Our Team

Specialization: Orthopedic related injuries including pre and post-surgical rehabilitation, TMD (jaw pain), cervical dysfunctions and balance disorders. Joint Replacements

Anne DeJong always knew she would work in the field of health care. Her interest in science and sports coupled with her joy in working with people and helping them led her to center on Physical Therapy.

She graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1989 with a Bachelor of Physical Therapy.

She worked for more than 20 years in a variety of settings including home care, hospital rehabilitation settings, orthopedics and general medical surgical.

For the past 15 years she has worked primarily in outpatient orthopedics in clinics in the United States and Singapore.

Anne enjoys working with patients of all ages. Her specialization now is in orthopedic related injuries including pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation, TMD (jaw pain), cervical dysfunctions, balance disorders and joint replacements.

In her spare time, she likes to hike with her dogs, play or coach volleyball, and watch her children participate in their sports and activities.

email: elisabethd@acacpt.com

Specialization:  Post-surgical shoulder rehabilitation, RTC dysfunction, joint replacement rehabilitation, treatment of swimmers, general orthopedic rehabilitation

Specialization:  Post-surgical shoulder rehabilitation, RTC dysfunction, joint replacement rehabilitation, treatment of swimmers, general orthopedic rehabilitation

David Strickler was prompted to enter a career in physical therapy following treatments he received that helped him recover from accident injuries.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Albright College and a Master of Arts in Psychology from American University.

He then spent four years working with the chronically mentally ill before returning to school.

He earned his Master of Physical Therapy from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2001.

He now specializes in general orthopedic rehabilitation, treatment of spinal disorders, and shoulder and knee dysfunction.

When he is not working he enjoys Frisbee, table tennis, motorcycling and spending time with his wife and three children.

email: davidst@acacpt.com

Specialization: Treatment of back hip and shoulder pain. General orthopedics and women's health issues including osteoporosis, structural pain during pregnancy, incontinence and coccydynia

Judy Zacharias says she went into physical therapy as a career choice on the basis of a career aptitude and interest test, but the real question is why she stayed in it for 37 years.

There are three answers to that:

“First, being a physical therapist allows you to be a detective when assessing patients and their physical problems. Second, you get to use the skills you’ve learned to help heal patients’ physical maladies. And third, you get to learn a lot from your patients and to go home tired after a day of work with the satisfaction that you made a real difference in the life or one or more people that day.”

Judy earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Ohio State University and her Master of Science in Orthopedic Physical Therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia.

She now has more than 37 years of experience working as a physical therapist in a wide variety of settings. She specializes in treatment of back, hip and shoulder pain, general orthopedics, and women’s health issues including osteoporosis, structural pain during pregnancy, incontinence and coccydynia. She also has extensive geriatrics experience.

When she is not working, Judy likes to spend time with family and friends. She also enjoys being involved in the life of her church (St. Thomas Aquinas) and in an ecumenical group IMPACT that works for systemic change in the community. If she has any free time after that, she loves to watch soccer.

email: judyz@acacpt.com

Specialization: Treatment of injured athletes, foot and ankle disorders, shoulder and knee dysfunction, gait assessment and fabrication of custom orthotics

Kim became interested in becoming a Physical Therapist from a young age. She attributes her desire to pursue the profession to her brother who was disabled. She was always interested and participated in his care and had a strong desire to help with his physical needs. Through the physical therapy he received she realized how much it can impact a person and their family.  Kim was also an avid athlete from a young age and has always been very interested in the human body as well as helping others achieve their goals and getting back to their desired level of function.

Kim earned her BS in physical therapy from the University of Delaware and has been practicing as a physical therapist since 1990. She started her career at the University of Virginia where she treated all types of patients from the intensive care units to the outpatient clinics. She has experience in a wide variety of physical therapy settings that in include acute care, home health care, skilled nursing and outpatients.

Since 1997, she has focused much of her attention on manual therapies and orthopedics in the outpatient settings. Kim's strongest areas of interests is in the foot and ankle, gait assessment, and the knee. She also treats the spine as well as shoulder and knee injuries. Kim has extensive experience in treating post-surgical patients and believes in caring for the entire patient and not just their injury.

When Kim is not at work she enjoys watching her 3 children participate in their sporting events, hiking with her family or working out.

email: kims@acacpt.com

Specialization:  Addresses Back, Sacral-iliac joint, Lumbar, Thoracic, Cervical and Scoliosis Spinal dysfunctions with a manual approach, manual techniques, muscle energy techniques, Graston technique for fascia mobility, "Egoscue" alignment therapeutic exercise and implements The Schroth Technique for maximal orthopedic rehabilitation to return to optimal function.

