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Staff
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Ann Duffy, M.A., P.T., received her Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy from Ithaca College. She has been a physical therapist for 27 years. In 1984 she began her career at the Rusk Institute at New York University Hospital. In 1988 she completed her Masters in Biomechanics and Ergonomics from New York University. This post graduate work advanced her study and understanding of the musculo-skeletal system using engineering principles (biomechanics) and prepared her to help patients in reducing stress on their bodies at work (ergonomics), in sports and in daily living. In 1989 she started a private practice (Duffy & Bracken Physical Therapy) and continued treating patients using manual therapy techniques, exercise, and work-related and sports-specific training. Through private practice she has been able to bring together highly experienced physical therapists to give the highest quality care. In 1995 she took on another specialty to treat incontinence and pelvic pain becoming one of NYC's first pelvic floor physical therapists and remains one of the few specialists in this area. This work combines her skills in manual therapy and exercise techniques with biofeedback and behavioral re-education, and has been highly successful in helping patients overcome incontinence and pelvic pain.
In 2010 Ann became one of the Hospital of Special Surgeries (HSS) few Advanced Hip Clinicians through a unique program sponsored by HSS to assure the best practice in the rehab of hip pathology and post hip surgery patients.
Ann has served as an officer of the Alliance of Independent Physical Therapists, a division of the New York Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association since its inception in 2004.
Ann is the vice chair of the Alliance of Independent Physical Therapists, a division of the New York Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Ann also works hard in her sports which include golf, tennis, snowboarding, skiing, wake boarding, water skiing, biking and weight lifting and brings this experience to her work with patients.
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Sara Lewis, P.T., graduated from the University of Florida in 1998 with a Bachelor of Health Science degree in Physical Therapy and started her career in an outpatient orthopedic private practice. In this setting she gained extensive experience in treating orthopedic and sports injuries including post-operative or non-operatively managed shoulder rotator cuff, labral tears and tendonopathy, knee ligament tears (ACL/PCL/MCL) and meniscal tears, cervical and lumbar herniated discs, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, ankle sprains, elbow tendonopathy, plantar fasciitis and other general musculo-skeletal diagnoses.
She expanded her scope of practice in 1999 by completing specialized training to include treatment of women with pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic pain, incontinence, interstitial cystitis, vulvar pain syndromes, vaginismus, painful intercourse, and obstetric-related musculoskeletal dysfunctions. In 2005 she expanded her practice in treatment of pelvic floor disorders to include men. Sara served as an integral part of community outreach programs including education of pregnant teenagers on pre- and postnatal self-care.
In 2001 she expanded her treatment arena further when she took on another specialization in vestibular rehabilitation. In 2011 she completed an in-depth competency-based Vestibular Rehabilitation course at Emory University School of Medicine's Dizziness and Balance Center, a leader in clinical research and education in methods of evaluation and treatment of vestibular disorders. Sara has had great success in treating vestibular problems such as vertigo and balance disorders.
Sara's special interest in dance as well as a desire for career growth drew her to New York City in October 2004. She has since enjoyed many opportunities to study with master teachers and to perform, and she appeared as a principal dancer in Disney's Enchanted. Sara uses her deepened understanding of human anatomy and function, drawn from her background in dance study, instruction and performance, to help her patients reach their full potential recovery.
Sara has taken extensive hours of continuing education training with the Institute of Physical Art founded by Gregg and Vicky Johnson, and has assisted in many of their courses. In 2010 she completed certification as a Functional Manual Therapist through this institute. The curriculum integrates soft tissue, joint and neural mobilization in functional movement patterns with neuromuscular re-education and back education and training, an effective hands-on approach to facilitating efficient posture and movement. The material serves the needs of orthopedic, neurological, and athletic client populations as well as those with pelvic and vestibular disorders or chronic pain, and complements her philosophy of treating each person as a whole.
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Greg Minnis, DPT, graduated from the University of St. Augustine earning his Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy. Previously, Greg studied at the University of Delaware earning a BS.
Greg's work experience includes orthopedic physical therapy and sports medicine, as well as working in a neurological rehabilitation center specializing in stroke, Parkinson's, MS, traumatic brain injury and dementia/Alzheimer's.Greg also completed his coursework for manual therapy certification, covering pelvic assessment and spinal evaluation and treatment. In addition, he has taken advanced coursework on manual treatment of upper and lower extremities.
Greg has a love for mountain biking and hiking. He is also a competitive tri-athlete and distance runner, and surfer, certified snowboard instructor and a US open water lifeguard.
