Meet the Team

It was John’s lifelong dream to open a physical therapy clinic that provided exceptional, personalized care, with highly-skilled physical therapists. So he started Physical Therapyworks over twenty five years ago, where we combine a strong scientific background, evidence-based practice and a compassionate, progressive approach that brings patients the most advanced, reliable and effective evaluations and treatments available.

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John received his physical therapy education at Washington University, which is consistently ranked among the top physical therapy programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, and was the pioneer in movement-focused physical therapy education, research and treatment. He is a Certified Manual Therapist and a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist.

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During John's professional education, he had the opportunity to shadow renowned orthopedist, John Itamura, M.D. for over seven years to further his clinical understanding and skills in regard to shoulder and elbow dysfunction. John has been a mentor at the renowned USC Post Professional Orthopedic Residency Program for over 10 years, and was recently nominated for the Henry O. and Florence P. Kendall Practice Award.

 

Click here to view John's Curriculum Vitae 

Joe Abdulmasih graduated from Chico State in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology. He continued his education at USC, receiving his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2022. As a DPT student, he was inducted into the ACAPT National Physical Therapy Student Honor Society and awarded the Order of the Golden Cane. In 2023, he completed the USC Post-Doctoral Residency Program.

 

Joe has worked with a wide array of patients, ranging from chronic pain patients to professional athletes looking to return to sport. He has also participated in research working in the Neuroplasticity and Imaging Laboratory (NAIL) at USC and collecting data for baseball research studies for the Clinical Biomechanics Orthopedic and Sports Outcomes Research (COOR) laboratory. As a Physical Therapist, Joe strives to provide patient-centered care and use the best available research to deliver the best outcomes to his patients.

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In addition to working at Physical Therapyworks, Joe is also participating in the Kaiser Persistent Pain Fellowship Program. 

 

Outside of clinical practice, Joe enjoys shooting hoops, playing board games, and has recently picked up surfing and rock climbing.

Ern graduated from Cal State Long Beach in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology: Exercise Science. Ern then received his Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2024 from Washington University in St. Louis, the top ranked physical therapy program in the U.S., by which he also gained an array of experience in clinics all over the country as well as internationally (Costa Rica). He continues his professional education by currently participating in USC’s Orthopedic Residency program.

 

Throughout his coursework, he has gained experience working with various patient populations including but not limited to post operative,  geriatric, Spanish speakers, and return to sport athletes ranging from recreational weekend warriors to Olympians and professional athletes. Ern’s favorite part of Physical Therapy is connecting with his patients and helping them return to the activities that they cherish the most.

 

Outside of the clinic, he loves running long distance miles with his German shepherd pup, rock climbing, snowboarding and surfing, playing chess with friends, and enjoying tasty takeout at the beach.

Maya graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree in M.C.D Biology. While there, she was the captain of the water polo team and after recovering from her own injuries, she fell in love with Physical Therapy. She first officially entered the PT world as an aide and worked for 3 years in an aquatic physical therapy clinic. The covid-19 pandemic encouraged Maya to go back to school so she could make a more meaningful impact on the individuals she treats. She graduated from CBD College with academic honors in 2022 and received her licensure as a Physical Therapist Assistant. She also became the first Student PTA chair for the CA Student Special Interest Group, working alongside the CPTA to advocate for the PT profession. Maya has worked with a variety of different patient populations ranging from those with orthopedic to neurologic conditions. She is  excited to be part of the Physical Therapyworks team and loves helping people reach their recovery goals.

 

In her free time, Maya loves hiking, swimming and finding the best coffee and pastry spots in town.

Luck Ong is the Office Administrator at Physical Therapyworks and will always welcome and greet you with a smile.  She genuinely loves to make  everyone whom she meets feel right at home and valued.  It is in her DNA to go out of her way to be helpful and accommodating towards all.

 

Luck is a native Southern Californian, a longtime resident of beautiful Santa Monica, and she cannot imagine living anywhere else. She is a proud graduate from UCLA with a Bachelors of Arts degree.  After college, Luck went on to have successful and lengthy careers in the banking, airline, and automotive industries prior to entering healthcare.  She has been happily helping patients for over 25 years and counting. Throughout her entire career, Luck has always held positions where excellent customer service is a must and a top priority.  She truly enjoys greeting, assisting and making everyone feel relevant and cared about.  When not hard at work, Luck can be found at the theater taking in the latest movie, cheering on her beloved Dodgers, rooting for her favorite football teams, dining at her favorite eating spots, and relaxing at the beach. ​

 

EMAIL: INFO@PHYSICALTHERAPYWORKS.COM

​Brit loves exercise, teaching, and building relationships. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 2013 and became a certified personal trainer a few years after graduation. She has a Personal Training Certification from the American Council on Exercise, a Corrective Exercise Certification from NASM, and she is certified in the Barbell Rehab Method.

