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Jodi Petrinovich graduated with a BS in Physical Therapy from the College of St. Scholastica in 1980. She first visited the Pacific Northwest as a student intern in Tacoma with Physicians Physical Therapy Services and discovered how much she enjoyed working with patients with back or neck pain. She began working for STAR Physical Therapy in 1988 and purchased the clinic in 2005 with her husband Jack.
Jodi has a special interest in treating patients with neck, back or other spinal problems. She has helped develop and implement pre and postoperative rehabilitation programs for patients of several Tacoma spinal surgeons.
She enjoys helping people return to health and an active enjoyable lifestyle after injury or surgery using manual techniques, exercise and education of movement. She also works with many other patients with other problems including shoulder, knee, hip, foot and ankle problems, injuries or surgery; fibromyalgia; and balance issues.
She has been trained through continuing education in the treatment philosophy of Shirley Sahrmann and has integrated diagnosis and treatment of movement system impairments into her practice.
She enjoys hiking with her family, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and staying active. She trained for and completed a Danskin triathlon, enjoys lifelong learning, has taken extensive continuing education and continually researches new advances in the field of physical therapy.
Rena Godfrey graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a Master of Physical Therapy in 1991. Since then she has enjoyed working at STAR Physical Therapy with an emphasis on patient education. She has treated a variety of spinal problems and arthritis related disorders, and has seen a wide range of other orthopedic problems. Her specialties include osteoporosis and fibromyalgia management, and aquatic therapy. Continuing education has included a variety of manual therapy techniques, movement reeducation, geriatric care, and therapeutic exercise.
Rena enjoys hiking, swimming, cooking, and reading with her
husband and twin daughters.
Michele Jackson graduated from the University of North Dakota with a Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2004. As a student intern she spent time at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and the University of Washington. She joined Star Physical Therapy in 2005. She enjoys dealing with all aspects of the human body and enjoys treating spinal, joint and muscular pain and dysfunction. She has experience dealing with pre- and post- surgery patients and their needs. She also has worked with many patients with fibromyalgia. She is a strong believer in educating people in self care to eventually empower patients to continue their strengthening and exercise programs on their own in a manner that is conducive to their abilities and interests.
Michele works to practice what she teaches and enjoys an active lifestyle including hiking and running.
She has completed her first half-marathon and has intentions for more in the future.
Joanne Williams grew up in the Seattle area while she attended local schools. She received her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from Gonzaga University, where she was a student athletic trainer and member of the women’s soccer team. She spent a year after graduation working with special needs children at the Spokane YWCA pool.
From Spokane she went to Philadelphia to attend graduate school in
physical therapy. While there, her education had an emphasis on geriatric care and sports medicine. Both of these remain a passion for her today. She graduated in 2000 from MCP – Hahnemann University with a Masters in Physical Therapy.
Her love for the Northwest brought her back to the area. She has worked for STAR Physical Therapy for 6 years as well as 2 years at a local hospital.
Her free time is spent with her family and doing numerous outdoor activities, sharing her love of nature.
Alison
Unterreiner
has been a physical therapist for 30 years, having graduated from Stanford University in 1981 with a Master’s degree in physical therapy. She is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Health/Fitness Specialist and is
also certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as
a Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
She believes that in order to be healthy we must be physically active and so she strives to contribute to the overall health and well-being of each patient she treats.
Alison serves as a consultant to the Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing
Team. Her focus here at STAR is as the Director of the Runners’ Clinic, a program designed to meet the unique needs of recreational and competitive runners of all ages. Please refer to the
Runners’ Clinic section for more information about Alison and the program.
Sara Olson graduated from Green River Community College with an Applied Arts and Science degree in physical therapy in 2009. After completing a clinical affiliation with Star Physical Therapy, she joined the Star team and began working here full time. At Star, she enjoys assisting individuals with varying diagnoses return to their functional lifestyles.
Sara’s clinical interests include aquatic therapy, balance training, posture and body mechanics education, and post-operative rehabilitation. When not at Star, Sara can be found jogging, reading, or taking pictures as close to the Puget Sound as possible.
Shelley McManus graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in Applied Science for Physical Therapist Assistant from Green River Community College in 1985. Shelley became part of the staff at Star physical therapy in the summer of 1991, where she continues to be a part of a team that believes in the highest quality of care. She enjoys the orthopedic setting and being part of a team that helps patients return to a healthy, active lifestyle. Her clinical interests include manual therapy, soft tissue techniques, spinal stabilization instruction, aquatic training, balance and core strengthening, pre-operative instruction for spinal surgeries and the application of various modalities. Shelley’s special interests are neck and low back injuries, post-operative joint rehabilitation, arthritis related problems and postural and gait training. She enjoys spending time with family, hiking, down hill skiing, reading, photography and scrap booking.
Kimber
Towle graduated in 1994 with a degree in Biology from Washington State University. Her interest in physical therapy grew
after graduation when she worked with children and adults with disabilities
giving swim lessons and instructing water exercise programs. She went back to school and received an
Associates degree in Physical Therapy from Green River Community College. Her primary interest remained aquatic therapy and this
brought her to Tacoma to work at STAR Physical Therapy in 1997.
Kimber has a love of teaching and uses this everyday while working
with patients. Education, she believes, helps patients understand
what it take to heal quickly and prevent further injury. Her special
interests are body mechanic training, work station set ups, pre-operative education, fibromyalgia management, balance training, and
core strengthening. She has years of experience utilizing modalities, exercise, and manual therapy to aid in the recovery of
various neck, back, and orthopedic injuries.
Kimber is very active outside of work and loves the challenge of
trying to fit in fitness with her two young boys. Her favorite toys
are her double jogging stroller, and bike trailer. She participates
in fun runs, triathlons, and anywhere their tandem bike will take them.
Christopher Farris
graduated in December of 2000 from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas with a BBS
degree in sports fitness. While at HSU he participated in the Athletic Training/Sports Medicine program. After graduation, he moved to the Northwest and has been at STAR
Physical Therapy since 2001. At STAR he is the Exercise Specialist/ P.T. Aide.
He is also a Certified Senior Strength Trainer, CSST. While here at STAR he takes care of the pool and the gym equipment when not seeing patients. He has also taught physical education at a private high school in Gig Harbor along with coaching some indoor soccer. Chris enjoys the Northwest and what it has to offer. He loves hiking, camping, and snow skiing with his family.
Office Staff
Barb
Gauthier - I am the Billing Manager and do all the medical coding and insurance billing. I also do insurance verification as well as getting insurance authorization for managed care plans and workers compensation claims. I have been at STAR for over 1 year. In my time off I enjoy spending time with my husband and gardening.
Susan Perkins -
I am the Patient Accounts Manager. I manage accounts receivable, collections, insurance company disputes and contracts. I can answer questions about your bill. I have been with STAR
since 1998. My leisure time is spent at the theatre and symphony and outdoor activities with my dog, Coco.
Shelley Anne Smith
- I am the Office Manager and will assist you in scheduling your physical therapy appointments. I will work to schedule your sessions accommodating your busy life, work schedule and other obligations.
I have been at STAR Physical Therapy since the year 2000. In my off work hours I enjoy gardening, reading, and camping with my husband and two daughters.
Paula
Trunzo - I am the part-time office assistant. It is my job to schedule appointments as well as manage our Extended Pool and Gym exercise program. I have been with STAR
Physical Therapy since 2008. When I am not working I enjoy gardening, reading, traveling and spending time with my grandchildren.
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