Heather Purdin, MS, PT, CMPT, Business Owner (She/Her)
- Master of Science in Physical Therapy, Duke University 1997.
- Bachelor of Science with Honors in Psychology, Duke University 1995
- Chair for the Oregon Area Ehlers Danlos Support Group.
- Manual therapist with an emphasis in alignment work, muscle balancing, chronic pain, muscle and joint injuries, sports rehab, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, nervous system disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, balance/vestibular rehab, pre/post pregnancy rehab.
- Custom foot orthotic fabrication
- Trained by Keith Kleven, Physical Therapist to highest level professional golf, baseball, boxing, wrestling athletes.
- Student Athletic Trainer at Duke University with an emphasis in football, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, track, cross country running, and fencing.
- Personal Trainer for 14 years
View Heather’s Curriculum Vitae
Jennifer Ivey, MPT She/Her
- Graduated from The University of New Mexico with a BS in Biological Anthropology, focusing on proto-humans and the studies of Paleo Pathology and Neanderthals.
- After living in San Francisco for the Dot Com crash, Jen returned to New Mexico to complete a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy at UNM School of Medicine, focusing on Ortho outpatient.
- She took a break from PT to earn a BA in Art History, but returned to her beloved Ortho Outpatient world.
- The rain and green lured Jen to Tacoma where she completed a residency in Ortho Outpatient therapy, after which she and her partner relocated to Portland to enjoy the amazing culture.
- Jen loves to garden, bake, dance, and watch the rain snuggled on the couch with her fur babies when she is not out exploring the food and art scene.
Emily Randall, OTR/L (She/Her)
- Master’s degree in occupational therapy from San José State University
- Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and communications from University of California, Davis
- Completed clinical rotation in inpatient rehabilitation treating patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury, amputations, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and post-surgery (heart, spine, hip, knee). Training focused on neurological rehabilitation, vision evaluation and treatment, and return to activities of daily living.
- Completed clinical rotation at psychiatric hospital treating patients with severe mental illness. Training focused on evaluating functional cognition, leading therapy groups, and providing 1:1 patient care. Currently works part-time in inpatient behavioral health at Providence Portland Medical Center.
- Trained as an Outreach Movement Facilitator via Syzygy Dance Project and led mindful dance/movement group classes for underserved populations (e.g., veterans, inmates, recovering addicts, elderly individuals, etc.).
- Passionate about providing treatment in functional cognition, lifestyle medicine, pain management, sensory integration, neurological rehabilitation, and ergonomics.
- Utilizes a mind-body, holistic treatment lens and lives by the quote: “The fastest way to still the mind is to move the body,” by Gabrielle Roth, founder 5Rhythms.
- Enjoys dancing, hiking, cooking, reading, swimming, and spending time with loved ones as well as any dog she sees.
Everett Nicolai, DPT, OMT, FAAOMPT (he/him)
- Everett graduated from the DPT program at the University of Washington in 2006 after receiving a bachelors degree from Oregon State University in 1998.
- He completed a post graduate certificate in Manual Therapy from the Ola Grimsby Institute in 2007 followed by the fellowship program in 2009.
- He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT).
- He is a manual therapy instructor having taught many physical therapy students, medical doctors and osteopathic doctors.
- His manual therapy techniques focus on searching for the problematic tissue, such as a disc, muscle, joint, cartilage, nerve, and so forth, and then healing that tissue because each tissue heals with different stimulus.
- He is happy to be back in the Willamette Valley with his husband and daughter. His personal interests include kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, traveling, gardening, and cooking (and eating). He practices stewardship of his forest and has a large garden where he grows common and uncommon fruits and veggies. He speaks Spanish, Italian, French, German, and of course English.
Katie Gertz, DPT, PT (She/Her)
- Shenandoah University: Physical Therapy Doctorate 2009
- University of Missouri-Columbia: Masters of Physical Therapy 2004
- Katie has worked in a variety of settings including home health, hospitals, outpatient orthopedics, and long term inpatient care and she brings a deep knowledge of the continuum of care.
- Katie is a manual therapist who has trained in NAIOMT and Manual Therapy Visceral Manipulation under the Barral Institute. She has a strong emphasis on biomechanics, mobilization/manipulation and the interaction of the extremity with the spine. She works comfortably with those with Ehlers Danlos syndrome, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, pre/post pregnancy rehab.