Louisa Bair moved naturally into Physical Therapy as a profession because of her life-long interest in studying movement in the human body. She had a background as a massage therapist and wanted to enhance her talent and insight into the science of body movements, thus decided to pursue PT studies.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Maryland in 1993 and has been practicing in and around Charlottesville in a variety of settings since then. She has worked in many fields, from home health to orthopedics.

“I am very passionate and curious about the spine and am always inspired by my patients in their commitment to their health and well-being,” she says. “That makes me look harder and deeper for a treatment that works for them. To me this is fulfilling work.”Louisa now specializes in backs, sacroiliac joint, lumbar, thoracic,  cervical spinal dysfunctions with a particular engaging curiosity of Scoliosis.

She focuses on a manual approach using muscle energy techniques and “Egoscue” alignment therapeutic exercise .  She has recently been through a two year certification course in The Schroth Technique (2021), focusing on maximizing alignment and support of Scoliotic curves in all ages.

Louisa is certified in the Graston technique for instrument-assisted fascia mobilization. When she is not working, she loves to paint canvases in the Plein-air and Old masters tradition, go to the near-by long weekend music festivals with close friends (Red Wing and Floyd Fest!!), enjoy the glory of the extensive hiking trails of the Blue Ridge while hunting for wild flowers and cawing at the Ravens as they soar over Afton mountain. And she always have a saucer of seeds for the neighboring wren and song sparrows, and the well fed squirrels. Ahem.

email: louisab@acacpt.com

Specialization: Aquatic PT, general orthopedics, injuries of the foot and ankle. Joint replacements, knee and hip dysfunction, neck pain and balance disorders.

Sarah Schmidt was always interested in medicine, but that heightened when she sustained minor injuries in sports in high school and began to study human biology. It also guided her towards physical therapy as a profession.

She completed many volunteer hours in various PT settings such as pediatrics, hospital, and outpatient orthopedics before making her final choice.

“I like the idea of physical therapy because of the amount of time you get to spend with the patients, the fact that you get to see and be a part of the progress and the high activity level of the job,” she said.

Sarah earned her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology from Tufts University and her Associate Degree in Physical Therapy Assisting from the College of Health Sciences.  She also earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Illinios at Chicago.

She has been working as a Physical Therapist Assistant since 1998 with experience in long-term sub-acute care and outpatient orthopedics.

Sarah specializes in aquatic physical therapy and has been spending her afternoons treating aquatic patients since 2002. She also has experience with and enjoys treating joint replacements, foot and ankle injuries, low back pain and neck pain.  Sarah has also been working part-time at the Spine Center.

Her certification includes Recognition of Advanced Proficiency for the PTA.

In her spare time she enjoys running, exercise, spending time with her family, needlework (knitting and crocheting), travelling, reading, and spending the weekends watching her kids play softball and soccer.

email: sarahcs@acacpt.com

Specialization: General orthopedics, sports related injuries, post surgical rehabilitation, total joint replacement and core stabilization

Prior to becoming a Physical Therapist, Becky was a certified athletic trainer (ATC) who worked at the Miller School of Albemarle for 10 years, and worked with athletes on injury prevention, assessment and management of sports related injuries.

Becky obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science with a minor in Biology from James Madison University in 2001.Becky received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Lynchburg College in 2014.

Becky became interested in Physical Therapy in high school after experiencing PT as a patient and spending occasional time in the athletic training room. A born and bred Charlottesvillian, Becky grew up playing a variety of sports. She enjoys activities including hiking, swimming, soccer, volleyball, crew, cycling, running and triathlons. Becky was a professional triathlete and duathlete prior to PT school and competed in water polo while at JMU. Currently she is a CAT 3 bike racer and runner. She also enjoys traveling, being outdoors, movies and games.

Becky enjoys working with all types of patients including those patients with general orthopedic & sports injuries, post surgical and total joint replacements and core stabilization

email: rebeccak@acacpt.com

Specialization: General Orthopedic rehabilitation, sports-related injuries including shoulder, knee, and foot/ankle, and post-surgical rehabilitation

Mark found his passion for physical therapy after experiencing the benefits when recovering as an athlete and after working in the clinic setting during college.

Mark received his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from James Madison University in 2010 and his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Hampton University in 2014.

Mark enjoys working with patients of all ages and conditions and enjoys getting patients to return to the activities they enjoy in a healthier, safer way.

