Tucson Team
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Meet Our Tucson Team
The Physio Shop is pleased to bring the same world-class care Flagstaff residents have come to expect to the city of Tucson. Our athletic trainers, physio trainers, and physical therapists are committed to helping every patient achieve better health, improved physical functioning, and optimal athletic performance. Our physical therapists work hard to ensure that every patient receives highly individualized care and personal attention within a fun, friendly atmosphere.
Tucson Team
Alexandra “Alex” Doe
Physical Therapy Technician
Alexandra, or “Alex” is a Tucson native. She went to Canyon del Oro High School where she played indoor volleyball and beach volleyball her senior year. She also played for Club Cactus. Growing up playing sports and having an interest in health and well-being, she knew she wanted to do something in the health care field but wasn’t sure what specifically.
Alvaro “Big Al” Castillo
Personal Trainer
Physical Therapy TechNICIAN
Al was born and raised in Tucson. He is a veteran of the armed service, serving as a United States Marine. While serving in the Marine corps based at Camp Pendleton, he earned multiple awards for his service. These awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Marine Corp Expeditionary Medal, Meritorious Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal, along with letters of accommodation. After bravely serving our country he moved back home to Tucson where he realized his passion for helping others. Al has earned his certifications as a Physical Therapy Technician and as a Personal Trainer. Al has been training community members in Tucson for the past 10 years.
Aly MacKay
PT, DPT
Aly is a Southern California native who relocated to Tucson with her family in Fall 2022. She completed her undergraduate education in Exercise Science at California Lutheran University and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Chapman University.
Amya Legarra
PHYSICAL THERAPY TECHNICIAN
Amya is born and raised in Tucson. She went to Canyon del oro and played softball for four years there. She also played club softball growing up.
Angelica Dains
MAT, ATC
Angelica is a board-certified Athletic Trainer and Tucson native. She has been passionate about helping others, but growing up playing softball, she always knew she wanted to be involved in athletics. After experiencing a variety of sports-related injuries in high school and being labeled “frequent flyer” in the school’s athletic training room; her interest in sports medicine began to grow.
She completed her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Arizona in Public Health with an emphasis on health promotion and wellness. During that time, she found her calling while working as an athletic training technician for both the University of Arizona Gymcats and the baseball team. After completing her undergraduate degree, she went on to Northern Arizona University- Phoenix to complete her Masters Degree in Athletic Training.
Annika Mclendon
PHYSICAL THERAPY TECHNICIAN
Annika is originally from Gilbert, AZ, but moved to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona in fall of 2023. She is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Human Performance with the goal of attending a Doctorate of Physical Therapy program. Annika spent most of her childhood as a competitive gymnast. After countless injuries she decided to officially leave the sport and get more involved at school. It was then that she had an opportunity to be a part of her school’s chapter of The National Honor Society of Sports Medicine where she got to spend multiple days a week in the athletic training room and various sports practices. Seeing the way the athletic trainers support their students made Annika realize she wanted to pursue a career that would allow her to do the same.
Blake Gregory
Physio Trainer
Physical Therapy TechNICIAN
Blake graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s degree in Physiology and a minor in French. While finishing his studies, Blake joined The Physio Shop’s internship program; then joined the team as a physical therapy technician. Blake was responsible for the mentorship of a cohort of underclassmen leaders within the program as well as community outreach. Blake now works as a physical therapy technician and physio program trainer in pursuit of developing people through rehabilitation and strength programs.
Carissa Russell
ATC
Carissa is a board-certified athletic trainer that was born and raised in Canada but has spent most of her career in Ohio. She got her Bachelors in Exercise Science with a concentration in Athletic Training and Associate degree in Exercise Science and Health and Fitness at Lake Superior State University. During her time at Lake State she played 4 years of ice hockey while gaining Athletic Training experience working with the University athletic programs.
Debbie Dempsey
Front Office Associate
Debbie joined The Physio Shop in February 2023 as a Front Desk Team Member, and Operations Assistant.
Ellie Klein
Therapy Dog
Ellie graduated from Therapy Dog Training in 2020 and has been a key member of The Physio Shop Team since day one. Ellie has played a key role in fundraising for the Humane Society of Southern AZ. She was named Tucson’s Top Cover Dog 2022 and was on the cover of Tucson Lifestyle Magazine May Edition.
Jessica "Jess" Bagley
Physical Therapy TechNICIAN
Jessica, or “Jess,” is a Tucson native that graduated from Salpointe Catholic in 2021. Growing up, Jess was a competitive gymnast but pursued other high school sports like cheerleading, pom-line, and track and field. While growing as an athlete, Jess also experienced a handful of injuries which led her to physical therapy and the recovery process. After experiencing positive results from PT, she realized that’s the career path she wanted to pursue to help others, as well.
