Meet your Therapy Team

Vincent J. Kabbaz, MMPT, FAAOMPT, COMT
President, Fellow, Lecturer
Master’s in Manipulative Physiotherapy

“I have found manual physical therapy to be most effective in treating patients and I am fortunate to have graduated from one of the finest physical therapy schools in the world, The University of South Australia.

I strive to develop continual excellence in this field as there are still so many questions about pain and injury that are unexplained. I am dedicated to improving the quality and standard of care. I enjoy using my advanced clinical reasoning skills to help patients overcome pain and restore valuable function.

Excellence is what I strive for and aim to deliver every day. I apply it to Life, teaching other therapists and patient care. I enjoy explaining your situation, making sure you understand how I can help and how you can help yourself to become the best you can be!”

President

AMPT Inc;  PTPillows.com Inc

Accomplishments

Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists
Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist: Maitland Australian Physiotherapy Seminars
Senior Faculty, Clinical Instructor and Lecturer for Maitland Australian Physiotherapy Seminars
Senior Clinical Instructor for the Fellowship Program in Advanced Manipulative Physical Therapy; University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 2005-2008
On-site Industrial Physical Therapist:  2001 to 2003 - UPS, Alcoa, Kraft, Sears, NW Airlines, International Paper, Kohls Distribution Center, Ocean Spray, Lear Corporation, Gunite, Bemis

Education

Post-Graduate Master’s in Manipulative Physiotherapy,
University of South Australia; Adelaide, Australia
   Thesis 1: Benefits of On-site Industrial Physical Therapy
   Thesis 2: Central Pain Mechanisms
BAppSc: Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy; University of South Australia
BSc:  Major in Biochemistry; University of Adelaide, South Australia

Member

American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists
American Physical Therapy Association - Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy Sections
Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association
Case Managers' Society of America

Licensed

Wisconsin, California, Illinois, Indiana and South Australia

Interests

Cooking, Alternative energies, Formula 1™ Racing, Science and Arts, cycling

Kristina Russell, PT, MPT
Manual Physical Therapy Specialist

“I find physical therapy to be an incredibly gratifying profession.  Not only are we able to help restore people to their prior level of function but we are able to empower them to take an active role in their recovery.  We give them the tools that they need to actively maximize their recovery - education, direct hands on treatments, independence in home programs and symptom management.

From my first exposure to manual therapy as a student, I recognized what a powerful tool it could be in the assessment and treatment of patients.  I have experienced a variety of clinical settings and have found manual therapy clinics to be the most effective in the treatment of numerous conditions.  I strive to continually develop my manual therapy skills and deepen my knowledge of conditions and treatment.  One thing I love about this profession is that all the effort you put into skill development comes back in the form of improved patient outcomes.”

Education

Master of Physical Therapy:  University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
BS: Kinesiology - Exercise Science; University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

Advanced Training            

Maitland Australian Physiotherapy Seminars - Advanced Manual Physical Therapy and Clinical Reasoning
AMPT Clinical Mentorship Program in Manual Therapy

Member     

American Physical Therapy Association - Orthopedic Physical Therapy Section
Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association

Licensed         

Wisconsin, Illinois

Interests    

Capoeira, Wakeboarding, Brazilian Jiujitsu

Katherine A. Behrens, PT, OMT
Orthopaedic Manual Physical
Therapy Specialist
Clinic Director - Indianapolis

“I enjoy encouraging every patient to maximize their efforts, triumph over their pains and laugh every day. Patient treatment should be a combination of utilizing every skill we have with every skill the patient has. This optimizes their understanding of the physical problem and returns them to their previous abilities very efficiently.

I like to use my advanced training to empower my patients. I would like to write a book titled ‘Exercises To Do On A Park Bench’ to help people empower themselves. It reflects how I like to integrate someone’s personal life with their recovery.

A patient once bestowed me a great honour by giving me a plaque with the following quote, which I feel best describes me:
‘She who uses her hands is a laborer, she who uses her hands and her mind is a craftsman, she who uses her hands and her mind and her heart is my manual physical therapist’.”
 

