VALENS PHYSICAL THERAPY - Key Persons
Education:
University of Maryland School of Medicine, Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy (DScPT), 2007
Northeastern University, Master of Science in Physical Therapy, 2002
Northeastern University, Bachelors of Rehabilitation Sciences, 2001
Chantilly High School, 1996
Clinical Experience:
Dr. Mazin has been practicing physical therapy since October of 2002. She began her clinical career in a physician owned physical therapy practice. Working with these orthopedic surgeons allowed her special insight into post-operative rehabilitation. In 2004, she enrolled in the post-graduate program at the UMSOM, while continuing her full-time clinical work.
Makenzie credits the curriculum at the UMSOM for expanding her knowledge in biomechanical evaluation and treatment of lower extremity injuries. In pursuit of her post-graduate degree, Makenzie developed the Running Solutions® program. This program is tailor made for runners and designed to identify movement compensations, flexibility restrictions, or strength deficits that may contribute to running over-use injuries. Runners learn how to adapt their strategies to stay healthy with Running Solutions®.
Makenzie is the sole owner of Valens. However, her family played an integral role in making Valens a reality. Her parents, Irwin and Shirley paved the way for her bravery in pursuing entrepreneurship; and her sister, Meryl is responsible for the name and contributed to the visual design of the company. This venture was also founded with the mentorship of Dr. Carole Lewis http://www.greatseminarsandbooks.com, and Dr. Samuel Esterson (http://www.estersontherapy.com), associates of Makenzie's, while at the UMSOM.
Makenzie is originally from Northern Virginia, graduating from Chantilly High School, where she participated in soccer, basketball, and cross-country. A soccer injury in her sophomore year of high school led to a stint of physical therapy and fostered her interest in the career.
Education:
Daemen College, Doctor of Physical Therapy, 2009
Daemen College, B.S Natural Science/Health Science, 2007
Dr. O'Rourke grew up in central New York where she became interested in physical therapy in high school while recovering from knee surgery. She attended Daemen College in Amherst, New York where she received her B.S. in Natural Science/Health Care Studies. She remained at Daemen where she graduated in 2009 with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. She moved to DC immediately after graduating and has been working in outpatient orthopedic and sports medicine clinics since.
Monica enjoys continuing her education through courses and conferences and keeping up to date on current research. She currently treats a wide range of orthopedic conditions but takes a special interest in the treatment of shoulder, knee and ankle injuries. She has an interest in pre-natal exercise education and modification as well as post-natal return to activity and sport. She was certified in Dry Needling in 2013.
Monica's treatment approach includes a combination of functional exercise and manual techniques that allow patients to improve their mobility and function, reduce pain, and return to their highest level of function and active lifestyle. She also provides strategies and techniques for maintenance and prevention of re-injury.
In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, working out and yoga.
Education:
Marymount University, Doctor of Physical Therapy, 2019
St. Mary's College of Maryland, BA Psychology, 2015
After experiencing many running injuries as a cross country athlete in college, Dr. Gay was inspired to become a physical therapist to learn to help others as he was helped. Dr. Gay specializes in post-operative care and sports rehabilitation. He strongly believes that movement is healing and he passes that philosophy on to his patients through patient education and treatment planning.
Dr. Gay joined Valens in April of 2021. In addition to his movement is medicine treatment philosophy he is a certified Trigger Point Dry Needling provider.
Education:
Marymount University, Doctor of Physical Therapy, 2015
University of Virginia, Bachelor's Degree in Biology, 2010
Dr. Pitsch is a native of Northern Virginia, despite becoming a physical therapy patient following an ACL tear in high school; her interest in physical therapy was actually sparked in college where she had an internship working in an aquatic therapy program at Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center in Charlottesville, VA.
Before joining Valens Physical Therapy in 2017, Rachael worked in a physician owned outpatient practice in Washington, D.C., where she treated a range of non-traumatic and post-operative injuries, especially involving the shoulder, knee and ankle. She has completed coursework through Myopain Seminars to become certified in level 1 & 2 Trigger Point Dry Needling and she has also completed coursework enabling her to incorporate women's health and Therapeutic and Kinesiology Taping into her practice.