy program and has her Bachelor's degree in biology from Seattle Pacific University.  She has worked in a variety of settings, including early intervention, acute care, and community mental health.  She has experience with children who have a wide array of diagnoses and needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, feeding difficulties, sensory processing disorders, and global developmental delay.  Becky has participated in research regarding the importance of young children's participation in family life and the environmental supports that enable this participation.  She has been trained in the Handwriting Without Tears program and plans to pursue additional pediatric intervention seminars.  She is a member of AOTA.

EXCEL SPEECH

Katherine Louis, M.A. CCC-SLP: Katherine, owner of Excel Speech Therapy Center, completed her graduate studies at California State University Fresno and is an ASHA member and CA licensed speech-language pathologist. She has experience working in a variety of settings including early intervention, private practice, rehabilitation hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and public schools. Katherine has clinical experience in the assessment and treatment of adults and children. Her experience in working with the pediatric population includes, feeding and swallowing disorders, language deficits, fluency, voice, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, and apraxia. Her adult experience includes diagnosis and treatment of aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia, and dysphagia. Katherine has completed the Introduction to PROMPT Technique workshop and believes in a multidisciplinary team approach. katmedeiros@sbcglobal.net

Brigid Shamburg, M.A., CCC-SLP:  Brigid has worked as a speech-language pathologist since August 2005 and began working at Excel Speech Therapy Center in August 2006.  Brigid received a baccalaureate degree in Music Therapy from Immaculata University in PA and received a Master's degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Memphis.  She is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist and a current member of ASHA.  She has experience in working with children and adolescents with a variety of diagnoses including, but not limited to, speech and language delays / impairments, voice disorders, cleft palate, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, stuttering/fluency, and apraxia.  Her personal interest is providing children with multiple learning pathways and modalities including music and movement to enhance perception and increase gestalt learning.  She is also dedicated to finding the most effective means of communication for the children and their families to facilitate the growth of their speech, language, and communication skills.  Brigid is certified by The Hanen Program® to teach It Takes Two To Talk course and More Than Words course for parents.  She has been trained in PECS (the Picture Exchange Communication System), PROMPT, and Beckman Oral Motor Technique.

LuAnn H. Lower, M.A., CCC-SLP: LuAnn graduated from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio with a Master of Arts Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She is an ASHA member and holds licenses in both California and New York State. She has over 19 years of diversified clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of children and adults with a wide range of communication and related disorders. Her experience includes but is not limited to the following diagnoses: autism, Down’s syndrome, developmental delays, fluency, voice disorders, articulation/phonology disorders, apraxia, aphasia, dysarthria, and dysphagia. LuAnn has worked in a variety of settings including developmental centers, hospitals, skilled nursing/rehabilitation centers, public schools, community clinics, a non-profit preschool, and private practice. Her guiding principal in treatment has always been a focus on functional communication skills. She is committed to continuing education and most recently attended workshops focusing on Early Intervention as well as the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Childhood Apraxia of Speech. LuAnn is certified by The Hanen Program® to teach It Takes Two To Talk course for parents.

Ashley Farwick joined Excel Speech in 2009 after graduating with her M.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. She recieved her undergraduate training at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she earned a B.S. in Speech Pathology and Audiology and a minor in Special Education. She has worked with children and adults with a variety of communication and swallowing disorders, including apraxia of speech, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, feeding and swallowing disorders, articulation and language delays, cerebral palsy, selective mutism, and a variety of others. She has worked in a variety of settings, including in- and out-patient hospitals, schools, and private practice. Her interests include autism spectrum disorders, feeding and swallowing disorders, and early intervention, and she is enthusiastic about working with the pediatric population.

Stephanie Burgener, M.A., CFY-SLP:  Stephanie is happy to have joined the team at Excel as an SLP Clinical Fellow.  She earned her Master of Arts degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from San Diego State University and a baccalaureate in Socio-Cultural Linguistics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.  She has experience with clients across the age-span and has served in private practice, hospital, and public school settings.  She has provided services to young children and adolescents, addressing a variety of speech and language disorders including but not limited to specific language impairment, apraxia of speech, autism spectrum disorders, voice disorders, fluency, phonological/articulation disorders, developmental delays, and pragmatic language disorders.    Her experience with adult populations has included diagnosis and treatment of aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria, dysphagia, voice disorders, and acquired impairments in memory and cognition.  Stephanie believes in a multi-disciplinary treatment model and evidence-based practice.

PT IN MOTION

Kristin Parsley, MPT, Co-Owner of PT in Motion, Inc.: Over 15 years of pediatric physical therapy experience. Career began at Children’s Hospital San Diego. Experience included treatment of all pediatric diagnoses, home care, and school based treatment however specialized in traumatic brain injury, as the lead physical therapist on the inpatient rehabilitation team. Kristin has been trained in treatment of the premature infant and worked for 5 years in the NICU at Children’s Hospital. While at Children’s, Kristin also consulted at Children’s Convalescent Hospital, worked in the JRA clinic and was a member of the NICU Developmental Team. Presently she continues to consult at San Diego Regional Center assisting in screening children 0-3. Acquired specialized skills in Cascade orthotics, treatment of torticollis, and the premature baby. Has a personal interest in developing a gymnastics class for children with low tone.