When he is not working he enjoys college football, working out, and being outdoors when he can. He loves mountain biking, hiking, and playing with his two boys.

email: markc@acacpt.com

Specialization: General orthopedic/sports rehabilitation with a special interest in return to play, post surgical rehabilitation, postural dysfunction, pregnancy related low back/hip pain, pilates-based rehabilitation

Like many physical therapists, Tara became interested in the field after being treated for her own injuries sustained while playing sports growing up. She earned a degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Virginia in 2003 and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Delaware in 2006. After graduating Tara followed her love of the mountains and skiing out to Vail, Colorado and then to Park City, Utah where she spent five years as a Physical Therapist for the United States Ski Team. In 2010 she was chosen to be a member of the US Medical Team at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Tara returned with her husband and dog to Charlottesville in 2012 and has been working in outpatient orthopedics ever since. She specializes in sports orthopedic injuries with an interest in injury prevention, return to play, post surgical rehabilitation, as well as postural dysfunction and pregnancy related low back/hip pain. Tara is also a Certified Athletic Trainer and a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist.

In her spare time Tara enjoys running, being outdoors, reading books and most importantly, spending time with her family which now includes her two daughters Avery and Ellie.

email: taraf@acacpt.com

Specialization: Connective tissue disorders including Ehlers Danlos, POTS, Dry Needling Certified, Graston Technique, SI Dysfunction, general orthopedics and post surgical care 

Jodie knew at an early age she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. She was leaning toward medicine until needing to receive physical therapy services herself after multiple orthopedic surgeries and the decision was made. She was fascinated and amazed by the progress patients were making.

Jodie received her BS in Exercise Physiology and a Minor in Spanish from the University of Wyoming in 1999. She then went on to receive her MPT from the Mayo Clinic School of Health Related Sciences in Rochester, MN in 2001.

Jodie received her certification in Trigger Point Dry Needling and has enjoyed seeing the amazing results this has brought to her patients over the last few years.

When she isn’t working, Jodie has a passion for traveling and seeing the world. She is also an avid University of Wyoming sports fan and bleeds the brown and gold of the University of Wyoming colors. And most importantly she enjoys spending time with her family.

email: jodies@acacpt.com

Specialization: Sports-related injuries of the shoulder, knee and foot/ankle, post-surgical rehabilitation including ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff tears, total joint replacements, general orthopedic conditions, BFRT (Blood Flow Restriction Training), and manual therapy

Carter is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist whose passion for rehabilitation began at a young age when he was recovering from a competitive powerlifting injury. His area of expertise is sports medicine and post-surgical rehabilitation with an emphasis on shoulder, knee, and hip. Carter has enjoyed working with a wide range of orthopedic conditions, from the pediatric population to professional and Olympic level athletes.

Carter attended Mississippi State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology while working for MSU Sports Medicine as a member of the Strength and Conditioning Staff. He then went on to earn his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2008. He completed extensive training to become a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist through the Maitland curriculum in 2011, and then completed his board certification as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) through the American Physical Therapy Association in 2018.

Outside of work, Carter enjoys working on his own strength and conditioning, participating in a wide variety of outdoor activities, and spending time with friends and family.

email: carterwh@acacpt.com 

Specialization: General orthopedics, shoulder rehabilitation, sport-related injuries, balance disorders and fall prevention, post-operative rehabilitation, dry needling

Ross earned his undergraduate degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida. Following his graduation, he relocated to Asheville, NC, where he spent several years as a personal trainer and fitness coach at a PT clinic prior to making the decision to return to graduate school. He earned his DPT from Western Carolina University in 2019, and spent 2 years working in western North Carolina in an outpatient clinic before moving to Charlottesville and joining PT@ACAC.,

"I have spent many years exploring how to optimize movement to improve the human experience for others through competition, coaching, and my own personal journey. Nowadays I spend my time outside of the clinic with my wife or climbing in the mountains of Appalachia."

email: rossel@acacpt.com 

Specialization: vestibular rehabilitation (vertigo/BPPV), balance and fall risk, general orthopedics and sports injuries with special interests in foot and ankle dysfunction, post-surgical rehabilitation. Vestibular and concussion certification.

Katelyn is a Louisa County native. She attended the University of Virginia (UVA) and received her B.S.Ed. in Kinesiology in 2017. At UVA, she was a four-year member of the All-Girl Varsity Cheerleading Squad and spent many hours at Scott Stadium and John Paul Jones Arena rooting for the 'Hoos (and still does!). Following an ankle injury and surgical reconstruction, she first started at PT@acac as a patient and student volunteer, and then joined the team as a Therapy Extender.

Katelyn received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2021. In her final year, she completed rotations in general outpatient orthopedics, vestibular rehabilitation, and inpatient neurological rehabilitation with a specialization in stroke recovery. After kick-starting her career in the Newport News area, she is now back "home."

