Locations:
Bristol(Affiliate)
Lisanne M. L. Coutu MPT | Barrington
Education:
Lisanne received her undergraduate degree in Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac University in January of 2004. She has been a practicing PT for the past three years.
Reason for entering the field:
She became a Physical Therapist because of her interest in the human body and how it works. Lisanne enjoys the challenge of problem solving to find the causes of injury and how to recover. She also enjoys exercise and helping people to live without pain and witnessing the happiness they exhibit once they have relief.
Other interests:
softball and bowling leagues, enjoy music and sports, AVID Red Sox fan. (Go Sox)
Marann M. McCann PT,MEd. | Barrington
Education:
Marann received her degree from the University of Connecticut in 1973. She has been practicing for 34 years in a variety of settings including acute hospital, SNF, homecare, Education, community college, and out-patient clinic.
She has experience in orthopedics, geriatrics, neuro-rehab and general practice.
Reason for entering the field:
Her reason for becoming a Physical Therapist was her desire to learn how people can recover from life altering disabilities (i.e. CVA, brain injury). Her grandmother inspired her following her CVA when she was a teenager. The most rewarding thing for her as a PT is teaching patients what it takes to recover from injury, surgery etc. and developing a plan of care to improve their health and wellness and quality of life.
Other interests:
She enjoys the great outdoors, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, biking, gardening, boating, traveling and spending time with family and
friends.
Steve Mignacca, MPT, OCS | Barrington
Education:
Steve received his degree from Northeastern University in 1994. He has been practicing for 13 years and is board certified in orthopedics.
Reason for entering the field:
His enjoyment of sports and science led him to become a PT and what he likes most about being a PT is the success the patient is almost tangible as they increase in function and feel better.
Other interests:
Family, running, outdoors
Linda Summerly, PT | Barrington
Education:
Linda received her undergraduate degree in Physical Therapy from Northeastern University in 1990. She has been a practicing PT for the past seventeen years specializing in core stabilization training.
Reason for entering the field:
Linda became a Physical Therapist because of her interest in the medical field. She takes great pride in working with patients and seeing them progress. She is also a certified Pilates Instructor which comes in handy as many Pilates principles are frequently incorporated into Physical Therapy treatments.
Other interests:
Linda participates in biking, walking, weight training, Pilates, bible study, theology and is a mom of two.
Tom Almeida, MSPT, CSCS | Cumberland
Education:
Tom received his graduate degree in Physical Therapy from URI in January of 2000. He has been a practicing PT for the past seven years specializing in orthopedic injuries and associated manual techniques.
Reason for entering the field:
He became a Physical Therapist because of his interest in active, health related fields. He was injured earlier in life and got to
experience the field working with people and seeing patients progress. He is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist.
Other interests:
He participates in local adult sport leagues and assists with local youth select soccer team as conditioning coach.
Tammy Ruggieri PT, ATC, CSCS | East Greenwich
Education:
Tammy received a B.S. degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, in 1993. She received a second B.S. degree in Physical Therapy also from the University of Connecticut in 1998. She has been practicing for 9 years in a variety of settings, including outpatient orthopedics, home car, a state-run facility for the work-injured population, and high school athletics. She is also a Certified Athletic trainer, and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
Other interests:
Hiking, camping, and spending time with her two children
Mario Santomassimo, PT, MS, OCS, CSCS | Narragansett
Education:
Mario received his Bachelor's degree from Northeastern University in 1989. He has been a practicing PT for the past 19 years and is an Orthopedic clinical specialist.
Reason for entering the field:
Mario became interested in Physical Therapy as a career from exposure to the field while in high school and enjoys the one-on-one personal interactions with patients.
Other interests:
Mario enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as general fitness activities and sports.
Lisa C. House, PT | Narragansett
Education:
Lisa received her Bachelor's degree from Northeastern University in 1990. She has been a practicing PT for the past 18 years and is a pediatrics specialist.
Reason for entering the field:
Lisa became a Physical Therapist because she loves working with people and helping them improve their lives. She also enjoys the interaction with patients and teaching them exercises and programs that will improve their function and help them reach their goals.
