Deanna is a Physical Therapist Assistant who received her bachelors degree at NC A & T University in 2009. She decided to continue her education at Martin Community College where she received her Physical Therapy Assistant Degree. She enjoys being a mother to her beautiful baby girl. She has a specialty in geriatric and pediatric Physical Therapy through her experience in daycare’s, and home health. She recently worked in school systems with children of all ages. She has experience working with multiple diagnoses. She has a huge passion for helping children reach their developmental milestones, and loves to see them gain confice in completing various activities.

Rachel is a licensed Physical Therapist, she received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Duke University-School of Medicine, following a Rehabilitation Science B.S. at University of Pittsburgh and certification in Patho-kinesiology. Rachel has rehabilitation experience working at UPMC Mercy (Pittsburgh, PA)—cross-trained in ICU and acute neuro-trauma units including Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury. Her clinical internships specialized in infant-handling, torticollis, motor milestone delays, a variety of neuromuscular conditions within a diverse pediatric and adolescent population, as well as balance and movement disorders within neuro-trauma and geriatric populations. She has experience in a variety of settings, including hospitals, inpatient and outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home care, and specialty clinics for spasticity, orthopedics, muscular dystrophy, and down syndrome. Rachel is able to expand her creativity when working with infants and kiddos, use her knowledge of movement patterns, facilitate the resilience of the human body, and continue to be inspired by each patient and each family. In her free time, she enjoys rowing, yoga, travel, running with her adorable rescue puppy, and spending time with family and friends.

Born and raised in Charlotte, NC, Edwin “Chip” Chapin has lived in the Raleigh area since graduating from the Physical Therapy Assistant program at Charlotte Piedmont Community College in 1999. Chip began his PTA career working at Easter Seals. This is where he discovered his love for helping children and decided to devote his career to working with the pediatric population. In 2005, Chip joined Total Rehabilitation where he worked exclusively with the 0-21 age group. He will devote his time and resources to once again work with 0-3 early intervention population and with children ages 3-21. Chip has extensive experience with children afflicted with cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities, Down syndrome, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, brain injury, rehabilitation from surgery, autism, and chromosomal abnormalities. In his spare time, Chip enjoys fishing, golfing and cheering on the Carolina Panthers. He also enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

James “Andrew” Foster, II has been with Care First since May 2019 working with Pediatrics. He graduated from NC State University undergrad with a Bachelor’s of Science in Veterinary Bioscience and minors in Sports Science and Business Management. He received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2016. James has training in dry needling, and kineso taping. Two years prior he worked at an Outpatient Orthopedic clinic, and went on a service learning trip to Guatemala to an under-served and impoverished hospital helping pediatrics.

Amy has an Associate in Science specializing in the curriculum of Physical Therapist Assistant. She has been practicing for 14 years and specializes in Functional Chain Reaction. Amy loves making a difference in people's lives and believes in physical therapy and the functional outcomes that people receive to help them live without pain and gain more motion for flexibility and stability. She treats all of her patients as if they are family and believes by listening to the patient and validating any questions and concerns they may have is the first step to achieving their goals back to optimal health. Amy loves being out in nature and spending time with her husband and two grown children.

Nelson has an AAS in Physical Therapist Assistant and believes that no patient is defined by their diagnosis. They may have a diagnosis but that does not encompass who they are. Each patient will come with their own challenges and it's on the clinicians to help them reach their goals. He enjoys interacting with people and getting to know what's important to them. Nelson enjoys cooking and learning new recipes, as well as hiking and biking with his dog.

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Shelby Taylor is our clinic liaison assisting our Licensed Therapy Staff with the care of our patients. Starting PTA school in fall 2021, Shelby is a licensed yoga instructor and earned her Bachelors of science in education. In her free time she enjoys dancing, practicing yoga and baking.

Kirsten Rayner, DPT received her B.S. in exercise and sport science from Frostburg State University and continued her education at West Virginia University to earn her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Kirsten has experience and interest in treating neurologic and orthopedic conditions across the lifespan, including but not limited to developmental delay, cerebral palsy, autism, post-op conditions, and sport related injuries. Kirsten lives in Fayetteville, NC with her goldoodle, Beaux, and blue heeler, Ruger. Kirsten is a driven, passionate, and caring therapist who takes pride in her commitment to patient centered care. She values her position as a Physical Therapist as it allows her to help optimize human movement and get people back to doing what they love! Outside of providing therapy, you may find Kirsten walking her dogs, enjoying the beach, or floating down the Cape Fear River!

Meagan has experience working with both adults and pediatrics with a variety of orthopedic and neurological conditions. Her passion lies in working with pediatric clients and she has experience working with a variety of neurological, genetic, and developmental conditions including developmental delay, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, and a multitude of other conditions. She has experience working with children of all different abilities including those who are medically fragile. Meagan absolutely loves her job as a physical therapist and is very passionate about providing the best care possible for the individual. Meagan believes in a "full person" approach and believes the best therapeutic results are obtained by getting to know the person as a whole. When Meagan is not working, you may see her enjoying the outdoors with her dog or participating in one of her many hobbies such as painting or singing.

