Our Team

clare

Clare C. Frank
PT, DPT, MS

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francisco

Francisco C. dela Cruz
PT, DPT

Dr. dela Cruz, a board-certified specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy, and practices at Kaiser Permanente, Baldwin Park, California.

Francisco received his Master’s degree in Physical Therapy in 1998 and later earned his Advanced Standing doctorate degree in 2012 from Western University in Pomona, California. He completed the Kaiser Permanente Movement Science Fellowship in 2004, and was clinical faculty member for the Kaiser Movement Science Fellowship from 2006-13.

Dr. dela Cruz has been a clinical faculty member of the Kaiser Permanente Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency since 2005, and Kaiser Spine Rehab Fellowship since 2016. He also serves at clinical faculty for Azusa Pacific University Advanced Clinical Fellowship in Movement & Performance. He has been published in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy (IJSPT) for research on baseball pitchers and has done a research study with Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies pitchers.

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tracy

Tracey Wagner
PT, DPT

Dr. Wagner is a board-certified specialist in Ortho­pedic Physical Therapy (OCS) and a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (FAAOMPT).

She developed her interest in physical therapy through participation in competitive sports, martial arts and an interest in health and wellness. She holds a B.A. degree from the University of Colorado, a Master’s in Physical Therapy from Mount St. Mary’s College, and a post-professional doctorate from Western University of Health Sciences.

Dr. Wagner began her career at Kaiser Permanente in Woodland Hills where she completed the Southern California Kaiser Permanente Orthopedic Residency, Manual Therapy Fellowship, and Movement Science Fellowship. She worked at Kaiser Permanente for 17 years and served as clinical faculty of the Southern California Kaiser Permanente Orthopedic Residency (2007-17), Movement Science Fellowship (2010-13), and Spine Rehabilitation Fellowship (2011-17). She has served as instructor for various continuing education and residency programs. In 2010, she was honored with the California Physical Therapy Association Clinician Research Publication Award for her article published earlier in JOSPT.

After 20 years in Los Angeles, Dr. Wagner recently relocated to the Bay Area where she will serve as an Assistant Professor in the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Department at Samuel Merritt University.

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david

David Kurihara
PT, DPT

Dr. Kurihara is a board-certified specialist in Ortho­pedic Physical Therapy (OCS) and Sports Physical Therapy (SCS) and a fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (FAAOMPT).

He graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2001, and then received his doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2004. He completed the Southern California Kaiser Permanente Orthopedic Residency Program in 2005, Manual Therapy Fellowship in 2006, Sports Residency in 2007 and Movement Science Fellowship in 2009.

Dr. Kurihara served on the clinical faculty for Kaiser Orthopedic Residency (2010-15), and Sports Fellowship (2008-15). He also served as an instructor in the physical therapy programs at Azusa Pacific University and Mount St. Mary’s University in Los Angeles, as well as various continuing education and residency classes since 2009. He currently resides in Honolulu and is part of Queen's Medical Center Sports Medicine team.

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nicole

Nicole Lovett
PT, DPT

Dr. Nicole Lovett was born and raised in Diamond Bar in Southern California. Her interest in Physical Therapy started when she was 12, after encountering various sports injuries. She became inspired by physical therapists, and knew that someday she would be just like them.

Dr. Lovett attended San Francisco State University, played soccer for the Women’s Team, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology in 2005.

She also holds a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from Azusa Pacific University (2009). In addition to her Bachelor’s and Doctorate degrees, Nicole is also a graduate from the Kaiser Orthopedic Residency program (2010) as well as the Kaiser Movement Science fellowship (2012).

Dr. Lovett is a board-certified orthopedic specialist and practices at Kaiser Permanente in Downey, where she serves as clinical mentor in the Kaiser Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency program. She also assists with the physical therapy program at Azusa Pacific University. Dr. Lovett enjoys applying the movement science approach to patients and sharing the approach with other physical therapists.