Ross LaBossiere, LPTA, LMT, CYI | North Providence
Education:
Ross received his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education / Adapted Physical Education from URI in 1981. He has been a practicing PTA since 1982 and specializes in Soft Tissue Mobilization, Myofascial Release, Neuromuscular Therapy, Relaxation / Breath and Movement Awareness, and Therapeutic Exercise.
Reason for entering the field:
As a young athlete, he experienced several injuries and rehab that sparked an interest. In college Ross had the opportunity to work with a school based P.T. and spend time in an outpatient clinic. After he began working in a PT clinic, while in graduate school, he saw how he could integrate his knowledge and interests in the direction of a Physical Therapy career.
Ross enjoys being able to really help individual with the skills he has developed and to pass along information/knowledge that he has acquired through years of observation and my own personal experience.
Over these many years of working in Physical Therapy, Ross has also developed a private practice in Massage Therapy and Integrated Yoga, LIFEWAVES Integrated Therapy (LifewavesRI.com). The blending of these "alternative/complimentary" approaches to treatment, along with physical therapy, have been very valuable in both clinical and non-clinical settings.
Other interests:
On a personal level, he and his family live at the beach. He has been an avid surfer for over 40 years and it continues to be the center point of his life. His regular patients know that when the waves come up they could get the call (to re-schedule!)
Joshua Perry | North Providence
Education:
Josh received his graduate masters degree in from University of New England in 2001. He has been a practicing PT for the past six years and specializes in Outpatient Orthopedics.
Reason for entering the field:
As a teenager, he spent a lot of time in physical therapy as a teenager from various sports injuries and found it interesting. Josh enjoys assisting in the improvement of the quality of life in his patients on a daily basis.
Other interests:
Hiking, Traveling, 'Fetch
Lauren Jubinville | North Providence
Education:
Lauren received her degree in from University of Rhode Island in May of 2007. She has been a practicing PT for the less than a year and specializes in Outpatient Orthopedics.
Reason for entering the field:
Lauren became a Physical Therapist because she enjoys working with different people of all ages. She has always enjoyed athletics and working on a physical level with people. She's also interested in health and well being of patients. Lauren gets the most gratification in having the ability to rehabilitate someone to a point where they can return to a sport or activity that they haven't been able to do because of their injury.
Other interests:
Jogging
Nicole Chaput | North Providence
Education:
Nicole received her degree in from Quinnipiac University in January of 2003. She has been a practicing PT for over four years and specializes in Orthopedics.
Reason for entering the field:
Nicole's first experience with physical therapy was as a patient. Her experience in athletics and interest in the human body is what drove her to pursue physical therapy as a career. She enjoys the variety in patient diagnoses and the challenge that comes along with that.
Nicole also trained under the Institute of Physical Art with work experience on the medical staff of the World Gymnastics Championships. She was also a physical therapist for the Broadway production "Wicked" in Hollywood, CA. Nicole also played and coached collegiate softball at Quinnipiac University.
Other interests:
Figure Skating, Softball, Piano
Brian R. Smith, MSPT, CSCS | North Providence
Education:
Brian received his undergraduate degree in Sports Medicine and Athletic Training from Sacred Heart University in May of 2000. He also received a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Sacred Heart University in May of 2003. He has been a practicing PT for the past five years and his specialty is Sports Medicing/Injuries and Post Operative Rehabilitation.
Brian has also received his CSCS (certified strength and conditioning specialist) certification in 2004 and has been doing sport specific training for high school and college athletes.
Reason for entering the field:
Having various injuries from sports, Brian wanted to learn why he got hurt and to fix the injuries. Because of that he observed at a local clinic in high school and became very interested in the Physical Therapy field.
Sherri L. DeMarco (Greene), PTA | Contracts Division/Pedi.
Education:
Sherri received her undergraduate degree from CCRI in 2002. She has been a practicing PTA for the past six years and her specialty is Geriatric/Pediatric.
Reason for entering the field:
Sherri has an uncle who is a PT and she shadowed him during the summer months while not at school. She was interested in what she saw and learned and decided it was the career path for her. What she most enjoys about being a Physical Therapist is helping patients reach their personal optimal level of function.
Other interests:
Teaching the bible and those interested in learning.