HENRY SISUN, RPH, MSPT, PRESIDENT

Henry Sisun is the president and founder of Rhode Therapy and Wellness For Women.

In conjunction with director Christy Ciesla and a full staff of specially trained health care practitioners, Henry’s mission is to offer an integrative and holistic approach to the treatment of women's physical health needs at RITWW.

Henry has extensive training in the physical therapy field and functions as a consulting advisor and manager to the therapists employed RITWW. He holds patents in the area of transdermal polymer drug delivery systems used in the practice of physical therapy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s degree in physical therapy from Boston University.

CHRISTY CAPUTO CIESLA, PT, RITWW DIRECTOR

Christy is a highly experienced and dedicated women’s health specialist. She saw the need for providing specific women's health physical therapy services at RITWW because it was not being adequately addressed by mainstream physical therapy service providers elsewhere. Christy is passionate about furthering the mission of women’s health issues through cutting edge new therapies and modalities of care. She treats conditions such as urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction related to the pelvic floor, and musculoskeletal postpartum and prenatal dysfunctions. She is also a certified HypnoBirthing® practitioner.

Christy has been practicing physical therapy since 1998, having graduated from Utica College of Syracuse University. Christy began working in Cranston in 2006 with a strong background in manual therapy that includes soft tissue work, joint mobilization, and muscle energy techniques. She also integrates spinal stabilization programs and functional exercise into her treatments, and has a specialty in treating sacroiliac joint dysfunction. She enjoys the study of biomechanics and how things move and function. Christy loves the gratification of seeing people return to their daily activities, relieved of pain, and has a quest for continual learning and exploration into the mysteries of the human body.

MELINDA ALLAIRE, MS, DPT, CLT

Melinda is a licensed physical therapist who graduated from Springfield College with her Master’s Degree in 2007 and from the Sage Colleges with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2010. She is also a certified lymphedema therapist. Her training with the Norton School of Lymphatic Studies includes complete decongestive therapy, manual lymph drainage, and certification in garment fitting. Her experience in physical therapy includes treatment of musculoskeletal, oncologic, and lymphatic conditions in an inpatient, outpatient, and home care setting. She works in the Pawtucket and Saunderstown clinics where she combines manual therapy with essential exercises to help improve function at work, home and recreational activities.

CAROLINE FISH, PTA

Caroline Fish is a certified physical therapy assistant who graduated from the Community College of Rhode Island. She also has a bachelor’s degree in human development & family services from the University of Rhode Island. Caroline treats patients with pelvic floor dysfunction and is interested in furthering the mission of treating women’s health conditions. In the future, Caroline plans to further her education in lymphedema and plans on taking continuing education courses on the various therapy methods used to alleviate pain for the patients who suffer from this condition.

BELINDA HARRISON, MSPT

Belinda is a women’s health physical therapist who joined Rhode Island Therapy & Wellness for Women in 2010.

She was born in upstate New York around the Finger Lakes, with a love for the outdoors and sports. In 1993, she attended the University of New York in Buffalo and received a bachelors of science in exercise science. After graduation, she moved to Las Vegas and worked under a physical therapist for 5 years caring for athletes, performers and the general public before entering into physical therapy school in 1998.

In 2000, she received her master’s degree in physical therapy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a specialty in women's health. Belinda has since taken additional women's health continuing education classes to enhance her training. She performs both internal and external evaluations and treatments of the pelvic floor musculature. Belinda specializes in patients with diagnoses that include urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, and pre and post partum pain, or pelvic floor weakness.

RANDI MARTEN, PT, CMLDT

Randi has been a practicing therapist since her graduation from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1989. She has been working at the Cranston since 1994. As a manual therapist, she combines many different techniques including myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, and osteopathic and orthopedic physical therapy. Randi holds a master’s degree in holistic counseling and enjoys using her compassionate listening skills with her physical therapy patients due to her background in counseling victims of domestic violence. Randi is a specialist in women’s health and treats many conditions including pelvic floor dysfunctions, TMJD, headaches and fibromyalgia. Randi is certified in manual lymph drainage from the Norton School of Lymphatic Studies.