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josh

Joshua Lee
PT, DPT

Dr. Josh Lee earned his doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Evansville, in Evansville, IN. He completed his residency in orthopedic physical therapy and fellowship in orthopedic manual physical therapy through Mercer University in Atlanta, GA. He practices at Piedmont Hospital, Atlanta, GA where he mentors residents in Mercer University’s Orthopedic Residency program. Dr Lee is also an adjunct faculty in Mercer University's Orthopedic Residency Program. He is also published as the primary author of the Postural Considerations chapter in the 3rd edition of Travell and Simons' Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual.

Dr. Lee’s journey is significantly influenced by the teachings of Dr. Clare Frank, Dr. Joseph Donnelly, and Dr. Timothy McMahon. He shares their passion for educating clinicians on the clinical assessment and treatment of the human movement system.

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ernest

Ernest A. Linares, Jr.
PT, DPT

Dr. Linares received a Master’s degree from the California State University, Northridge Physical Therapy Program in 2005, and received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Western University in 2013.

He has completed Kaiser Permanente’s residency program in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, clinical fellowships in manual therapy, movement science, and spine rehabilitation. He currently serves as a clinical faculty member of the Southern California Kaiser Permanente Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency, Orthopaedic & Sports Rehabilitation Fellowship, and Spine Rehabilitation Fellowship programs.

He is a board-certified Clinical Specialist (OCS) in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT). He is also a Movement Links and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) certified practitioner. He currently works as a clinical specialist at the Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills facility and as part-time faculty in the Physical Therapy Department at California State University, Northridge. Dr. Linares also serves on the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education as an Accreditation Services Committee Member.

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faith

Faith Rea
PT, DPT

Faith is a board certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy (OCS). Faith played collegiate soccer for Cal State University Bakersfield and semi-professional for the Ventura Fusion. After her college and soccer career she went to Azusa Pacific University to complete her Doctorate in Physical Therapy (2015).

After completing her doctorate, Faith continued her post professional education and graduated from the Kaiser Permanente Orthopedic Residency program (2017) as well as the Azusa Pacific Clinical Fellowship in Movement and Performance (2019).

Faith is currently the co-director of the Orthopedic Sports Medicine Program at Casa Colina Rehabilitation Center, and serves as a clinical mentor in Casa Colina’s Orthopedic residency program.

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Hyun-jeong

Hyun-jeong Cho
PT, MS

Hyun-jeong Cho (Hyun) was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. Her interest in Physical Therapy and performance training began after experiencing several sports injuries since childhood.

She received a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy in 2002 from Sin-gu University, and a Bachelor’s degree in exercise health management in 2005 from Namseoul University. She subsequently obtained her Master’s degree in exercise physiology in 2008.

Hyun specializes in sports medicine and performance training. She has trained numerous amateur and professional athletes, including Korean national figure ice skating, baseball and basketball teams. Among premier athletes she trained was Yuna Kim, women’s figure skating gold medalist in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

In addition, Hyun served as a medical coach for the Russian national short-track ice skating in 2010 and later, served on the medical task force team for Korean Skating Union for three years while preparing for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Hyun currently serves as president/CEO of PerformPhysio Training Center in Seoul, Korea, and spends her time in rehabilitation and performance training of national and professional athletes, particularly ice skating, fencing, and basketball. She also serves as the CEO of NARAE Institute, whose mission is to elevate Korean post-professional physiotherapy education through continued education programs.

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hideko

Hideko Ogura
PT, DPT

Hideko Ogura was born and raised in Tokyo. She graduated from Fuchu Rehabilitation school in 1988 and worked in Yokohama University Hospital. She then left for the United States to pursue a bachelor's degree in kinesiology at San Francisco State University and her Doctor of Physical Therapy at Ola Grimsby Institute.

Hideko worked at the Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center for 15 years (2005-2021), after which she moved back to Tokyo. She worked at the Olympic Village serving athletes at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Hideko established Manual Therapy International Tokyo (MTI Tokyo), a non-profit organization in 2002. MTI’s mission is to improve education and skills by providing seminars and workshops for Japanese physiotherapists. In addition, she has written various textbooks for Japanese physiotherapists. She has also translated “The Janda Approach: Assessment and Treatment of Muscle Imbalance” and “Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes” in collaboration with other Japanese professors and clinicians.

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