Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Clinical Staff

David De La Fuente, PT, DPT, CSCS - Owner/ Clinical Director
Bio: David is a graduate of Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA., where he attained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Allied Health and a Minor in Communications, as well as becoming a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

David continued his studies at Dominican College in Orangeburg, N.Y. were he completed his Master of Science Degree in Physical Therapy in May 2005, and his Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy in May 2008.
David has been practicing for the past ten years in the Middlesex County, Union County, Monmouth County, and Sussex County regions in New Jersey. He has years of experience and training in both inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as school based and skilled nursing facilities.

Where he has extensive training in McKenzie Approach to Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, Craniofacial Pain (TMJ), Cervicogenic headaches, as well as biomechanical and neuromuscular dysfunction.

David is the owner of Cornerstone Physical Therapy Health & Wellness Center , which specializes in one-on-one care for those suffering from every facet of orthopedic, high level neurological and geriatric conditions.

Clark Clinical Staff

Kathy Hughes - Physical Therapist
Bio: Kathy has been practicing physical therapy since 1999. After receiving a BA in psychology from Kean University, Kathy went on to obtain a Masters in physical therapy from the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey. She has since found that the combination of these two degrees can be quite useful in her treatment approach and understanding of her patients needs.

Kathy has spent the majority of her career in outpatient physical therapy settings, where she can focus her efforts on orthopedics. She is a skilled manual therapist who enjoys seeing the immediate positive results she can obtain with her patients by applying these techniques on a daily basis.

She continues to broaden her knowledge and skill base by attending many continuing education courses and is always eager to transition theses from the classroom to the clinic. In the future Kathy not only expects to continue to enhance her orthopedic skills but due to her love and compassion for dogs also specialize in the evaluation and treatment of canines. Kathy has been an integral part of the Cornerstone family since 2007.

Jennifer Mazurkevich - Certified Massage Therapist
Bio: Jennifer has been involved with the medical field since she was a High School student. Through the 20 years of Jennifer's involvement in this field she has not only developed new strategies for her employers but is highly respected in the medical community. During this time Jennifer also attended and graduated in the top 1% of her class from the Therapeutic Massage Training Center located in Westfield, NJ. Jennifer's accomplishments through the years have brought her to be highly respected for her teamwork, honesty, desire, vision and focus amongst not only her co-workers, employers but all her business contacts and clients alike.

Gerriann LaGuardiah - Certified Pitching Instructor/Receptionist
Bio: Gerriann has been a staff member at Cornerstone Physical Therapy Health & Wellness Center since 2008. She began as an aide to the physical therapists, assisting patients with their exercises. By 2009, she was given the opportunity to become a receptionist. She currently holds this position as well as a certified pitching instructor and continues to assist Cornerstone with creative ideas and fundraisers to assist those in need.

Gerriann graduated in May of 2011 with a Bachelors degree in Sociology & Human Services and a minor in Psychology from Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey. She is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Social Work at Kean University to assist at-risk youth and juvenile sex offenders. She graduated from John P. Stevens High School in Edison, New Jersey in 2007 with a GPA of 3.75. All four years, she was part of the varsity softball team that won the North II Group IV State Championship. She was a member of the Centenary Cyclones softball team until a knee injury side-lined her. She continues to pass on her knowledge of the game to young girls who share the same passion. Gerriann is strongly committed to helping young athletes succeed on and off the field.

Christine Z. Carlo PT, MPT, SIPT #3098 - Physical Therapist
Bio: Christine has been a physical therapist for more than 17 years. She attended John F. Kennedy High School in Iselin, New Jersey. She then attended the University of Sciences in Philadelphia, PA, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science and a Master’s in Physical Therapy.

As a therapist, Christine has worked in many fields from intensive care units and home care to sub-acute rehabilitation and long term residential facilities. The majority of her experience has been working with the pediatric population where she has an extensive background. Christine has worked with infants and children in the NICU, PICU, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient centers, and public and private schools. Christine has recently received her Sensory Integration and Praxis Testing certification from WPS, in California.

Christine is working with Cornerstone Physical Therapy Health & Wellness Center part time and is looking forward to helping her adult clients recover along with building the new pediatric program to help “her children” recover and grow.

Paul Cuntala, PTA - Physical Therapist Assistant
Bio: Paul is a graduate of Union County College’s Physical Therapist Assistant program where he attained his Associate in Applied Science degree with honors in 1999.

Paul continued his studies at Kean University in Union, NJ graduating Cum Laude in 2010, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology. Paul has been practicing for the past ten years in multiple settings with an emphasis in outpatient orthopedics.

In the past ten years Paul completed numerous continuing education courses, which include the McKenzie philosophy, Mulligan concepts, and Basics of Sacroiliac Mobilization, and many other orthopedic based courses. Paul is currently advancing himself in the field of physical therapy as he is currently a full time student at Seton Hall University's Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program.

Victoria Walter, PT, DPT - Physical Therapist
Bio: Victoria graduated from Kean University in 2006 with her BA in Psychology and is a part of the Kean chapter of Psi Chi, the Nation Honors Society of Psychology. She went on to receive her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Seton Hall University in 2010. Being an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, she attended their annual Combined Sections Meetings throughout her graduate years. She had the honor of presenting research with her classmates under the direction of Dr. Doreen Stiskal PT, PhD on “Influences of a Loaded Backpack on Knee Motions During Gait” at the APTA 2010 Combined Sections Meeting in San Diego, CA. She has also presented this research at the 2009 Seton Hall School of Health and Medical Sciences Research Colloquium and at the 2010 NJPTA & NYPTA Joint Meeting and Exhibit Show.

Outside the world of physical therapy she is an active dancer trained in Tap, Ballet, Jazz, and Pointe. She has been a dancer for over 20 years and has performed and assisted with Kean University’s Dance Theatre since 2002. She has an interest in treating theatre and dance related injuries as well as injuries associated with cheerleading and gymnastics.

As an eager to learn and active individual her goals are to continue learning the most up to date treatments as well as surgical procedures to give her patients the best care possible. She hopes that in the years to come she will be able to become a Certified Hand Therapist, Certified Pediatric Therapist, as well as receive a Manual Therapy Certification from the University of Saint Augustine.

Victoria has been a full time Physical Therapist with Cornerstone Physical Therapy Health & Wellness Center in both the Clark and Aberdeen offices since February 2011.

Elizabeth A Jessen, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist
Bio: Graduate from Kean University 1990 with a BS in Occupational Therapy. Also obtained additional coursework at NYU towards an Advanced Masters Degree in Developmental Disabilities. Currently is employed for Youth Consultation Service at the Sawtelle Learning Center for the past 15 years. Elizabeth Jessen is the Assistant Vice President of Allied Health Services –OT division.

Her practice specializes in the field of Autism and has been working with children and young adults within the Autism Spectrum for the past 19 years. Sensory Integration, handwriting issues, delay of fine/gross/self-help skills, poor body awareness, behavior management and ABA techniques are just a few of Elizabeth’s areas of expertise. Her dedication of this specialty area has been her passion.

Elizabeth is a mother of 2 teenage boys and enjoys doing many things WITH THEM. She is a CCD teacher at her church and marches in the Bridgemen Drum & Bugle Corps in her spare time.

Aberdeen Clinical Staff

Raisa - Physical Therapist
Bio: Raisa was certified in massage therapy and manual therapy in Odessa, Ukraine in 2001. She graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, NJ in 1997, with an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science and was licensed to practice as a Physical Therapist Assistant in New York and New Jersey. She practiced as a Physical Therapist Assistant for ten years in acute, sub acute and out-patient settings. In 2007, she graduated from the College of Staten Island where she earned a Master’s of Science Degree in Physical Therapy, with a graduate research thesis in woman’s health on “Changes in education and treatment of urinary inconsistence in physical therapy over the last five years”. Raisa played volleyball competitively for ten years in the Ukraine as well as for Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is fluent in Russian and Ukrainian. She hopes to complete her doctorate degree and to become a certified Mulligan practitioner. Raisa has been with Cornerstone Physical Therapy Health & Wellness Center since 2008.

.