Education                   

Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy: University of Stellenbosch; South Africa

Advanced Training                           

Orthopedic Manipulative Therapy: South Africa, 1990
University of Illinois at Chicago Fellowship Program:
  Advanced Manipulation and Manual Physical Therapy II
Advanced Pain Sciences - Neuro-Orthopaedic Institute;       NorthWestern University; Chicago, IL: 
  Explain Pain and The Brain
  The Sensitive Nervous System

Accomplishments

Clinician of the Year – HealthSouth Corporation, 1997
Business Owner of an out-patient clinic for 9 years (1999 - 2007)
Nominated for Indianapolis Woman’s Journal Business Woman of the Year, 2006

Member                     

American Physical Therapy Association
Indiana Physical Therapy Association

Licensed            

Indiana

Interests                      

Cooking, reading, international politics, lacrosse

Ruchi Shah, MPT, CSCS
Master’s in Orthopaedics, Sports and Manual Physiotherapy
Clinical instructor

I developed an interest in the health science quite early in life, seeing my city go through a natural calamity – earthquake where thousands of people were killed. I realized though, that many patients required more than just medicines for a complete cure. Especially in certain cases, where doctors gave life, the therapist made that life worth living. This got me interested in physical therapy, an inseparable part of health sciences.

I pursued my advanced manipulative training at one of the finest physical therapy schools in the world in South Australia. It helped me understand musculoskeletal problems differently and also has given me the “new eyes” to treat the specific impairments for very rewarding results. I am fortunate to have been directly trained by some of the top Physical Therapists in the field!

I see myself as building flexibility, strength and spirit in people. I help them get back in charge of their lives and that makes me feel great!

Education

Master of Orthopaedics, Sports and Manual Physiotherapy:
University of South Australia; Adelaide, Australia
Thesis: Benefits of Advanced Physical Therapy on Osteoarthritis of Knee joint
Bachelors of Physiotherapy:
S.N.D.T. Women’s University; Mumbai, India

Advanced Training

Emergency Asthma Management & Sports Trauma Management in Adelaide, South Australia
Dry Needling for pain relief in Adelaide, Australia
Kinesiotaping for various conditions in University of South Australia; Adelaide, Australia
Training on Mobility Opportunity Via Education (MOVE)
Yoga Balance training with Reiki

Accomplishments

Clinical Instructor for Maitland Australian Physiotherapy Seminars
Clinical Instructor and Educator for AMPT 

Member

American Physical Therapy Association (Orthopedic Section Member)

Licensed  

Indiana, Michigan

Interests

Learning alternative therapies for holistic treatments, discovering more about spiritualism, cooking, hiking, arts and painting.  

Katie Brandolini, PT, COMT
Certified Orthopaedic Manual Therapist
Clinical Instructor

We are “a touch deprived society”.  It is no surprise that an act as simple as putting my hand on someone’s shoulder will instantly calm their demeanor.  If you haven’t done that recently for someone who is hurting or agitated, try it!  Now take that response and multiply it by 6 ½ years of higher education and a decade’s worth of experience, advanced training and continuous skill refinement, and you’ll begin to understand what I can do through  Manual Physical Therapy.

The techniques I use are time-tested and proven, and continue to revolutionize the science of healing with many patients avoiding major orthopaedic surgeries through manual physical therapy.

My patients will say, “I can’t believe how easily you found the source of my pain!”, “No one has ever treated my problem like this!” or “This is the first thing that has ever helped!”  These are not rare comments, I hear them on a daily basis and it has made me believe that Manual Therapy is the best kept secret in physical rehabilitation.  It is also my specialty, my focus, and my passion.

Education                    

Master of Science in Physical Therapy: University of Indianapolis, Krannert School of Physical Therapy
Bachelor of Arts in Biology: Franklin College, Franklin Indiana

Advanced Training                    

Certified Orthopaedic Manual Therapist via Maitland Australian Physiotherapy Seminars

Accomplishments

Clinical Instructor for Maitland Australian Physiotherapy Seminars
Clinical Instructor and Educator for AMPT 

Member  

American Physical Therapy Association
Friends of Children Society

Licensed  

Indiana, Florida

Interests

Alternative Healing, Philosophy, Fitness, Reading, Dogs