Physical Therapy in Pantops, Charlottesville VA

Specialization: General Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Vestibular & Balance, Neurological Conditions, Chronic pain

Sam is a generalist physical therapist who has been involved in physical medicine since becoming a Certified Athletic Trainer in 2013 (ATC credentialing since retired). He has a special interest in a variety of different orthopedic, neurological, and other topics related to healing and recovery from injury, with the ability to work with patients of all different types and backgrounds.

Immediately following graduation from PT school in 2018, Sam worked in a small community hospital system, which allowed for exposure to multiple PT settings, with acute care, sub-acute care, and outpatient experience combined in one position. This allowed him to gain experience with a diverse population, having worked with people across the spectrum of medicine, from Division I NCAA athletes to hospitalized, medically complex patients.

n addition to his Doctorate in Physical Therapy, Sam has a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, and a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training, which gives him a unique perspective with regard to healing and recovery. To Sam, the patient is the priority, and his goal is to restore each person back to doing the things that they love as quickly as is possible. His approach is function based, with each therapy program being specifically designed and tailored to address the needs and goals of the individual patient.

Sam recently moved from Hampton Roads with his family to the Waynesboro area due to a love for the mountains and the outdoors, and a desire to become a part of a community that embraces the same.

email: samuelsn@acacpt.com

Specialization: Treatment of Sports and Orthopedic Injuries, injury prevention and progression of exercise and stabilization programs. Postural syndromes, neck and shoulder

Brooke Miller says she is motivated greatly by seeing one of her patients able to return to normal recreational activities and exercise pain free.

“I really enjoy educating individuals on their anatomy and how to overcome injuries that are affecting them,” she says.

Brooke graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA in 2000 and worked as an athletic trainer until she went back to physical therapy school in 2004.

She graduated in 2007 with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

She now specializes in the treatment of sports and orthopedic injuries with a special interest in hip, knee, ankle and foot injuries. She addresses postural syndromes of the neck and back. She also works in injury prevention and devises progression of exercise and stabilization programs.

When she is not working, Brooke enjoys trail running, hiking, snowboarding, and spending time outdoors with her husband and children. When she has time, she also likes to read and cook.

email: brookem@acacpt.com

Specialization: Neurological rehabilitation for those with Parkinson's disease, General orthopedics, Sports-related injuries, Post-surgical rehabilitation, Balance disorders

Ashleigh found her passion for physical therapy after suffering from a season ending injury in high school and experiencing the positive benefits and atmosphere during her rehabilitation process. She went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Towson University in 2012 and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Temple University in 2015.

Ashleigh enjoys working with patients of all ages and seeing them progress and optimize their function, whether it be during activities of daily living or sport specific activities.

When she is not working, Ashleigh enjoys spending time with her husband and dog exploring the local trails, restaurants and wineries.

email: ashleighd@acacpt.com

Specialization: General orthopedics including post surgical care and sports related injuries with special interest in shoulder impingement/rotator cuff rehabilitation, hip, knee, spine and jaw disorders, vestibular rehab/BPPV, BFRT (Blood Flow Restriction Training). SFMA/FMS certified

Rebecca was active in sports growing up, including field hockey, snow skiing, and competitive figure skating. She always wanted to know how to get over an injury as fast as possible to return to sport. She also witnessed her brother experience a spinal fusion at a young age, and therefore was introduced to Physical Therapy as a profession early on.

She received her B.S.Ed. in Sports Medicine from the University of Virginia (Go Hoos!) in 1992, and then moved to Atlanta to receive her MPT from Emory University in 1995. In 1997 she returned to Charlottesville and worked first in inpatient rehabilitation, then directed a brain injury center, and then moved on to a short stint at a long-term care facility. She returned to outpatient orthopedics 15 years ago, and enjoys diagnosing and treating various conditions to improve functional mobility and quality of life.

Rebecca enjoys spending time with her daughters (when they are available!), running, hiking, skiing, traveling, and hanging out with friends.

email: rebeccas@acacpt.com

Specialization: general orthopedics with biomechanics approach; shoulder, hip, knee, foot/ankle problems; functional core stabilization; postural and gait training; running injuries; return to sport; TMJ; Fascial Counterstrain

Susan Heald has developed a comprehensive biomechanical approach to assessing and treating each of her patients. She addresses her patients’ movement system problems with an integrative perspective rather than treating isolated joints or body regions. She particularly enjoys designing personalized and creative home exercises accompanied by detailed explanations to optimize her patients’ understanding and participation in PT to assure their best outcomes. Her focus on activity-specific, corrective exercise provides her patients with the tools they need to return to their regular activities.