"I grew up in a family of Physical Therapists and saw first hand how rewarding a career helping people better their lives could be." Says Greg. "The pursuit of well being and achieving one's goals is what life's all about, and I think that's exactly what our profession promotes."
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Helen Nam, DPT, graduated from Stony Brook University with a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy. Prior to her graduate studies, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science at Stony Brook.
During the course of her career, Helen has worked in a variety of settings, which has helped her develop her expertise in treating a variety of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions. While working in a school setting, she screened, evaluated, and treated students (ages 5-21) with various orthopedic and neurological pediatric diagnoses. During her time there, Helen also designed and implemented treatments for students to achieve school-based functional activities.
Additionally, Helen has worked with patients in cardiac and pulmonary intensive care units for post-operative cardiac surgery rehabilitation. While working at these units, Helen would monitor patients, and help them progress during their recovery to resume normal function.
At Duffy & Bracken, Helen enjoys treating patients with diverse musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions as well as post-operative rehab. Her experience with sports-related injuries has helped marathon runners to decrease their pain and improve their performance. Her examinations and treatments are targeted to the individual's unique presentation and how it affects their life. She has a strong background in manual therapy and utilizes an evidence-based approach, which research has shown to be the most effective form of treatment. At the clinic, Helen thoroughly educates her patients on their condition as well as on the necessary rehabilitation exercises so that they can manage their symptoms independently once the course of their treatment is complete.
Helen currently lives in Manhattan and loves playing musical instruments during her leisure time. She enjoys outdoor activities, such as snowboarding, running, and hiking. Helen believes her active lifestyle has contributed to her zest for guiding others on their road to recovery so that they can resume enjoying their way of life.
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Renuka Pinto is an internationally trained and traveled physical therapist with over twelve years experience in manual and sports therapy.
Her undergraduate and rehab training is from India. After completing her degree in physical therapy, Renuka received her masters Degree from the University of Melbourne and specialized in both spine and manual therapy. It was during this time, where she learned the Maitland, McKenzie and Butler methods of manual therapy. While completing her training in Australia, Renuka also worked with the Prahan Football club, a division 2 team in the Australian Football League as a sports trainer.
Before joining Duffy & Bracken, Renuka spent the last ten years working exclusively in the field of orthopedics and sports therapy training and rehabilitating professional athletes
Her first venture into sports was with the Mumbai Cricket Association junior and professional teams who competed in the country's number one major cricket leagues. Next, Renuka worked at the National Cricket Academy and the touring international West Indies team in 2002.
After her stint in the cricket world, Renuka moved to New York where she became a certified strength and conditioning specialist from the NSCA. She then worked with the WTA for 2 years, traveling all over the world on the professional women's tennis circuit providing physical therapy and athlete care to pro tennis players. Renuka has also been the physical therapist for the Indian Fed cup team and the Indian tennis team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008,
Renuka's areas of expertise are treatment of the spine, foot, and shoulder. She specializes in performance enhancement of all types of athletes - professional and recreational - in the following sports: basketball, soccer, baseball, swimming, hockey, ice-skating, and skiing , running, squash, biking and cricket. Renuka's specialty is in functional movement analysis, where she observes movement and then designs a tailored corrective-exercise program to enhance normal movement pattern and promote recreational lifestyle.
She is an adjunct professor at SUNY Downstate where she imparts her knowledge and skill to DPT students. She has given various lectures and seminars to both medical and fitness professionals on management of sports injuries, preventative and preparatory exercises for sports performance and human movement.
In her down time, Renuka enjoys reading, traveling and sports - especially running and biking.
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Jimmy Sherman, DPT, graduated Stonybrook University with a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy. Prior to his studies at Stonybrook, Jimmy studied Biology at Fordham University, earning his Bachelor of Sciences degree.
Jimmy's work experience links him closely with the Duffy & Bracken family as he joined our team for his student internship. Upon completing his internship, he began full time work at New York Presbyterian Hospital in an acute care setting treating a variety of diagnoses from neurologic, oncology and orthopedic. Unwilling to lose his talents, Duffy & Bracken asked Jimmy to stay on as a part time therapist and were thrilled he accepted.
In his free time, Jimmy loves all kinds of sports including golf, tennis, basketball, racquetball and ping pong. He's biked the 5 boroughs bike tour twice and was also captain of the Fordham Flying Jesuits ultimate Frisbee team. Jimmy is also fluent in Spanish and holds a scuba diving license.
"I became a physical therapist because it was the perfect profession for me to integrate my love for biological sciences, sports and helping people," says Sherman. "I love being a PT because of the rewarding feeling I get from relieving pain, improving function and helping my patients."
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