Meet Your Sports Rehabilitation Providers at UH Ahuja Medical Center
The sports medicine and rehab experts at University Hospitals Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute have the advanced training and experience to recognize and treat sports-related injuries in athletes of all ages and skill levels.
Call to Schedule an Appointment Today
For an appointment with one of our sports rehabilitation providers, call 216-285-6060.
Lauren Bertagnolli PT, DPT
Lauren graduated with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Saint Louis University. When she moved back home to Cleveland, she started working for a private practice in orthopedic and sports medicine with the opportunity to work with athletes of all ages. Here she developed her skills in running analysis and concussion treatment. Lauren is certified in advanced integrative dry needling for pain management and performance enhancement in adult and youth athletes. She completed Herman and Wallace pelvic floor training and began treating women with pelvic floor dysfunction with a passion for treating athletes during pregnancy, returning to full athletic performance following pregnancy, and all female athletes with pelvic floor dysfunction. In her free time, Lauren enjoys strength training, running, hiking and camping with her husband and kids.
Special interests: Strength and conditioning, nutrition for athletic recovery and performance optimization, runners and endurance athletes
Trent Best PT, DPT, OCS, C-OMPT, ITPT
Trent is a board-certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedics and is fellowship-trained in orthopedic and manual physical therapy. He currently is on faculty for UH Orthopedic PT residency, UH Sports PT residency, an adjunct faculty member of Hanover College DPT Program in Hanover, Indiana, and Vice Chair of NEOPTA. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the Ohio State University and obtained his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Cleveland State University. He is credentialed as a clinical instructor, trained in ImPACT/concussion rehab, and is certified in dry needling.
Special interests: Orthopedics, sports/return to sport, manual therapy, concussion, dry needling, Crossfit athletes and powerlifting athletes
Brad Brigagliano PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, MTC, CSCS
Brad is a board-certified clinical specialist in sports and orthopedic physical therapy, manual therapy certified, and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. He obtained his Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine and his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from James Madison University. He has advanced training in trigger point dry needling, blood flow restriction and throwing/running video analysis. Before joining the University Hospitals team, he worked as part of a multi-disciplinary sports medicine team at Champions Sports Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama. During his time at Champion Sports Medicine, he treated numerous professional and collegiate athletes recovering from a wide variety of operative and non-operative orthopedic conditions. Brad servers as adjunct faculty at multiple Doctor of Physical Therapy programs across the country and as faculty in the University Hospitals Sports Physical Therapy Residency program. Brad grew up in New York and participated in multiple sports. He now resides in Cleveland with his family.
Special interests: Sports and orthopedic physical therapy, strength & conditioning, manual therapy, overhead athletes (throwing), golf
Chase Majewski OTR/L, OTD, CHT
Chase is an Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist. He graduated with his Doctor of Occupational Therapy in 2013 from the University of Toledo. After graduating he commissioned as an officer in the US Army where he was stationed at Ft Hood, Texas. He was designated as an upper extremity orthopedic and musculoskeletal specialist working at the Darnall Army Medical Center, later moving on to assume Company Command within the 1st Medical Brigade. Here he had the opportunity to treat multiple orthopedic issues both stateside and overseas. Additionally he worked with the Army Wellness Center where he evaluated and provided individualized performance based fitness programs to soldiers. Upon completion of his time in the Army, he moved back to Northeast Ohio, starting at University Hospitals in 2018 working primarily in upper extremity orthopedics. Chase has always had a passion for treating athletes. He enjoys physical fitness and strength training, backpacking, and spending time with his amazing wife and kids.
Special interests: Hand and upper extremity injuries post op or post trauma, upper extremity orthotics, repetitive/overuse injuries, overhead athletes
Kayley Mitchell PT, DPT, OCS
Kayley received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh, and her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Miami University of Ohio. She is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy. She is a mentor for the sports PT residency program at University Hospitals and is Clinical Coordinator at Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute. Kayley has advanced training in dry needling, running analysis and blood flow restriction, and a strong passion for treating the athletic hip. Prior to starting at University Hospitals, she interned at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Lemieux Sports Complex where she treated a variety of sports-related injuries of high school, collegiate and professional athletes. Kayley is a Cleveland native with a background in competitive gymnastics. She resides in the Cleveland area with her husband, daughters and two dogs. She enjoys running, yoga, circuit training and Cleveland sports.