LISA MEEHAN, PT

Lisa has 23 years of experience in orthopedic physical therapy and sports medicine. She conducts clinics for runners and golfers with a focus on injury prevention and performance enhancement. She also treats geriatric patients and specializes in functional therapy, pain management, and integrative care with extended care facilities. Lisa also treats women’s health issues such as pelvic floor dysfunction. Her approach to therapy is to maximize functional outcomes and encourage an overall wellness for her patients.

STELLA MOREIRA, MT

Stella is licensed and certified in many types of massage therapy including: medical massage, pre / post natal, lymphatic drainage, and Thai yoga. She is also a licensed and certified yoga instructor. Stella has worked in the Providence area with physicians, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and midwives for many years. She is currently a nursing student at Rhode Island College specializing in pediatric oncology.

Stella has worked as a massage therapist since 1998, and is a graduate of Bancroft School of Massage Therapy in Massachusetts, one of the oldest massage schools operating after sixty years. When attending Bancroft, Stella began to realize the infinite possibilities of massage therapy. She is inspired by the complexity of the body and enjoys nothing better than tracking the root of a person’s pain or injury, and helping in its resolution. She is a nurturing, compassionate therapist with a confident and skilled touch. It is Stella's hope that all her patients leave feeling holistically nourished and cared for. She believes that there is no substitute for the human touch.

In her spare time, Stella enjoys being a requisite mom, daily yoga, kettlebell training, hiking, writing, and fully experiencing each moment, each day.

JENNIFER MORELLO, PT

Jen has been practicing physical therapy since her 1999 graduation from Quinnipiac College. She practices in the Cranston clinic where she combines manual therapy with exercise programs. She also has an interest in the aquatic programs and treats pregnant patients. She enjoys the rapport and interactions that she establishes with her patients while helping them to restore their physical well-being and overall function.

KRISTIN MEURER, MA, OTR/L, CLT

Kristen is a certified and registered occupational therapist who graduated from University of Southern California in 2005. She is also a certified lymphedema therapist. Her training with the Norton School of Lymphatic Studies includes complete decongestive therapy, manual lymph drainage, and certification in garment fitting. Her experience in occupational therapy includes treatment of the upper extremity and hand injuries, neurorehabilitation, and functional retraining. She enjoys helping patients to accomplish their goals and return to independent living.

MELISSA NASSANEY, PT

Melissa Nassaney graduated from URI with a B.S. in Exercise Science and minor in athletic training in 1993. She further pursued a Master of Science degree in physical therapy in 2004. In May 2007, she received a Doctorate in physical therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital - Institute for Health Professions.

Melissa has been a licensed practitioner in Rhode Island since 1998. She is an active member of the APTA and served as Secretary for a two year term. Currently she serves as the APTA’s Section of Women’s Health State Representative. In 2010 she was recognized as one of 21 recipients of the APTA’s National Emerging Leader Award. Melissa’s areas of clinical interest include orthopedic rehabilitation, women's health and vestibular disorders.

With an active commitment to public service, Melissa has been an advocate for domestic violence awareness. She provides a domestic violence awareness program to define the clinician’s role and to assist them in identifying the signs / symptoms of physical or emotional abuse and the levels of danger a woman or man may be facing. She has also developed a yoga program, “Healing Power of Balance,”® Yoga for Pelvic Floor Wellness.

Melissa enjoys practicing yoga, hiking and biking with her family.

JOHANNA OBARA, MSPT, Certified Yoga Instructor

Johanna graduated from URI in 2003. She is interested in working with athletes and has both coached gymnastics and worked with athletes at a local high school. She enjoys working one-on-one with patients and seeing them progress with treatment, as well as learning about them as individuals.

JODI TETELBAUM, Women’s Health Administrator

Jodi joined Rhode Island Therapy & Wellness for Women in 2009 as a women’s health administrator in the Saunderstown office. She has always had a strong interest in women’s health, wellness and holistic health. She is a graduate of Strong, Stretched and Centered, a holistic personal training school in Maui, Hawaii. Jodi is also a certified Reiki practitioner. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies.