Carina earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Rutgers University after completing a bachelor’s degree in physiology and kinesiology from the University of Florida. Carina has 8+ years of pediatric physical therapy experience working in early intervention, private practice, schools, and hospital-based outpatient rehabilitation. She earned her Pediatric Physical Therapy Specialist Certification in 2018.

 

Carina provides physical therapy services including evaluations, consultations, and regular treatments to children from birth to young adult. Carina’s area of specialization within pediatric physical therapy during the past several years has focused on infants and children aged 0-3 years old.

 

She is most interested in helping to improve and restore function in children of all abilities so that they may thrive in their homes and communities. She has experience working with infants and children with a variety of diagnoses including torticollis, plagiocephaly, developmental delay, motor incoordination, genetic disorders, and neuromuscular disorders. Carina values the role of the whole family in her treatment and provides ongoing caregiver education and support so that they feel confident in the way they help their little ones grow and develop.

 

Carina began her career as a pediatric physical therapist at Next Step Pediatric Physical Therapy (Link) under the mentorship of Christopher Paserchia, PT. While there, she gained experience working in local school districts, conducting physical therapy evaluations, treatments and groups for the local preschool disabilities programs. She also worked with school aged and high school aged children in public and private school systems. She provided intervention in a private school that supported children aged 3- 18 with autism. Through Next Step, she was also afforded the opportunity to work as a staff physical therapist for the Friendship Circle in Livingston, NJ. She also worked at a local hospital in the Pediatric Rehabilitation Department where she gained her extensive experience working with high risk premature infants after their discharge from the NICU. She also had the opportunity to be a clinical instructor to many Doctor of Physical Therapy students, guiding and mentoring them throughout their pursuance of a physical therapy degree

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Carina is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association as well as the

Admissions Committee for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Rutgers University. Awards and honors include,  American Physical Therapy Association, Section on Pediatrics, New Professional Award and Scholarship for Combined Sections Meeting 2016 and American Physical Therapy Association Emerging Leader Award, 2015.

 

She continuously seeks out opportunities to gain more knowledge related to her daily clinical practice. She has accomplished this by being an engaged member and leader of the American Physical Therapy Association, attending advanced clinical education courses, and being independently motivated to seek out valuable evidence- based research.

 

Her pediatric physical therapy practice is based out of Flanders, NJ. Carina provides treatment in the neighboring towns of Chester, Roxbury, Bedminster, Far Hills, Mendham, Basking Ridge and more.