 

Brit began working as a physical therapy aide at Physical Therapyworks in 2018, and in 2024 she took the next big step in her career by beginning a Physical Therapist Assistant Program. She intends to obtain her PTA license in 2025.

 

As a physical therapy aide, Brit follows the plan of care created by the Physical Therapist, and focuses on helping patients find optimal form in their exercises. While executing a prescribed exercise with optimal form is a fundamental goal, Brit also encourages patients to remember that the foundation of that goal is to simply do their best, especially when a frustrating injury has turned a patient’s life upside down.

 

In her free time, Brit loves spending time with her husband, lifting weights, reading memoirs, and playing Mario Kart.

Amit Lally graduated from Cal State Los Angeles in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, with an emphasis in Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Exercise. He spent months working hands-on with patients in the university’s mobility center. As an aide he’s provided assistance to a wide variety of patients, from post operative to athletes and in between individuals who haven’t touched a gym before. With a patient-centered approach he hopes to provide accurate and compassionate care.

 

Throughout college and beyond he’s enjoyed getting outside to explore, which means long walks through the urban landscapes of LA and hopping on a longboard or electric bike just to feel the wind flow.

Alex Munoz graduated from California State University Monterey Bay in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, with a focus in Exercise Science. Since then he has worked as personal trainer in many different gym settings (Commercial, CrossFit, High School athletic department) and has trained athletes of all ages (ranging from 15-81 years young). In 2023, Alex made the decision to shift his focus towards Physical Therapy to serve more people and make a greater impact. Moving forward, his goal is to pursue a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and develop new skills to help patients live pain free.

 

In his spare time, Alex enjoys riding his bike to the beach or shooting some basketball hoops at the local parks.

 

Ameen is currently enrolled at UCLA , where he is diligently working towards obtaining his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology. His ultimate goal is to become an Orthopedic Surgeon. Having worked with the University’s Sports Medicine Department for over 2 years, Ameen has developed a profound interest in the field of Physical Therapy during his consistent work with UCLA athletes. In his role as a Physical Therapy aide, he provides unwavering aid to patients to allow them to gain a deeper understanding of their own bodies on the road to recovery.

 

Beyond his academic pursuits, Ameen finds immense joy in the weight room, becoming an expert regarding strength training and conditioning. In his spare time, he also enjoys going on runs, and hopes to eventually run a marathon in the near future.

Andre was born in Peru and moved to Italy at the age of 14. After graduating from the University of Turin in 2006 with a Bachelor in Science of Linguistics, he began his education in Fitness through the National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association, National Council for Certified Personal Trainers, The National Academy of Sports Medicine and most recently at Equinox, where he became a Tier 3 Plus Personal Trainer.

 

Andre also works at the ALLEGIATE and DMN8 gyms and collaborates with Braren Psychospiritual as a Personal Trainer as well. He has been teaching boxing and strength and conditioning protocols to Angelenos for the past 10 years, and Andre intends to obtain his CSCS and NASM CEC in 2025.

 

As a Physical Therapy Aide at Physical Therapyworks, Andre follows the plan of care created by the Physical Therapist and focuses on helping his patients utilize proper technique and achieve excellent form as they work through their  therapeutic exercise routines. 

 

Andre has enjoyed competing in swimming and Muay Thai, and in his spare time he likes to hike, bike, and explore new restaurants where he tries to eat the whole dessert menu. Bon appetit!

Hannah Hoffman graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition. During her time there, she bolstered her innately felt passion to work in the service of others to improve the quality of their lives. As an advocate of improving access to mental health services, Hannah has volunteered as event support staff with the student club Active Minds, whose mission is to reduce the stigma around mental health support services.

 

She is excited to be working as an aide where her devotion to the wellbeing of others can be put to use. Hannah knows what it’s like to be a patient, as she’s had several injuries herself. She wants everyone she works with to feel a sense of compassion and support on their recovery journey. Hannah plans to attend a graduate program in either physical therapy or a related allied health profession.

 

Outside of Hannah’s career aspirations, during her free time she enjoys doing watersports with her family, playing pickleball, working out, singing, and being in nature.

 

Amy is currently enrolled at Santa Monica College, where she is pursuing studies in Neuroscience and Psychology. Her academic pursuits are anchored by her steadfast ambition to enter the medical field, with the goal of transferring to a four-year institution to complete a Bachelor of Science degree and ultimately become a medical professional. As a pre-med student, she actively seeks opportunities to acquire hands-on experience working with patients, prioritizing their well-being and contributing to their care.

 

In her role as a physical therapy aide, Amy demonstrates a commitment to motivating patients to push their boundaries while maintaining a focus on their safety and overall welfare. She adeptly balances the encouragement of patients to achieve their therapeutic goals with a keen understanding of the importance of proper technique and injury prevention.

 

Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Amy finds fulfillment in her work as a translator, specializing in books and

comics.