Dr. Melinda Bryan, PT, DPT, Doctor of Physical Therapy

Certified Principal Master Pilates Teacher Trainer

CEO 

Dr. Melinda has practiced physical therapy for 36 years. She obtained her B.S. in Physical Therapy from Temple University, Philadelphia, in 1987, and Pilates certification from Joe Pilates protegé, Romana Kryzanowska, in 1993. In 2017, she was awarded her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Evidence in Motion.

 

As a former dance major in college, Dr. Melinda went on to study sports medicine and worked as a scholarship athlete in the Temple U. athletic training department prior to pursuing a physical therapy degree. Her physical therapy training included a specialized dance medicine residency with the world-renown New York City Ballet, and manual therapy coursework in cranial sacral therapy and myofascial release. After graduating and relocating to Southern California from the east coast in 1987, Dr. Melinda worked in a variety of settings including hospital, skilled nursing, and private practice. In 1991, she toured with the Broadway show Jerome Robbins Broadway as resident physical therapist for one year. 

 

Her other credits include work with the LA resident Broadway productions of Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Sunset Boulevard, and Broadway touring companies The Producers, Phantom of the Opera, Aida, Drowsy Chaperone, Curtains, The Color Purple, Dirty Dancing, Ragtime, and Sweeney Todd, among others; TV appearances including The Today Show and Leeza; Pilates Physical Therapist to many celebrity performers and musicians. She continues to work with performing artists backstage and in the clinic to rehabilitate injuries and prevent future injuries. Her patients range in age from 7-97. Melinda is also Director of Pilates Certification for PilatesCertificationOnline.com and educates Pilates instructors all over the world.

 

Dr. Melinda's mission to integrate her dance and movement background was realized when Performing Arts Physical Therapy (PAPT) was opened in 1992, blending dance, sports and Pilates rehabilitation. PAPT was the first therapy practice in Southern California to specialize in performing arts medicine and Pilates. Today, Dr. Melinda continues her practice treating patients, mentoring students and providing Pilates Certification to those studying to be Pilates Instructors. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science. Dr. Melinda is a wife, and mother of three lovely children.

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Bridget Grey, PT, MCSP

Bridget joined our staff in 2021. Originally from London, she has practiced physical therapy for over 35 years in a variety of settings including inpatient and outpatient hospital, hospital administration, private practice, dance company, and home care. In addition, she has worked with professional athletes including the US Ski Team. Bridget is very passionate about the field of physical therapy, and guides her patients recovery with encouraging home exercise and self-care. She is also a certified manual therapist, and licensed to practice in CA, BC, Canada and the UK.

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Dr. Colin Montrose, DPT

Dr. Colin is a USC Physical Therapy Doctoral Program graduate, and holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of New Mexico. He is also trained in authentic Pilates mat and reformer exercise. Colin is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and joined our staff this year. We welcome him to our amazing team!

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M. Jane Chafeh, PTA

Jane has joined our staff this year and is working at PAPT on Saturdays this fall. She has a B.S. in Exercise Science from CSU-San Bernardino, and a Physical Therapy Assistant degree from Loma Linda University. In addition to working as part of the PAPT team, Jane is on staff at UCLA Health in Santa Monica as an acute care PTA.

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Samantha Arquieta, Lead PT Aide and Patient Care Concierge

Samantha joined the PAPT team in 2020. She is a 2021 CSUN graduate with a degree in Psychology. She plans to attend graduate school for physical therapy in 2024.  

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Zoe Hakonsson, Pilates Instructor

Zoe is a CSUN graduate with a degree in Kinesiology, and a trained Pilates Instructor. She is furthering her studies in Kinesiology and attending graduate school this fall.

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Leah Baghdassarian, PT Aide

Leah joined our staff in 2023. She is currently a student at Loyola Marymount University in her last semester and will be applying to a physical therapy graduate program to begin in 2024.

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Rene Recinos-Chavez, PT Aide

Rene joined our staff in 2023, he is an experienced physical therapy aide and is planning to further his career in the field of physical therapy over the next year.

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