Maryellen Halloran is a physical therapist who originally hails from Miami but has made her home in North Carolina since 2017. Maryellen attended physical therapy as a teenager and the care and compassion shown by her physical therapist led to her interest in wanting to pursue it as a career. Maryellen went to undergrad at the University of North Carolina and studied to be an athletic trainer. Following graduation, Maryellen worked as a head athletic trainer in Miami, FL. Maryellen graduated from the University of Miami Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2013 and has been working as an orthopedic physical therapist since that time. Maryllen has worked primarily in orthopedics but throughout her career has also treated neurological disorders, vestibular disorders, and general deconditioning. In 2020, Maryellen went on to further her orthopedic background by becoming a Orthopedic Certified Specialist which is a certification held by only 6% of physical therapists nationwide. Maryellen speaks fluent Spanish and is glad to offer services to this population in their preferred language. When not working, Maryellen enjoys spending time with family and friends. Maryellen is also a huge sports fan (Go Tar Heels) and enjoys both watching and attending sporting events. 1. Certified Athletic Trainer 2. Orthopedic Certified Specialist 3. Fluent in Spanish

Deanna Sipes PT, DPT received her B.S. degree in Exercise Science from Towson University and continued her education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to earn her Doctor of Physical Therapy. She has experience and interest in treating and evaluating a variety of pediatric and childhood disabilities and limitations, including Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, AMC, Spina Bifida, fractures and sports injuries, pediatric TBI, and other gross motor deficits. Deanna also has experience and interest in treating adult and pediatric patients from underserved communities, especially the Latinx population. She is a fun, warm, and kind therapist that loves to build personal relationships with her patients and their families. Deanna is a strong believer in inclusion and accessibility and will work with patients and families to incorporate fun and real-world activities within therapy to help patients return to activities they love to do. In her downtime, Deanna enjoys being outdoors and is currently a coach for Special Olympics Cheerleading in Durham county.

Rachel has a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and is a Certified Nursing Assistant. She believes that being engaged, kind, and open with patients makes all the difference in patient success. Rachel has witnessed firsthand how valuable therapy can be for many patients and wants to continue to help patients to increase their quality of life. She loves to hike and be outdoors as well as spend time with her family.

Katie has a Doctor of Physical Therapy and enjoys working with children. She has a playful and outgoing personality which is demonstrated in her treatment approaches. Katie takes pride in serving others and loves the opportunity to help change the lives of her patients and their families. In her free time, Katie enjoys hiking and exploring with her husband and two dogs.

Allison has a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. She is a very outgoing and talkative person who uses her personality to make her patients feel more comfortable and at ease during the sessions. Allison knows that all patients are different which is why it’s important to be creative with interventions. She loves helping people reach their goals whether that be returning to their sport or being able to walk upstairs without pain. No goal is too small and all deserve to be celebrated. In her free time Allison enjoys running, going for nature walks, and spending time with friends and family.

Paula Hils, MA, CCC-SLP received her B.A. degree in communication disorders from Pennsylvania State University in 1985. She continued her studies at Indiana University and earned M.A.T. in speech and hearing sciences and completed ASHA certification of Clinical Competence in 1988. As a licensed speech-language pathologist she has over 25 years of experience in childhood speech & language development including articulation, phonological awareness, language delays/ disorders, autism, stuttering, augmentative/alternative communication. She has provided assessment and treatment of adult & geriatric patients for aphasia, dysphagia/swallowing and voice disorders. Additional professional experiences include clinical supervisor and clinical research coordinator. She has lived in North Carolina for 25 years and resides in Apex, NC with her husband and 3 school age children. She enjoys traveling, especially to the beach, cooking and reading.

Kara, MA-CCC SLP, currently lives in Durham, NC with her husband.  She earned her Master’s degree from UNC-Greensboro after graduating from James Madison University.  Kara enjoys working with young children and their families in their natural environment to develop communication in daily routines.  Kara also has a passion for helping children with their feeding and eating skills to improve family routines and meal times. When Kara isn’t proving therapy, she enjoys baking, reading books, and exploring new places with her husband. 

Erica N. Strong, MS, CCC-SLP is an enthusiastic therapist who lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband and rescued dog, Zoe. As a North Carolina native, she received both her Bachelor’s of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences Master’s of Science in Communications Sciences and Disorders from East Carolina University. Erica has a passion for pediatrics and has enjoyed working with children, all the while collaborating with their parents and caregivers in the natural environment. 

Kayla has experience in evaluating and training a variety of pediatric speech and language deficits such as phonological and articulation delays, expressive and receptive language delays, fluency, autism spectrum disorder, cognitive delays, and other nonverbal communicators. She enjoys the wide span of the pediatric population, especially early intervention and preschool-aged children. Kayla believes in creating a plan of care that will assist both parents and children in communicating successfully in the child's natural environment. Outside of being a therapist, you can often catch Kayla at the local trails walking her fur baby Milo or trying out a new restaurant.