- Katie has trained in Visceral Manipulation which is a very gentle manual treatment approach that helps your body restore motion to areas of pain and compensation. Restrictions in the soft tissues and abdominal organs that cause pain and dysfunctional movement patterns throughout the body.
- Katie has experience working with injuries pre/post surgical including meniscal and ACL injuries, shoulder surgeries such as replacements and rotator cuff tendon repairs, ankle and foot injuries as well as many others. She works comfortably with those with Ehlers Danlos syndrome, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, pre/post pregnancy rehab
- Katie enjoys working and taking the time to figure out the reason why someone has developed pain or a movement dysfunction whether it be a new injury or an old one that has many compounding factors.
- Katie enjoys hiking and camping as well as running around with her 2 energetic young boys and one girl, her loving husband, and sweet old dog.
Jason Bouwkamp, PT, DPT, MS, CSCS, SFB (He/Him)
- Orthopedic-residency trained through UFHealth at the Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute 2013-2014
- Doctorate of Physical Therapy through the College of Public Health and Health Professionals at the University of Florida 2013
- Masters of Science in Human Performance with a concentration in Biomechanics and a minor in Human Nutrition through the College of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the University of Florida 2009
- Bachelors of Science in Microbiology and Cell Science with a minor in Chemistry through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida 2006
- An evidence-based, exercise-focused therapist with broad training in manual therapy, but concentration in the use of education and the habit of exercise on orthopedic issues, neuromusculoskeletal issues, sports rehab, over-use injuries, injuries of aging and geriatrics, and chronic pain
- Jason enjoys the utilization of the physiological concept of progressive overload in conjunction with barbells, kettlebells, bodyweight movement, and activity-specific movements to assist in the education of movement and the discussion of movement habits in order to improve function, quality of life, and patient independence.
- Jason has completed a number movement discipline courses ranging from Olympic weightlifting to power lifting to MovNat to developmental patterning to FMS and he pulls from this varied experience to help the patient improve their movement quality and understanding
- Jason enjoys parkour, bouldering, weight-training, kettlebell training, hiking, and deep dives into epistemology
Emily DeCarlo, MPT, RYT-200 (She/Her)
- Graduated from the University of Delaware with a masters in physical therapy.
- A versatile physical therapist, Emily has been working in this career that she loves for more than 30 years.
- Emily is an expert John Barnes Myofascial Release Bodyworker.
- Emily has been treating chronic pelvic pain and women’s health since 2014 with great success.
- She worked for OHSU and the Legacy system for years. Working largely with trauma patients, Emily learned early that everything in the body is connected. What happens to one part affects the others holistically. Postural alignment, core stability, and free breath support lead to less pain and improved function.
- After a few more years working mostly with a chronic pain population, she started using John Barnes Myofascial Release bodywork, in combination with her other skills, with great success. Emily happily endorses this hands-on, gentle technique with lasting results for the treatment of pain from trauma (emotional and physical), inflammatory responses, and/ or for surgical restrictions. Visit the John Barnes Myofascial Release website for more information this type of bodywork. http://www.myofascialrelease.com
- Emily also specializes in balance and vestibular dysfunctions. After years spent with neurologically involved clients, she has an excellent “eye” for movement and coordination problems, as well as good facilitation skills to promote much improved motor control.
- Shirley Sahrmann’s (PhD, PT, FAPTA) works on Movement Impairment Syndromes also make up a large part of Emily’s clinical treatment philosophy and techniques.
- Yoga has also been instrumental in her treatment method, promoting an unhurried, relaxed style and patient techniques with a focus on feeling and breathing to help treat all diagnoses.
- With two kids, her husband, and a herding dog, Emily spends her free time outdoors as much as she can appreciating the Pacific Northwest lifestyle.
Tina Esquivel, PT (She/Her)
- Graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Masters in Physical Therapy in 2005.
- Tina brings a diverse background with an emphasis on Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT). Please see our blog page for a post on what makes IMT such an effective treatment method.
- Her background is primarily outpatient care, but also includes home health, aquatic therapy, sports rehabilitation and nursing home care. Tina provides patient care ranging from infants to geriatrics.
