Jill Wagner, MS, PT - Physical Therapist and Owner
Jill is the founder and director of Progressive Pediatric Therapy. She graduated from Quinnipiac College with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy and Johns Hopkins University with a Masters of Education. She has been an adjunct professor at Marymount University and Northern Virginia Community College.
She has always been interested in pediatrics and has worked in the NICU, outpatient clinics and school settings before opening Progressive Pediatric Therapy in 1999. Jill has treated a wide variety of children over the span of her career as well as treated using various modalities such as aquatic therapy and hippotherapy. Jill believes strongly in building and fostering the relationship with parents and caregivers in a loving and nurturing environment. She is an active member in the APTA, including the Pediatrics and Private Practice sections.
Siobhan Girdner, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist
Siobhan is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy. She has two decades of experience working as an occupational therapist in a variety of settings. Siobhan began her career working in pediatrics in a school-based program and then in a language development, center-based, school.
Her experience also includes work with adults in a trauma hospital in acute care, outpatient care and skilled nursing. Most recently, before returning to working with children in a clinic setting in March of 2014, she worked with infants and toddlers and their families in their homes doing early intervention.
Siobhan has received training in sensory integration, treating disorders of movement and postural control utilizing the Swiss gymnastic ball, vision therapy, myofascial release, neurodevelopmental treatment, early intervention and aquatic therapy. She completed her certification in Therapeutic Listening in July 2015 and is an active member of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Siobhan loves spending time with her husband and four children.
Martha Segreti, PT, DPT- Physical Therapist
Martha Segreti received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and her Masters in Physical Therapy from Emory University in Atlanta Ga.
She began her career at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans La where she treated children with a wide range of neurologic and orthopedic diagnosis in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She was the PT in charge of the JRA, burn, and wheelchair clinics and helped establish PT treatments in the NICU. After moving to Maryland she worked at the Children’s National Medical Center outpatient clinic in Rockville, Md. Cerebral palsy, developmental delay and orthopedics were some of the diagnosis she treated along with sports injuries and post surgery needs.
After having her third of four children she took several years off. Returning to active practice Martha worked with adults at Holy Cross Hospital and elementary school age children in the Montgomery County public school system. She also is an adjunct professor at Marymount University.
Kaitlyn Allen, MOT, OTR/L Occupational Therapist
Kaitlyn Allen received her undergraduate degree in Exercise, Sport and Health Education from Radford University in Radford, VA in 2011. She received her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from Trinity Washington University in Washington D.C. in December 2018.
Prior to pursuing a career in occupational therapy, she worked as an Exercise Specialist for Valley Health in Berkeley Springs, WV for 3 years. She then moved to McLean, VA to work as a Rehab Office Coordinator in multiple skilled nursing and retirement communities. In 2016, Kaitlyn began graduate school for occupational therapy. She was a Level 2 Fieldwork student at Progressive Pediatric Therapy during the Summer of 2018.
Kaitlyn lives in Falls Church, VA with her husband, dog and cat. She is a current member of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Kaitlyn is excited to be back working with the Progressive Pediatric Therapy team.
Anna Vanta, M.S. CCC-SLP - Speech-Language Pathologist
Anna Vanta completed her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of District of Columbia. Anna loves the multidisciplinary approach of collaborating with various professionals such as music therapists, behavioral (ABA) therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, dieticians, primary care physicians and dental professionals to effectively provide intervention services. Additionally, Anna has provided speech services to a variety of populations with Autism, Orofacial Myofunctional disorders (tongue ties, tongue thrusts, chronic mouth breathers, etc.), Feeding concerns, Down Syndrome, Fluency (stuttering) Disorders, Apraxia, AAC devices, Speech Delays, Expressive/Receptive Language Disorders, Early Intervention, Articulation, and Phonological disorders.
She is most passionate about a collaborative, play-based approach to make therapy fun! Anna is bilingual in Tagalog and English. Anna loves to travel, stay active, and volunteer at hospitals with her dog, Cooper!
Teresa Whigham, M.S., OTR/L - Occupational Therapist
Teresa received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in
Princess Anne, Maryland. She received her second Bachelor of Science degree in Allied Health and Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry,New York.
Teresa has worked as an occupational therapist for over 20 years in a variety of settings including the NICU, early intervention, private and public schools, skilled nursing, pediatric outpatient clinics, acute inpatient facilities, and home health. While working as an occupational therapist, Teresa has spent several of those years working in pediatrics as an early intervention professional as well as a school-based occupational therapist helping children and their families with a variety of diagnoses. Teresa’s areas of expertise and special interest are sensory processing disorders, feeding therapy, developmental delays, fine motor delays, visual perceptual and visual motor delays, handwriting, cognition, and motor planning. She is certified in Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) and Infant Massage. Teresa uses a holistic therapeutic approach involving the entire family, not just the child. She creates individual treatment sessions that focus on both the child and family’s needs. She ensures carry over by working closely with the families.