Susan has been working as a Physical Therapist for the past 33 years in primarily outpatient physical therapy settings including an outpatient private practice in Delaware, UVA Medical Center, Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, and currently is with PT@ACAC.

She has been a lifelong learner since she earned her B.S. in Physical Therapy from the University of Delaware in 1988, then her post-professional Advanced M.S. in Orthopedic Physical Therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 1995 and finally her clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy from VCU in 2008. She continues to advance and update her clinical practice skills by attending PT continuing education courses, attending workplace in-services, and reading professional journal articles.

Her Master’s degree thesis research paper studied a functional outcome measure designed for shoulder patients and was published in the Physical Therapy Journal in 1997 (The shoulder pain and disability index: the construct validity and responsiveness of a region-specific disability measure; SL Heald, DL Riddle, RL Lamb). She received the APTA Dorothy Briggs Memorial Scientific Award in 1998 for her research and publication.

For 20 years, Susan was a guest lecturer in the VCU DPT program. She has led a community workshop on running gait training and running-related exercises, has presented her research work regionally and nationally, and led many journal clubs and clinical update in-services with her colleagues. She has coached running and conditioning workouts for the WAHS Crew team and was a youth soccer coach.

In her downtime, Susan enjoys spending time with her husband, their 2 adult daughters and wildly-energetic, Muppet-like goldendoodle, Mollie. She is most content when she is active and outdoors and loves running the roads of Albemarle County with friends, playing tennis and gardening. She also loves to go hiking, paddleboarding, biking, and skiing in Virginia or when visiting more distant beautiful places with mountains and water.

email: susanhe@acacpt.com

email: ellenos@acacpt.com

Specialization: Physical Therapist Assistant, Certified Pilates Instructor

With over a decade of experience working with the human body, Lori is excited to apply her knowledge to physical therapy. In 2010 she obtained a degree in Exercise Science from Santa Fe College and has worked at ACAC since 2013 leading personal training sessions and group exercise classes. Lori is a certified STOTT Pilates Instructor and has taught water exercise since 2009. Over the years, she found she most enjoyed working with people with injuries and seeing them return to their activities of daily living or recreational pursuits. This led her to obtain her Physical Therapist Assistant degree from South University in 2021.

When Lori isn't working, you can find her outdoors, hiking with her husband, practicing yoga, baking, or somewhere in the mountains.

Email: loripe@acacpt.com 

Specialization: Orthopedic injury, Pre- and Post-Surgery Rehab , Manual Techniques, Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain, Aquatic therapy, Special Interest in Neurology, Parkinson's Disease, Stroke Rehabilitation, Strength and Conditioning for All Ages.

From a young age, Devon had a keen interest in the medical/health related fields. Her love for physical therapy started in 2015 in Miles City, Montana where she worked for a college doing personal training and instructing fitness classes for the athletes and community. Soon after that, she became the director of a Silver-Sneakers program and enjoyed helping people improve their daily functionality through exercise. 

Devon moved to Virginia in 2021 and began training at acac Fitness & Wellness Centers. She attended South University Richmond's PTA program and graduated in 2023. Devon has clinical experience in several different settings, including Outpatient Rehab, Inpatient Rehabilitation, and Acute Care Neurology and Cardiac Rehab. 

Devon's future plans include expanding her knowledge and experience in Chronic pain and Neurological therapies.  

email - devonh@acacpt.com

Specialization: Sports-Related Injuries, Pre/Post Surgical Rehab, Shoulder, Knee, Foot/Ankle, Running Injuries, Dry Needling

Justin was born and raised in Suffolk, VA and graduated from the University of Virginia in 2001. After years of working at a wilderness boarding school in central Virginia, he decided to make a career change. He earned his doctorate in Physical Therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2013. In 2016, he became a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy.

In 2018, he completed a year-long residency in Orthopedic Physical Therapy through Virginia Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy Institute. He then worked for Sentara Martha Jefferson before becoming a part of the PT@acac team. Justin enjoys working with a wide variety of patients, crafting a tailored plan of care to help each individual achieve their goals. His clinical interests include sports related orthopedic injuries, lower extremity mechanics, strengthening for runners, and pre/post joint replacement rehab. Justin’s treatment philosophy includes helping patients take an active role in their recovery to achieve better outcomes.

In his free time, Justin can be found hiking and camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains or stand-up paddleboarding on the Rivanna. He also enjoys going to UVA basketball games and seeing live music every chance he gets. Justin loves being outside and enjoys taking advantage of all the outdoor activities that Charlottesville has to offer. Other interests include golf, tennis, yoga, pilates and soccer.

email: justinpr@acacpt.com