In her free time, you'll find Katelyn attempting DIY projects, drawing/painting, taking pictures of her pup, and spending time with her friends and family. Sometimes you'll catch her trying new recipes, but only while binging episodes of New Girl.

Email: katelynpu@acacpt.com 

Clinical Interests: General orthopedics, adult & pediatric concussion/mTBI, autonomic dysreflexia, neck pain and headaches, low back pain, foot/ankle disorders.

Reiko earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in education with a concentration in Kinesiology at the University of Virginia. She then spent time learning about the physical therapy profession locally in Charlottesville, including at PT@acac. During this time, she started her own personal journey in strength training and fitness. As a non-athlete growing up, she often felt intimidated by sports, but understood the importance of being physically active. She used her identity as a non-athlete to connect with other non-athletes to help them find fitness and strength training to lead physically active and healthy lives. Falling in love with the act of helping others grow strong and build confidence while being able to connect personally with each individual, she decided to pursue a career as a physical therapist. She went on to attend Virginia Commonwealth University and earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. In her spare time, Reiko can be found gardening, enjoying live music outdoors, cooking to entertain, and serving her community through advocacy and leadership.

Specialization: general ortho, neuro, and cardiac rehab, balance, joint replacement surgery, core stabilization, manual therapy

A Charlottesville native, Diana received her Bachelor's Degree from Brigham Young University and her DPT from Simmons University in Boston. Her career has spanned orthopedic, neurological, and cardiac rehab with settings in outpatient, acute care, and sub acute care. She has also enjoyed adjunct faculty appointments teaching advanced anatomy at BYU and assisting in several courses at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in their DPT program. She has a  personal interest in functional medicine and naturopathic approaches.

After living in Utah for the last 17 years she has returned to her hometown with her husband and 4 children. She finds joy in spending time with them and travelling.

dianaz@acacpt.com

Specialization: General orthopedic rehabilitation, sport-related injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation, trunk/core stabilization

He enjoys working with general orthopedic and sports-related injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation and trunk/core stabilization. He also works with neck, jaw and TMJ pathologies. He is always willing to learn more about the body in order to help patients live their best.

When he is not working, Stephen enjoys volunteering as a youth soccer coach with SOCA, playing various sports, hiking with his wife and cocker-spaniel and enjoying the great outdoors. He is also a Charlottesville native and highly recommends the local breweries, vineyards and restaurants.

email: stephenj@acacpt.com

Specialization: Performance enhancement and conditioning programs, injury prevention, assessment of athletic injuries. Foot/ankle injuries and soccer specific injuries including sprains/strains, concussions, shin splints, heel pain and knee/hip issues.

A high school injury was the turning point in helping Nicole Grevious select Athletic Training as her profession.

“I was an athlete in high school and I tore my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and had surgery,” she explains.

“I did therapy in the training room at UVA and not only enjoyed the environment, but also felt indebted to the therapists and trainers who helped me so much.”

After high school, Nicole received her Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison University in Kinesiology with concentrations in athletic training and pre-physical therapy.

She worked for 10 years in physical therapy clinical settings as an athletic trainer.

Today she specializes in prevention on injury, particularly the prevention of ACL tears in female athletes. She handles performance enhancement and conditioning programs, assessment of athletic injuries, foot/ankle injuries and soccer specific injuries including sprains, strains, concussions, shin splints, heel pain and knee/hip issues.

When she is not working she enjoys spending time with her three children, ages 16, 8 and 7, and loves singing, scuba diving, and anything that is on, in, or under the water.

email: nicoleg@acacpt.com

Specialization: General Orthopedics, Sports Injuries, Foot/ankle

Kirsten first become interested in physical therapy following a series of running related injuries in her early twenties. Through her own physical therapy as a patient, she gained a deep appreciation of what the mind and body are truly capable of, and how physical therapy ties together a whole person, not just a condition. With a life-long passion for movement and helping others, Kirsten is excited to return to the clinic where her physical therapy journey began to assist people with optimizing their function and returning to what they love.

A Charlottesville local, Kirsten earned her Physical Therapist Assistant degree from South University - Richmond, graduating Summa Cum Laude. During her schooling, she was able to treat in a multitude of settings including acute care trauma, subacute rehab, and outpatient orthopedics which allowed her to experience all phases of the rehabilitation process. She has since been treating primarily in the outpatient orthopedic setting, and enjoys working with all types of patients with special interests in orthopedics, foot/ankle and return to sport.

In her spare time, Kirsten can be found marathon training, enjoying the outdoors, and spending time with her friends and family.