Special interests: Sport and orthopedic physical therapy, manual therapy, dry needling, running analysis, gymnastics, dancers, vestibular rehab
Brent Pekarski PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS, CPSS, XPS, ITPT
Brent is a board-certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Performance and Sports Scientist, EXOS Performance Specialist and ImPACT-Trained Physical Therapist. He obtained his Doctor of Physical Therapy from New York University and his Bachelor of Science in exercise science from the University of Akron. He has advanced training in strength and conditioning, injury prevention, taping techniques, myofascial cupping and blood flow restriction. Before joining the University Hospitals team, Brent managed and worked as a therapist in a multi-disciplinary private practice PT clinic in New York City. During his time there, he had the opportunity to work with a variety of athletes at all skill levels looking to return to sport following operative and non-operative injuries. In addition to serving as the DSMI’s rehab supervisor, Brent is the director of UH’s Physical Therapy Residency Program in Sports. Brent grew up in the NEO area and is a die-hard Cleveland sports fan. He resides in the Cleveland area with his wife and daughter. In his free time he enjoys strength training, going to concerts and Cleveland sporting events.
Special interests: Sports and orthopedic physical therapy, strength & conditioning, ACL Rehab, injury prevention, research
Katelyn Peterson, MS, AT, ATC
Katelyn (KP) is a certified athletic trainer who specializes in the prevention and treatment of acute and chronic orthopedic injuries. She obtained her Master of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology with a concentration in Athletic Training from the University of Florida and Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Ashland University. During her undergraduate studies, she was a four year starter on the women’s soccer team and participated on the club basketball team. KP has advanced training in emergency management, taping techniques, strength and conditioning, and athletic sideline care. Before joining the University Hospitals team, she worked at University of Florida Health as an Outreach Athletic Trainer where she served as Coordinator for the Athletic Training program at the University of Florida Department of Recreational Sports. Prior to returning to northeast Ohio, she worked for Kettering Health Network and provided athletic training services as a Secondary School Athletic Trainer for the Hamilton City School District. KP served as the Athletic Trainer at Lutheran High School West for two years, where she revamped the athletic training program and helped the men’s basketball team win a state championship appearance in 2023 before moving into her current role in the clinic. She is a diehard Cleveland sports fan and loves the Florida Gators. In her free time, she enjoys snow skiing, CrossFit, woodworking, and spending time with her wife Andrea and cat Bru.
Special interests: Strength and conditioning, ACL recovery, return to sports testing, CrossFit, soccer, basketball, snow sports
Jamie Schwab, AT, ATC, PES
Jamie earned her certification in athletic training following her internship from ESPN Wide World of Sports. Her past experience includes training and strength coach for McLeod Health System and women’s sports at Lake City High School as a scholarship race coordinator/director. She has worked at Henry Ford Health at Edsel Ford High Sschool, at a military hospital during the pandemic and at the University of Michigan Medicine MedSport Domino’s Farm. In her free time, she enjoys spending time loving her son Jax, two dogs Tucker and Leo (pitty and boxer), and her wonderful husband of almost six years. She loves being outside, hiking, running and weightlifting, and of course is as happy as can be with a cup of coffee.
Special interests: Running athletes, strength training, weightlifting
Allison Toole PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Allison is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy. She currently serves as adjunct faculty for the Tufts University DPT Program in Boston, Massachusetts. She also serves as faculty for the Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program at University Hospitals. She earned her DPT from Belmont University in 2014 and completed her orthopedic physical therapy residency at The Ohio State University in 2015. Following her residency, she published research on return to sport outcomes following ACLR in JOSPT in 2017 and recently co-authored a textbook chapter on post-operative knee rehabilitation in 2022. She has previously served as adjunct faculty for the Ithaca College DPT Program from 2017-2018, and guest lecturer at The Ohio State University Athletic Training Program and DPT Program in 2021-2022. In 2019, she completed her fellowship training in orthopedic manual therapy from Daemen College in Buffalo, New York. She currently works as a clinical specialist at University Hospitals Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute, and is passionate about utilizing technology and sport science to advance clinical care and patient outcomes, specifically in post-op knee surgery and ACL reconstruction. She is certified in dry needling and blood flow restriction training and a clinical instructor for future DPT students. She is unapologetically passionate about using her professional platform to provide educational opportunities that act as a catalyst for translating evidence-informed research into clinical practice for outstanding patient outcomes. In her free time, she enjoys live music, traveling, sporting events, and spending time with her family and two dogs.
Special interests: Orthopedics, manual therapy, return to sport, neuro-cognition, ACLR rehab and research, lower extremity athletes, community outreach/education/preventative programs
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