Morgan is completing her Clinical Fellowship year following the completion of her Master's in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has worked with a variety of populations including school-aged children ranging from K-12 with specific speech and language needs. She worked in Acute Rehab assessing and treating swallowing and language disorders following stroke, TBI, and COVID complications. Morgan loves building connections and relationships with those around her which inspired her to pursue a career in Speech Language Pathology. She looks at situations from a variety of viewpoints and adds creativity to her solutions. Outside of Care First Rehab, you can catch Morgan testing a new recipe, going on hikes, and reading her current book.

Kathleen has experience and interest in treating and evaluating a variety of pediatric and childhood speech and language deficits, such as receptive and expressive language delays, articulation and phonological delays, autism, cerebral palsy, cognitive delays, fluency, pragmatics, Fragile X syndrome, and Down syndrome. Kathleen is a kind and giving therapist that enjoys building relationships with parents and children to provide the best services possible. She lives in Raleigh with her husband and two dogs. In her free time, Kathleen enjoys reading, cooking, and sitting on her back deck.

Marian has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology and a Master of Speech Pathology. She has worked extensively with the Autistic community. Marian believes that a warm personality creates a trusting environment for her patients while also making therapy enjoyable. She grew up in a community that did not have easy access to therapy services which encouraged her to go into this field. In her spare time, Marian enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Melissa has a Bachelor of Science and Masters degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She has worked with patients of all ages - from Pre-K through the senior population. Melissa believes in a relaxed approach to her sessions and prefers to focus on the functionality of a goal and/or activity. In Melissa’s free time she enjoys cooking, exercising and video games.

Kaitlyn received her Associate’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Pitt Community College in Greenville, NC and is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. She has been practicing for 2 years and focuses on serving patients who have had strokes, autism, ADD/ADHD, developmental delays, down syndrome, Alzheimer’s, hand injuries, sensory processing disorders, spinal cord injury, TBI, general life aging complications like incontinence, extremity weakness and more. Kaitlyn is a vibrant, kind, energetic therapist who works hard to build strong relationships with patients to ensure that she can help the reach their goals by using different functional strategies. One of her greatest lessons in this work is that the affects of sensory disorders can be supported by having proper recognition, regulation, and coping strategies so a child’s knowledge, skills, and abilities can shing through. She loves bonding with her patients, ensuring that they accomplish their goals over time so they can experience joy and happiness daily. In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys the outdoors, running, dancing, traveling and spending quality time with friends. Kaitlyn is originally from Maine and misses her parents dearly as they are her dearest friends. Rocky, her cat, keeps her company who loves to sleep and cuddle mostly. Kaitlyn has been busy meeting famous stars like Brittany Spears, Luke Bryan and Vanna White. More importantly, she wants to meet Betty White and Jennifer Aniston because both women exude so much knowledge, wisdom, grace, and kindness while also being very talented.

Lauren received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy and a certified CPR. Currently she is in the process of getting her post professional Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy. One of her greatest lessons in this work is that you cannot force someone to therapy however, through client centered intervention you can motivate patients to participate. She loves bonding with her patients, ensuring that they accomplish their goals over time so they can experience joy and happiness daily. In her free time, Lauren enjoys playing soccer, running, workout, traveling and spending quality time with family and friends.

Heidi received her Bachelor's of Science in Mass Communications at Minnesota State University Moorhead and her Associate's Degree of Applied Sciences in Occupational Therapy from Durham Technical Community College She has worked in pediatrics since 2005 in a variety of roles, such as a CNA, TA, cognitive skills' trainer, etc. which led her down the path of occupational therapy. Heidi moved to North Carolina from Fargo, ND in 2005 and lives in Raleigh. Heidi is a fun, kind, and enthusiastic therapist that loves to build personal relationships with parents and children. She believes that the "magic" of therapy and seeing good patient outcomes happens outside of therapy in collaboration with the parents/caregivers through coaching and the carryover of learned skills. She values her role as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant as it allows her to help patients connect with their worlds. Outside of providing therapy, you will find Heidi working out, dancing, or enjoying a movie with friends.

Sefir is originally from Berlin, Germany, but has been a North Carolina native for over 20 years. His background includes a Bachelors's in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports Medicine. Sefir starts from a foundational approach with each and every patient to truly understand the nature of each individual's unique perspective towards their therapeutic journey. He comes from a strong Orthopedic background working with upper extremity hand surgeons, as well as working with younger children. His hobbies include playing basketball, soccer and beach volleyball, as well as strength training 6 days out of the week.

Veda has a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and her Master’s in Occupational Therapy. As an exercise science major, she wanted to be a part of a profession that combines treating others while implementing creative treatments. Veda loves to interact with her patients and cultivate close, personal relationships. Being able to witness and be an integral part of their progress is what she finds most rewarding. In her free time, Veda enjoys traveling, hiking, cooking, and watching NBA basketball.

Jeannie has been an administrator in one role or another for over 15 years. She has a variety of experiences from working in hospitals, nursing homes, home health care facilities, and rehabilitation therapy clinics like Care First Rehab. Jeannie is passionate about supporting and helping our patients. She loves chatting with them and helping them through their healing process. She enjoys traveling and exploring new places and spending time with her family in her free time. She had the pleasure of meeting Beyonce....she enjoyed meeting her because