- Tina has a personal passion for exploring how incorporating good dietary choices can yield improved physical outcomes. Specifically, Tina excels at helping her clients find unknown food sensitivities that may be producing problems in the body.
- In addition to IMT, Tina excels in manual therapy techniques such as Craniosacral therapy, Muscle Energy Techniques, Functional Indirect Techniques, Visceral Mobilization, Myofascial Release,Strain/Counter Strain and Neural Tension Techniques
Jennifer Oechsner, PTA, RYT, PFT (She/Her)
- Certified Personal Fitness trainer with an emphasis in functional mobility and strengthening for hypermobility, 11 years. (PFT)
- Certified Functional Training Specialist, 5 years.
- Yoga instructor, 11 years. (RYT)
- Wholistic Nutritionist, 7 years.
- As a movement professional Jennifer emphasizes a wholistic approach to wellness. She emphasizes the importance of good nutrition, nourishing movement and mental well -being to live a vibrant and healthy life.
- Jennifer is passionate about the human body and with understanding the nuances that make each body unique in its function and in its path to healing. She is also passionate about how the food we eat affects our health and performance as well as the importance of using food as medicine.
- Jennifer has worked with a wide range of clients over the years including individuals with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorder.
- Jennifer loves being out in nature and enjoys trail running, backpacking, skiing, cycling, and swimming in this area’s amazing rivers and lakes. She finds great joy in challenging her body to new levels and in recent years has competed in sprint and Olympic distance triathlons.
Lilly Lee, MPT, CMPT, OCS (She/Her)
- Graduate of Mayo Clinic Allied Health Sciences – Masters in Physical Therapy
- 20 years at a small community hospital – Home Health, Hospice, Skilled Nursing Facility, Acute Care and Outpatient rehabilitation.
- Certified manual physical therapist through the North American Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy (NAIOMT), 2008
- Completed MedBridge Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder training
- Extensive training through NAIOMT on protecting joint instabilities while working on patients.
- Certified Orthopedic Specialist 2020
- Present focus – Telehealth physical therapy, teach clients how to recognize joint misalignment and the methods to correct and maintain position.
- To do list – learn more about Functional Nutrition for whole body well-being and optimal treatment for autoimmune inflammation…learning is fun!
- Loves the motto “make a small miracle happen every day”
- Enjoys walking with her goldendoodle, traveling and learning about different cultures, especially new cuisines.
Valerie Brown, PT, DPT (She/They) Nutrition, Sound Healing & HeartMath Services
- My integrative approach blends Western and Eastern Medicine, providing a comprehensive and holistic treatment that will catalyze your innate healing powers. Together, we work in a step-by-step manner to ensure changes are sustainable and bring more joy to your life.
- My years of clinical experience and personal healing journey have led me to focus on nervous system regulation by way of movement, mindset and digestion, in order to create an ideal environment for healing. From here, we incorporate your individual goals and current lifestyle so that your plan is customized to where you’re starting, and where you want to be.
- I love working with people in person with a Medical Therapeutic Yoga Framework, beginning with the breath, and working on creating stability inside the body before adding external challenges.
- I also love working with folks via telehealth for Lifestyle Medicine (LM) and Functional Nutrition sessions. LM is an evidence-based medical specialty which is used to treat and prevent chronic conditions including chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, anxiety, depression, diabetes and obesity. It consists of six pillars, including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, environmental health and social connections. This branch of medicine complements physical therapy treatments, often providing a catalyst to manual therapy and therapeutic exercise. When working with clients, I use the Transtheoretical Model of Change, to support clients in making small, digestible and sustainable changes to impact their health in the short and long term. I love working with clients from the comfort of their own home, so that the lifestyle and habit changes are accessible and individualized to the individual home set-up.
- I earned a bachelor’s degree in Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and went on to graduate with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of California, San Francisco. My graduate research focused on harnessing tools to ignite the power of the mind to impact outcomes.
- I hold certifications in: Craniosacral Therapy II; Functional Nutritional Therapy; Medical Therapeutic Yoga; Lifestyle Medicine; Hatha Yoga 200 Hrs.; Kundalini Yoga 500 Hrs.; Ayurveda; Yoga Nidra; Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE); HeartMath for Stress, Anxiety and Self-Regulation; Reiki in the Usui lineage and Holy Fire; Visceral Manipulation; Postural Restoration; Vibroacoustic Sound Healing
- I am forever grateful to my many teachers across the globe, formal and informal, for providing me with a depth of wisdom and knowledge regarding healing in both scientific and spiritual realms.
