The Crème de la Crème

Denise Denis is a trainer extrordinare. She knows training and conditioning first hand, having participated in sports through college, earning a degree from the University of Massachusetts and achieving certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and American Fitness Professionals and Associates. She was assistant softball coach at Quinnipiac University, spent two years as a softball coach at the high school level, and has eight-plus years of conditioning experience. Denise brings all her experience, expertise and talent to clients and patients as head of the Cat Club, as a trainer in the Parisi school and as a facilitator with physical therapy patients. “I love seeing our clients grow and achieve their goals,” she says. “I love that they learn from me, and I learn from them. I get a boost of energy after each session.”

Stephanie Meyers has been a physical therapist since 1987. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from the Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, and a Master of Science in exercise physiology from Long Island University at Mercy College. Stephanie – as her clients will tell you – is particularly expert in evaluating patients and designing programs that make a difference in their lives. She integrates exercise with therapy to achieve a blend that not only enables patients to heal, but provides them the potential to remain fit once they complete their therapy. “Our patients benefit from the fact that we have physical therapy and a full fitness center. It’s not enough to do one or the other. In this case, one and one – therapy followed by fitness training — makes three,” she says.

Michael Morgan , owner and director of Darien Physical Therapy Sports & Fitness, is ambitious, in the best sense of the word. He is ambitious for his clients, creating a unique, integrated facility that provides a one-stop shop that offers the promise to “get well, stay well”. He’s ambitious for the community’s children, creating programs for boys and girls ages 7 and up that enhance strength, endurance and speed. He’s ambitious for the “regular guy and gal” who want a comfortable gym in which to work out without any kind of pressure. He’s even ambitious for the community’s golfers – and there are many! – offering a golf performance program that measurably enhances their game. Michael has a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, where he played football and baseball and was certified as a trainer. He earned a Master of Science degree summa cum laude in Physical Therapy from Long Island University. ”My vision from the start was to create a facility and an environment conducive to health, happiness and well being. The facility is great; our dedicated staff is even greater.”

Dave Plonsky walks the talk. He not only preaches the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, he backs it up by committing himself to vigorous strength and cardiac training five days a week. Dave is known for constantly looking for ways to improve his abilities. He earned Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in physical therapy from Quinnipiac University and has continued his education by focusing on orthotics, the spine and manual techniques, among others. He’s also achieved the coveted designation of Certified Golf Fitness Instructor, Level II, from the Titleist Institute. He is our Director of Body Balance for Golf Performance. Speaking of improving a player’s golf game, he says: “Our program has proved itself over the years as a great way to get in ‘golf shape’ with golf-specific stretching and strengthening activities complemented with the latest technology to pinpoint swing flaws, and fix them.”

Martin Ragonese looks on Darien Physical Therapy Sports & Fitness as his second home. He’s been here for 10 years, so that’s part of it. The bigger part of it is his relationship with clients and patients and the rest of our staff. Martin goes out of his way to help anyone he can. Need instruction on a piece of equipment? Martin is there. What’s the most effective way to stretch those WHAT ? Ask Martin. Need to send a fax in a pinch? Martin’s your man. Most of the time Martin can be found in the Fitness Center helping, cheering, coaxing, supporting patients working to overcome an injury or someone who simply dropped in for a workout. He’s a certified fitness trainer and performance coach and is integrally involved in metabolic testing and our clients’ weight loss management. Martin is a member of the National Fitness Trainers Association.

Jim Rumsey is one of the most experienced physical therapists in the state, and highly respected for his work here and abroad. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Slippery Rock University and a Physical Therapy certification from NYU. At the beginning of his career, he spent four years as a therapist in a physician’s office in Manhattan and two-and-a-half years at Stamford Hospital and United Orthopedics Hospital in Newark, NJ. There’s hardly an injury or condition he hasn’t treated in his distinguished career. He’s also had a number of unique experiences: he spent six months in Malta on the set of the movie Popeye, which starred Robin Williams, and recently returned from Africa, where he provided his rehabilitation services to a number of poor communities. Jim is the former owner of Darien Physical Therapy.

Juan Morales has a philosophy: “Treat the cause, not just the symptoms.” Juan developed an intense interest in physical therapy as an athlete in the schools of Rye, NY, and, after sophomore year, at a high school in Santiago, Chile.  “Like everyone else, I was always getting nicked up playing football and basketball, and at first I’d just throw an ice pack or heating pad on whatever was bothering me,” he says. “But I eventually realized that I was treating symptoms alone, which meant that I wasn’t healing as fast or as permanently as I wanted.”
Juan decided to study kinesiology – the movement of the body — at Andres Bello University in Chile, and, after getting a two year degree, came to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield to finish his undergraduate in exercise science/physiology. He then entered Sacred Heart’s highly-respected clinical doctorate course in physical therapy, graduating from the three year program in May, 2009, shortly before joining Darien Physical Therapy.  Juan has continued his education, with an emphasis on foot mechanics, manual spine techniques, balance and sports specific training.

Juan believes great therapy starts with the proper diagnosis, followed by hands on care, literally. “Once I identify what a problem is, I implement manual therapy – using my hands in most cases – to treat limitations. If I correctly evaluate a bio-mechanical issue, I can then work on the underlying problem or problems, not simply the symptom.

Santhoshini Hiremagalur – or San as she is called — got her interest in physical therapy from her father, who manufactured and marketed medical devices in the family’s home town of Bangalore, India.  “My father occasionally would bring me to meet his clients, some of whom were physical therapists,” she says. “I was fascinated at how effective a good physical therapist could be in helping alleviate pain and get people moving normally, so at a pretty early age, I decided I wanted to be a physical therapist.”

San attended the Infant Jesus College of Physiotherapy from 1997 to 2002, and after obtaining her bachelor’s degree in physical therapy, worked for three years in a variety of outpatient and hospital settings in India.  San received her advanced master’s degree in orthopedic physical therapy from Quinnipiac University in 2007, and before joining Darien Physical Therapy in early 2009, worked in outpatient orthopedics.

San’s primary focus is in orthopedics and sports rehabilitation with a subspecialty in post-surgical rehabilitation, which she finds particularly interesting.
“Post-surgical rehabilitation is an area where an effective physical therapy program can be very effective, and in a relatively short time,” she says. ”A patient recovering from surgery is distressed, and often in pain. We develop a program here to get the patient pain free and back to normal just as soon as possible. Post-surgical rehab gives me great satisfaction because day-by-day, I see my patients improve their mobility while reducing and eliminating pain.”