In her free time, Teresa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exercising, traveling, and watching cooking shows learning how to make new recipes.
Vian Al-Baiati, COTA/L - Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Vian received her Bachelor's Degree in Child Development after completing her Occupational Therapy Assistant program/Associates of Applied Science Degree.
Vian is passionate about helping kids develop and grow to their fullest potential through play. Vian strives to make therapy sessions fun, engaging, and productive for every child. Vian is trained in various interventions, including: DIR/Floortime, sensory integration, primitive reflex integration, Astronaut Training Protocol,neurodevelopment movements, Zones of Regulation, and The Alert Program. She's certified in Interactive Metronome and Therapeutic Listening programs.
Prior to pursuing a career in occupational therapy, she worked as a preschool teacher's assistant, one-on-one classroom support, mentor, and a tutor. She has been working with kids for the past 11 years.
Outside of work, Vian enjoys spending time in nature, baking delicious treats, traveling, exploring new places, and spending time with family and friends.
Sarah Heard, MSOT, OTR/L- Occupational Therapist
Sarah received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from James Madison University in which she used to teach 5th grade for two years. Sarah found a passion and love for Occupational Therapy while teaching and pursued her Master's of Science in Occupational Therapy at Barry University in Miami Florida. Sarah has completed a clinical rotation in a pediatric clinic setting as well as worked as tech in a pediatric therapy clinic. Sarah has experience with sensory integration approaches, feeding therapy and the Handwriting Without Tears program. She enjoys working with children and families to best meet the needs of the child and family! Sarah also coaches competitive swim teams with children of ages 4-18 and was a competitive swimmer growing up.
Sarah lives near Shirlington with her fiance and dog and loves spending time with friends and family, reading, crafting and listening to Taylor Swift! She's looking forward to joining the team & meeting new families and children at Progressive Pediatric Therapy!
Keerti Goorah, PT, DPT - Physical Therapist
Keerti completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Georgia and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at George Washington University in 2018.
After graduation, she started her career in outpatient pediatric therapy in the Northern Virginia area. Being an adventurer at heart, she then went on to doing travel therapy for public schools in Oklahoma and California for 2 years. During this time, she lived in an RV with her husband, her dog, Captain, and her cat, Cheeto.
Keerti is now back in Virginia where she splits her time between providing school and aquatic physical therapy for Progressive Pediatric Therapy. She is passionate about making physical therapy goals and interventions meaningful to each patient and their families. She believes in using a collaborative approach, working closely with other team members and patients’ families to improve patient independence and function through play-based interventions. She has treated patients with a wide variety of neurological, developmental and movement disorders.
When she is not at work, Keerti likes to experiment in the kitchen, explore new places, and play disc golf.
Sarah Bush, DPT, PT - Physical Therapist
Sarah is a graduate of The College of William and Mary with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and of Marymount University with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy.
During her studies she developed a special interest in pediatrics. Her clinical rotations emphasized orthopedics, neonatal intensive care and pediatrics in a private clinic setting. Sarah has experience treating a wide range of patients including those with brain injury, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, DCD, torticollis and other orthopedic and neurological conditions. Sarah uses various modalities and techniques to treat her patients including but not limited to kinesiotape, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, gait training, and neuromuscular re-education.
She is an active member in the APTA, including the Pediatrics, Aquatics, Orthopedics, and Neurological sections.
Sophia Scott, DPT, PT - Physical Therapist
Sophia graduated from Marymount University in Arlington Virginia with a Master of Science in Physical Therapy in 2002.
Since that time she has had the privilege of working with babies, toddlers, older children and teens in schools, client's homes and a private clinic setting. The clients she has worked with have presented with a range of developmental delays and neurological and orthopedic challenges.
Sophia currently continues to work with infants and toddlers and children with developmental delays, physical complications associated with prematurity, hypo and hypertonia, Down syndrome, torticollis and cerebral palsy.
She also continues to work with school age children and teens with strength, balance and coordination deficits due to cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and various genetic syndromes.
In the fall of 2010, Sophia completed her Level 1 training through the American Hippotherapy Association and now practices hippotherapy at Simple Changes Therapeutic Riding Center in Lorton, Virginia.
Kristin Vardakis-Spillane, MA, ATR- ArtTherapist
Kristin Vardakis-Spillane, MA-ATR, graduated SUNY Purchase in New York with honors with a BFA in Painting and Psychology. She then went on to study at NYU working toward her Masters Degree where she graduated with honors receiving her MA concentrated in Art Therapy. She is a registered and credentialed therapist through AATA and ATCB.
