PATRICIA (TRICIA) S. BROWN, PT, DPT, NCS

Clinical Assistant Professor

Chapman University

Department of Physical Therapy

Patricia S. Brown, PT, DPT, NCS is a licensed physical therapist. She received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from California State University Long Beach and her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Western University in Pomona. She is certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists in neurology since 1999. Currently she is an Assistant Clinical Professor teaching in the doctor of physical therapy program at Chapman University’s Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. She is a certified LSVT BIG clinician and a faculty trainer for LSVT Global. She travels nationally teaching physical and occupational therapists the LSVT BIG treatment approach for persons with PD. She is also a certified PWR! Clinician and a graduate of National Parkinson’s Foundation (NPF) Allied Team in Training (ATTP) for PD.

GABI FREI, PT, CLT-LANA

Physical Therapist

MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center, Laguna Hills

Gabi was born and raised in Switzerland and came to the USA with her husband in 1993. She currently works as a Physical Therapist at Saddleback Outpatient Rehabilitation in Laguna Hills, where she has been treating patients with a variety of different diagnoses in the orthopedic, neurological and geriatric field. Gabi is a certified lymphedema therapist, and is also certified in treating people with Parkinson's Disease in the LSVT BIG and the PWR! program. In addition, she teaches Balance and Fall Prevention Classes for seniors in the community. Her hobbies include traveling, reading, dancing, cooking, volunteering and spending time with her family.

Here at PEP4U, Gabi strives to engage and motivate participants to exercise regularly, while keeping it light and fun. She likes to share her love of dancing with the class, and incorporates different styles - ranging from ballroom to line dancing to doing the macarena and more - into the class. Come on out and 'MOVE TO THE GROOVE' with us!

CATHY SHEETZ, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist

Cathy has been a physical therapist for more than 30 years. She has worked in many different areas including acute care, outpatient, home health, skilled nursing, and neuro rehab. She enjoys clinical education and is an adjunct faculty member at  Chapman University’s DPT program. Years ago she started a Parkinson’s exercise class at Saddleback Hospital’s outpatient rehab clinic. She has three grown children and enjoys spending time with them whenever possible. Other hobbies include traveling, cooking, reading, and exercising.

CYNTHIA PRICE

Certified Yoga Teacher

Cynthia Price, E-RYT 200, RYT 500, YACEP, is devoted to the practice and study of all types of yoga, she enjoys sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge with others.  Her introduction to yoga and its 8 limbs started at the beginning, her mother was her first Iyengar yoga and meditation teacher in the 60’s.  A lifetime of Yoga evolving from the foundations of meditation, yoga nidra and pranayama gradually moved into postures (asana) and philosophy.  Cynthia has been a yoga teacher for over 20 years, and continues to evolve change and grow.  She is currently studying to become a 1,000 Hour Yoga Therapist and along the way has developed an interest in using the healing modalities of yoga to help clients who have affected by trauma and specialty groups such as cancer, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease.  Fun Facts: She is an avid runner 5k to Ultra Marathon 50 mi, loves to garden, teaches gardening to kids pre-k to 8 grades, loves her husband, her 3 kids and dog, 2 cats and turtle… “Yoga is a Journey let’s practice right where we are, in the body and spirit we have today.”

AIMEE HOSTETTER, PTA

Physical Therapist Assistant

Home Health Rehabilitation, Mission Viejo

Aimee Hostetter is a Physical Therapist Assistant and a Certified NCSF Personal Trainer.  She has been involved with PEP4U since its inception over 4 years ago.  Recently, she became certified for LSVT BIG and BIG For Life.  Her goal is to help participants be as independent and active as possible with activities of daily living in order to enjoy whatever their passions may be.  Aimee lives with her husband of 27 years and has three children.  Her hobbies include cycling, soccer (LA Galaxy and Liverpool!), and traveling.

STEPHANIE WILLETE

NCSF Certified Personal Trainer
Boxing Instructor

Stephanie has been involved in boxing and physical fitness for the past 25 years.  She is a certified Personal Trainer through NCSF and ISSA as well as an ISSA certified Sports Nutritionist.

Stephanie is a retired boxer holding the California Golden Gloves title in 2005, California Regional Champ 2005, Desert Show Down Champ in 2004, Azteca Champ 2003, also winning The Blue and Gold Series and more.  She trains boxers and teaches the fine art of  boxing to kids, men and women.  Stephanie is new to the Parkinson’s family of trainers but loves watching each person reach their goals, day by day and step by step.

Stephanie is also an Interior Designer with a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts and Interior Design from CSU, Chico.  She has a wonderful husband and 2 adorable kids that keep her on her toes.

“Train hard, win easy” in fitness and life.

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STEPHANI BERG, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center, Laguna Hills

Stephani graduated with a Doctor of Physical Therapy from USC in 2017.  During her time there she assisted with a Parkinson’s boxing class for one year.  She is currently working at Saddleback Outpatient Rehabilitation in Laguna Hills where she works with the orthopedic, neurologic, and vestibular population.  She regularly treats patients with Parkinson’s disease and practices the LVST BIG program with her patients.  In her free time she enjoys staying active outdoors hiking and playing volleyball and tennis.

VALERIA ABARCA, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist

Kindred Hospital, Santa Ana

Valeria graduated from Chapman University and received her doctorate of physical therapy in 2020.  Currently she is working at Kindred Hospital in Santa Ana, treating adult patients with varying medical complexities and at Pro PT, an outpatient orthopedic private practice treating all age groups with varying orthopedic pathologies.  Valeria has training and experience working with people with Parkinson's and has assisted at a symposium for Parkinson's for the Latino community.  Valeria is proud to be joining PEP4U to help expand the exercise program and offer classes in Spanish.  Valeria’s family hails from Jalisco, Mexico, though she was born and raised in Southern California and is a Spanish native speaker.

Valeria se recibió de la Universidad de Chapman con el titulo de fisioterapeuta en el año 2020.  Actualmente esta trabajando en el hospital Kindred de Santa Ana, atendiendo a pacientes adultos con diversos grados de complejidad medica y en Pro PT, una practica privada ortopédica ambulatoria donde atiende pacientes de todos los grupos de edad y diferentes patologías ortopédicas.  Valeria tiene experiencia trabajando con personas con Parkinson y ha asistido en un simposio sobre Parkinson para la comunidad Latina.  Valeria tiene el orgullo de unirse a PEP4U para ayudar a expandir el programa de ejercicios y incluir clases ofrecidas en español. La familia de Valeria es originaria de Jalisco, México, aunque ella nació y creció en el sur de California.