Janelle Moreno
COCC
Janelle is an enthusiastic customer service professional with over 15 years of experience, working most of her years in Retail and in a Medical Clinic as an Office Administrator.. Janelle is also Board Certified by the American Academy of Professional Coders with her Certified Outpatient Coder Certificate.
Jason Klein
PT, DPT, AT, SCS
Jason is a board-certified specialist in sport physical therapy, and is co-owner of The Physio Shop. As a Tucson native, Jason completed his undergraduate degree in athletic training and his clinical Doctor of Physical Therapy at Northern Arizona University (NAU). At graduation, Jason received NAU’s Professional Service Award. During his time at NAU, Jason provided medical care for NAU’s football, volleyball, soccer, and track and field teams, as well as the football and tennis teams at the University of Arizona.
Jenn Ferguson
Front Office Associate
Billing Associate
Jenn is a native Tucsonan and joined the Front Desk team in October 2023. She learned about The Physio Shop from a dear friend and has been working out with Marley and Blake in the Physio Program ever since. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona and has worked in Administration for over 30 years. She also works with a local non-profit Nourish, which is an organization that supports babies and children with feeding challenges.
Jenny Allen
PT, MPT, AT, CSCS
Jenny is a Tucson native who completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Arizona with a master’s degree in athletic training from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in physical therapy from Shenandoah University.
John Robert Klass
PT, DPT
John Robert was born in Illinois, but has called Tucson home for the past 15 years. He completed his undergraduate degree in Physiology at the University of Arizona and received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northern Arizona University. While at Northern Arizona University, John Robert acted as a research assistant for a research project on concussions and was an active member of the Go Big for Parkinson’s committee.
Kristin Miller
ATC
Kristin Miller started dancing at the age of 4. Due to various injuries she had to end her dreams of a dance career early. This inspired her to pursue an education in Athletic Training. Kristin has been practicing as an Athletic Trainer for 24+ years. She has experience working with pre-professional and professional dancers and musical theater artists in Las Vegas and Tucson.
Larissa Rosano
PT, DPT
Larissa was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. She attended the University of Arizona and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with a Major in Physiology. She then moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, where she attended Northern Arizona University and graduated with her Doctor of Physical Therapy. While at NAU, Larissa completed a capstone project aimed at preventing ACL injuries for the women’s basketball team. During the clinical experience portion of her education, Larissa had the opportunity to complete a summer internship at The Physio Shop.
Marissa Diaz
Front Office Associate
Marleyna Piñon
MAT, LAT, ATC, CSCS
Marleyna “Marley” began her journey in the world of sports medicine initially as an athlete. She grew up playing sports, going on to play 4 years of college softball. It was there, she became interested in Athletic Training.
Mary Halbach
PT
Mary is a longtime Southern Arizona resident, having moved to Marana from Wisconsin in 1975.
Maya Klein
Therapy Dog in training
Maya was born in Arizona in 2023. She loves being a part of the Klein and Physio families.
Melissa Vester
PTA, PPSC
Morgan Drew
PT, DPT
Morgan graduated from Elon University in North Carolina with a degree in Public Health, and then moved to Cambodia to serve a rural community for 2.5 years for the Peace Corps. During her time there, she became passionate about advocating for movement as a healing intervention. Putting that passion into action, she worked alongside a colleague to develop an exercise program tailored to the community’s interests and helped drive outreach.
Patrick Klass
PT, DPT
Patrick was born in Illinois and has lived in Tucson for the past 16 years. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biology with an emphasis in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Arizona and received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northern Arizona University. While at Northern Arizona University, Patrick worked as a teaching assistant for the cadaver lab and hands-on anatomy skills lab.
Randy Cohen
PT, DPT, AT
Randy has spent the last 20 years as a member of Tucson’s sports medicine community. He is a graduate of Purdue University (athletic training), University of Illinois Chicago (physical therapy), and Simmons College (Doctor of Physical Therapy).
Reuben Cheng
PT, DPT
Reuben was born in Brooklyn, NY but spent most of his early childhood bouncing
between China and Canada before his family finally settled in Louisiana. He completed
his bachelor studies in Kinesiology at Louisiana State University (GEAUX TIGERS!),
followed by an associate’s degree as a PTA.
Reuben attended Tufts University School of Medicine to complete his Doctorate in
Physical Therapy and graduated with honors in 2024. At graduation, he was inducted
into the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy National Student Honor
Society and was the recipient of the TUSM DPT Jumbo Award for Leadership.
Shawna M. Titone
PTA, PPSC
Traci Curley
MAT, ATC
Traci is a certified Athletic Trainer who calls both Northern and Southern Arizona home. She is originally from Grand Canyon, AZ and moved to Tucson to attend undergrad at the University of Arizona. There she received a Bachelors of Science in Physiology with a minor in Sports Nutrition. She then moved back to Flagstaff to receive her Masters of Science in Athletic Training from Northern Arizona University.