Tessa D, Office Manager (She/Her)
- I have spent my last 10 years in customer service. I genuinely love to work with people and look forward to getting to know all of our patients.
- I love spending time with my fiance and my son. We enjoy the outdoors and spending time at the Beach.
- I am also a proud fur momma to Luna my Australian Shepherd, my cat MiMi, and a rabbit Brownie.
Lou Freiberger, Administrative Assistant (They/Them)
- Lou holds two Bachelors of Arts degrees from SUNY Purchase (New York), one in Modern History and one in Dramaturgy. In college they participated in almost 40 theatrical productions in and outside of their school.
- They were a theater photographer in NYC and most recently a photographer at the Oregon Zoo.
- They hope to pursue a master’s degree in propaganda studies and genocide education.
- Before moving to the PNW four years ago. They grew up in the Bay Area in California.
- In their free time, they like to engage of art of all kinds such as: photography, digital and traditional art, whittling, Lino cut carving, sculpting, and jewelry making.
- They absolutely love goats and would love to see your pictures if you own a goat!
Phoenix DeSheles, Administrative Assistant (He/They)
- Phoenix has lived in the PNW for the past 3 years. He is originally from Nashville, Tennessee.
- He has an associates degree in accounting and spent the past seven years working in customer service with previous employers and in volunteering opportunities.
- He hopes to pursue a bachelors of science in conservation work.
- Phoenix enjoys knitting, playing dungeons and dragons (tabaxi rouge), and listening to music.
- He has 2 dogs (Sirius and Gabe) and 2 cats (Fawn and Zeus). He would love your cat or dog photos.
Santana Gordon, Administrative Assistant (He/They)
- Santana has 6 years of customer service experience largely working directly with hot grumpy customers and quite a few pleasant ones at the Oregon Zoo,
- He has lived in the Portland area for their entire life and studied Art and Sociology at Portland State University
- He aspires to pursue a career in Art and Cosmetology, and in his spare time loves to bake, sculpt, paint, go to music shows and play with his cats — Tizzy and Wybie.
Chantal Velasco De Johnson, Administrative Assistant (She/Her)
- I am so happy to being part of the Good Health Physical Therapy team. I am from New Mexico and moved to Portland eight years ago. I love all the colors that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
- I love to garden. In the spring and summer, I grow tomatoes and snap peas.
- I have three fur babies, two elderly wiener dogs named Papi and Rallo, and my beautiful three-year-old girl named Espy who is an American Staffordshire Terrier.
Ava Michael, Paid Intern (She/ Her)
- I will be graduating from Ida B Wells high school in 2024.
- I am planning to attain a degree as a Physical Therapy Assisting
- In addition to working at Good Health PT, I’ve worked as a hostess at Banning’s Pie House since 2022.
- I enjoy white water kayaking, backpacking, drawing and surfing
Zeborah Dazzle, PT, WWF (She/Her)
- Zeborah graduated with honors from the physiotherapy program at the University of Johannesburg South Africa in 1999.
- She has worked in multiple locations in South Africa developing skills in orthopedics, neurological rehabilitation and pediatrics before emigrating to the United States in 2019.
- In 2002 she was diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and has made this an area of specialization in her physical therapy (physiotherapy) career since then. She is excited to join the team at Good Health Physical Therapy and looks forward to seeing patients and bringing her special skills in myofascial release, cranio-sacral therapy, whole body manual therapy, rehabilitative yoga and equine therapy (where applicable).
- She is an excellent teacher and communicator and looks forward to empowering through education and helping people who need the services of Good Health Physical Therapy to find us.
- When not working, she enjoys picnicking in local parks (which she calls “grazing”) and exercising with her friends in a running group they affectionately call “The Herd”.
- (Editors Note: While Zeborah is a stuffed animal, and by many people’s belief not real, she symbolizes our very real care for and commitment to education about hypermobility spectrum disorder and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Our love for her and belief in her ability to inform and encourage our patients are also real. Please do not call for an appointment. She is not actively scheduling appointments. She will though be very happy to greet you and take a selfie with you when you visit us. Cheers. )
