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Our Professionals

Matthew Mariani:

Matt is a Licensed Occupational Therapist & graduate of Quinnipiac University. He has been practicing in the greater New York area since 1997. Matt's focus of study is Upper Extremity and Hand Rehabilitation. He has devoted the advancement of his career through a committed regimen of continued education and private practice affiliations with surgeons in the specialization of hand–wrist trauma and pathology. He currently holds over 800 units of continuing education.  He has worked under the Chief of Hand Surgery at Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center where he was able to enhance his custom splinting and therapy skills. Major attention was given to patients with disease and trauma who required skilled manual therapy, complex custom bracing and splinting. His expertise with Postoperative shoulder, elbow trauma and pathology in both young and advanced athletes is exemplified through his custom designed exercises and Neuromuscular Rehabilitation protocols. He has vast experience with training, progressing and rehabilitating collegiate and high school athletes individually and in team settings. His primary focus has always been to rehabilitate, restore function and provide education for injury prevention through his vast knowledge base and understanding of Occupational Therapy. More recently he has integrated new approaches through education, nutrition and alternative modalities to manage symptomatic pain and inflammation realted to patients' diagnoses.  

John Cvitkovic:

John is a Licensed Surgical Physician Assistant, Physical Therapist and a Certified Pedorthist. John holds Master’s Degrees in Public Health and Physical Therapy from Mercy College, where he completed a postgraduate residency, and in Orthopedic Surgery at NYU/hospital for joint disease. He also attended a professional work certification while completing his second residency in Pedorthics from the New York College of Pedorthic Medicine. He has been practicing in the greater New York area in the Hudson Valley region for over 14 years. Today John continues to assist in the operating room with well known surgeons in the Hudson Valley and Metropolitan area.

Christine Ellis:

Christine is a Physical Therapist with extensive experience in Myofascial Pain Syndrome. She has received a Masters degree in Physical Therapy with distinction, after completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Physiology as well as a Bachelor’s in Health Science. Christine has completed extensive postgraduate education in Manual Therapy and has completed all of her course work for a Mastery Certification in Manual Therapy and her Certification in Kinesio Taping. She has taken extensive continuous education courses including Maitland, Paris, NAIOMPT, Butler and Vestibular Rehabilitation. She is a Certified Instructor with extensive teaching experience. She has co-authored several educational manuals and has been invited to teach in Greece and throughout the United States. She has a particular interest in helping people with Myofascial Pain Syndrome that have not had success with traditional therapies. Christine has worked with all patient populations and enjoys all aspects of Manual Therapy. She has been practicing since 1996 and also enjoys working with athletes from high school to the professional level. She is an active volunteer with her local football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer and baseball teams.

Ellen Cheung-Conklin:

Ellen is a Boston University graduate with a Master’s degree in physical therapy.  She has over ten years of experience working with the orthopedic community including geriatric, post-op, athletic, general orthopedic, and neurological populations.  She is also the head of our senior exercise program promoting wellness, exercise, and function in the elderly.  She has a strong manual therapy background as well as experience in vestibular rehabilitation, athletic and kinesio taping techniques, and instrument-assisted manual soft tissue mobilization.  She is committed to restoring normal mobility in her patients without sacrificing function. Ellen is also a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Glen Santacroce:

Glen is a Licensed Occupational Therapist, Certified Hand Therapist & graduate of Quinnipiac University. He has been practicing in the greater Northeast Region since 1997. Glen has experience in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation, hospital and transitional care units, home care and sports rehabilitation. His treatment skills include manual treatment techniques, therapeutic exercises, neuro-reeducation, core training, functional activities, use of modalities, patient education, home exercise program training, splinting and proper ergonomic training for the workplace. Common treatment diagnoses include, but are not limited to: tendon repairs, nerve disorders, fractures, sprains/strains, arthritis, tendonitis, cumulative trauma/repetitive strain disorders, joint replacements and special surgeries regarding the hand and upper extremity. In addition to completing several marathons, Glen loves music, sports and helping the community, participating in midnight runs for the homeless and habitat for humanity.

Craig Brunson:

Craig Brunson a resident of the Bronx. He graduated with his A.A.S from LaGuardia CC as a physical therapist assistant. With 18+ years of experience in outpatient rehabilitation, he is dedicated in assisting people return to prior levels of function and comfort.  His passion began early in high school when a childhood friend suffered a debilitating injury that left him unable to walk. Craig was fascinated with the effort and determination of the Physical Therapy team in getting his friend to walk again and at that point Craig knew that this was what he wanted to do.  Through personal experiences over the years, he understands the importance of a personalized treatment plan utilizing a combination of manual techniques, therapeutic exercises or whatever maybe necessary to reach an individual’s full rehab potential. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with friends and family, anything pertaining to Chicago Bears football, and fishing, even though he still hasn’t caught the big one.

Jim Hughes:

Jim is a graduate of Ocean Township High School and Montclair State University, both located in the great state of New Jersey. He received his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a concentration in Exercise Physiology/Adult Fitness and is dually licensed in New York and New Jersey. Jim attended Physical Therapy school at Hogeschool Enchede in The Netherlands, where he obtained his Bachelors of Science in Physical therapy with emphasis in manual therapy, specifically neuro-developmental technique (NDT) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF). His post graduate/continuing education includes:  myofascial release, trigger point massage, ASTYM, balance/fall prevention, and Kinesio taping. He also has his Certification in Orthopedic Manual Therapy (C.O.M.T.) from Maitland Australian Physiotherapy Seminars since 2003. Jim is currently Captain of Ardsley-Sector Volunteer Ambulance Corps and loves to donate his time to The Miracle League of Westchester and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.  Jim and his lovely wife Claudia are proud parents of two wonderful children James and Fiona.

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