Kristin has worked in various hospital and clinical settings in New York City such as Bellevue Hospital, NYU Medical Center and Creedmoor State Hospital at The Living Museum with Dr. Janos Martin. After relocating to the Washington Metro area Krisin has worked for Fairfax County Public Schools in a special needs capacity within an ED Center at Woodson High School and the county Juvenile Detention Center as an art therapist.
She is familiar with the county's IEP system within schools and enjoys working with parents to maximize the team aspect of any educational and therapeutic relationship for students under her care.
Kristin lives in Fairfax County with her husband, three very active children and their dog Finnegan.
Nalan Gursoy, DPT, PT- Physical Therapist
Nalan received her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Temple University, and Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. Nalan has provided physical therapy services to children and adults in various settings such as schools, home, hospitals, and outpatient clinics. As a pediatric physical therapist, it is Nalan’s passion to be a part of a child’s development, playing a role in improving and restoring function.
Nalan strongly believes in working in collaboration with children and their families to promote independence and active participation in the home, school, and community environments. Nalan has provided PT services for children with variety of neurological, genetic, movement disorders, including Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, spina bifida, traumatic brain injury, muscular dystrophy, developmental delay, musculoskeletal injuries, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Nalan is excited to be a part of the Progressive Pediatric Therapy family and to continue to grow in her career.
Mikke Rozenman, MS OTR/L- Occupational Therapist
Mikke completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at George Washington University and went on to earn an Occupational Therapy graduate degree at Howard University in 2016. Since then she has worked with adults in home and inpatient settings as well as children in NICU, clinic, and school settings.
She worked as a preschool teacher in DC for several years before becoming a licensed Occupational Therapist.
Mikke is inspired by children and works to make development and learning meaningful as well as fun. She enjoys watching people grow and become engaged with the world around them, and uses her training to help them achieve their goals.
Amy Engel, OT/L - Occupational Therapist
Amy Engel graduated from the University of Buffalo in 1990 with a Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy. She stayed in western New York and began her career at People, Inc. working with young adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Curious about warmer weather, Amy provided OT services in geriatric settings as a traveling therapist throughout the southeast eventually landing in the Washington, DC area. Working at both the NRH and UCP she developed a special interest in teaching those with lifelong neurological challenges to use assistive technology to enhance their participation in home, work, school and community settings. Shifting to pediatrics in 1998 created the opportunity for Amy to raise her family while working with children in both clinical and school environments to strengthen their visual, fine and sensory motor skills. Amy has taken coursework in Handwriting/Typing without Tears and the Zones of Regulation. She is an active member of AOTA. Incorporating everything from hand splints to speech generating devices and visual timers to social stories in everyday activities for elementary through high school aged children remains a particular interest for her.
Currently, Amy and her husband live in Arlington and have two children in college at VT/VCU and one at home in high school. Activities involving shared interests with their children keep them busy including cooking, rocketry, music, field hockey, art as well as hiking local trails with their dog Duke.
Monique Grant, MPT- Physical Therapist
Monique graduated from the College of William of Mary with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences with a Master of Science in Physical Therapy.
She has almost 20 years of experience working with adults and children with wide variety of orthopedic and neurological diagnoses. The majority of those years were spent in outpatient and school-based physical therapy settings.
Monique sees the potential in people, encourages them and empowers them to achieve their personal goals. She enjoys helping children, including those on the autism spectrum, to gain confidence in their abilities and to be comfortable participating in group settings.
Gwen Goldstein, M.A., CCC-SLP - Speech Language Pathologist
Gwen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University- Bloomington (Go Hoosiers!) in 2005 and her Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology from The George Washington University in 2011. Gwen is licensed by the Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She worked for Fairfax County Public Schools from 2011 to 2016 serving students in preschool through adulthood. After working in the schools, Gwen worked for several area pediatric outpatient clinics. Most recently, she has been providing in-home therapy and diagnostic services with a focus on early intervention and preschool-aged children.
Gwen has years of experience working with the pediatric population in a variety of settings for children that have speech and language disorders such as articulation, phonology, receptive and/or expressive language, fluency, and voice. She has worked extensively with non-verbal children and has training in the area of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Gwen has a special interest in Autism, Intellectual Disabilities, Physical Disabilities well as other genetic disorders. She is a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist.
She has a passion for providing every child with a voice and the ability to express themselves. Additionally, she truly believes in collaboration and working closely with families to help each child reach their goals. Gwen lives in Fairfax with her husband, daughter, and son. She is excited to be a part of the Progressive Pediatric Therapy team.