Roxanne Husson-Van Norman, MPT, Co-Owner of PT in Motion, Inc. : Over 15 years of therapy experience. Career began at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey, CA. Experience there consisted of treatment of adults and adolescents with traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injuries. Roxanne transitioned to California Children’s Services in Santa Barbara in 1995 where she worked with pediatrics for 3 ½ years treating neurological as well as orthopedic diagnoses. In 1998 she continued her career with Children’s Hospital in San Diego where she worked for 6 years. She began as an outpatient therapist treating children along with adult stroke patients. After 2 ½ years, she transitioned to her role as the Inpatient Rehabilitation Coordinator for physical therapy. Roxanne has experience treating a variety of diagnoses including brain injury, spinal cord injury, orthopedic conditions, syndromes, developmental delay and torticollis among many others. She has specialized skills in the area of seating and equipment assessment, spasticity management, orthotics and bracing. Roxanne was a member of the “Spasticity Team” at Children’s, and has lectured for Allergen, the producers of Botox. She was an instructor for the “Advanced Neurology” Master’s course at Mount Saint Mary’s College; has lectured at Grossmont College; and organized and was a primary presenter for “Spinal Cord Injury in the Pediatric Client” at Children’s Hospital.

Renee Cinco, RPT: Renee has been a Physical Therapist for the past 17 years after graduating from the University of Connecticut in 1989. She has tremendous experience working with both children and adults. She has treated children with diagnoses including, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, muscle diseases, syndromes, developmental delay, TBI, SCI and specialized skills in treating children with torticollis. Renee also has extensive experience in working with the adult population, both orthopedic and neurological. She has treated patients with joint replacements, repairs, fractures, carpel tunnel, nerve entrapments, sprains/strains, disc dysfunction and many other diagnoses. She has worked in various clinics across the United States, most recently 10 years at Children’s Hospital, San Diego. She is also a certified Personal Trainer and teaches a post natal exercise program called “Baby Boot Camp”.

Karen R. Saggese, PTA: Karen studied physical therapy at Mesa College with an emphasis in pediatrics. Her education included an internship at Children’s Hospital in San Diego. She has been with “PT in Motion, Inc.” since the fall of 2005. Karen has experience in working with pediatric patients with a variety of diagnosis including, but not limited to developmental delay, various syndromes, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and TBI and balance deficits. She also has experience in treating adult orthopedic conditions including, but not limited to spinal fusions, joint replacements, muscle/tendon repairs, disc dysfunction, sprains, fractures and gait abnormalities. Karen’s professional background includes working as a special education teaching assistant at Rancho Bernardo High School and coordinating special events and health and fitness programs for the city of Poway, CA.

Cathy Cortney, MPT: 10 years of pediatric and adolescent physical therapy experience.
Cathy has a BS degree from UCSD and Master's of Physical Therapy from Mt. St.
Mary's College. Her career began at California Children's Services San Diego County in
Chula Vista. Experience at CCS consisted of evaluation and treatment of children birth
to 21 with diagnoses including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscle diseases, JRA,
traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and various congenital muscular-skeletal
disorders. Cathy worked as a Senior therapist for the past 6 years and developed
extensive skill in DME prescription and seating systems, school and caregiver education
for severely disabled individuals, observational gait analysis and therapeutic play
exercises. Cathy has worked with many pediatric specialists in the Children's, Kaiser
and Triwest systems through regular medical clinics and has strong working relationships with local orthotists and DME vendors. Cathy has been employed by PT in Motion, Inc. since October 2006 and services clients in both the Bonita and Kearny Mesa locations. She is a Senior therapist with this clinic and is skilled in treating children, adolescents and adults. Adolescent diagnoses include fractures, surgical corrections, muscles strains and tears, sprains, sports injuries among many others.

Theresa A. Lio, PT: Theresa graduated with her masters in Physical Therapy from the
University of Scranton, PA in 2004. She worked in New York at The Little Village
School, a school for children with special needs. She treated children from ages 2-12
with a variety of diagnoses including cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, autism, and
genetic disorders. She also worked for a homecare agency in NY treating early
intervention and school aged children. She then worked for San Diego Unified School
District treating children from preschool to high school with similar diagnoses as
previously mentioned. Theresa now treats both children and adults with a variety of
diagnoses at P.T. in Motion,Inc.

Mary Powell. RPT: Mary Powell has practiced physical therapy for more than 20 years in
the San Diego area. She spent most of her career at Children's Hospital in San Diego,
where she started as a staff physical therapist and later progressed to Team Leader of the physical therapy department, where she supervised 35-40 staff members over the course of 13 years. She is Neurodevelopmental Therapy (NDT) certified and is trained in a variety of manual therapy techniques including Cranio-Sacral Therapy (CST). Mary is
skilled in treating all pediatric diagnoses, and provides evaluations and treatment for
adolescents and adults with acute orthopedic and sports injuries. She has expertise in the areas of chronic pain diagnoses and arthritic conditions as well as problems with the foot and ankle. Mary lectures nationally on a variety of diagnosis in particular topics related to problems with the foot and ankle, and specializes in custom orthotic evaluation and fabrication. For more information on craniosacral therapy, please visit:

www.craniosacraltherapv.org
www.upledger.com

Contact PT in Motion, Inc. management for an appointment.

Cris Rash, PT: Graduated from Mesa College in 2004. Cris began her career at Sharp
Memorial Hospital in San Diego and has been employed with PT in Motion, Inc for over
two years. Cris has experience and expertise in treating a variety of pediatric diagnoses
including developmental delay, cerebral palsy, various syndromes, spina bifida, traumatic
brain injury and torticollis. Cris has additional experience in treating a variety of
adolescent orthopedic conditions along with adult diagnoses including post surgical
conditions, back pain, fractures, and various joint problems.

Kim Kendler,PTA: Graduated from San Diego State in 1998, and received her PTA degree from Carroll Community College, Maryland in 2003. Kim worked for Littlefield Physical Therapy which specializes in Pediatrics. In addition, she has worked in the home and school setting providing services for children. Kim has experience with a variety of diagnoses including developmental delays, syndromes, cerebral palsy and sensory dysfunction. In addition to pediatrics, Kim has experience in the area of adult treatment with an emphasis on fitness and comprehensive exercise programs.