Faculty

Pieter Kroon PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Pieter graduated from the Haagsche Academie voor Fysiotherapie in the Hague, the Netherlands, in 1986. He completed his manual therapy fellowship training at Gulf Coast Graduate Physical Therapy Institute in 1992. He is Board Certified in Orthopedic Physical Therapy. He started the Manual Therapy Institute in 1998, together with Tim Kruchowsky, where he functions as senior faculty and Program Director. He is a co-owner of Mondo Sports Therapy in Austin, TX.

Tim Kruchowsky PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Tim graduated with a BS in physical therapy from Cleveland State University in 1986. He moved from Ohio to Gulfport, MS in 1988 to train under Mike Rogers. He completed his manual therapy fellowship at Gulf Coast Graduate Physical Therapy Institute in 1990. He is Board Certified in Orthopedic Physical Therapy. He received his doctorate in physical therapy through Rosalind Franklin University in 2012. In 1998 he and his partner, Pieter Kroon started The Manual Therapy Institute where he functions as the Director of Clinical Education and Senior Faculty.

Doug Mallers PT, MS, FAAOMPT

Doug attended Indiana University’s Physical Therapy program where he graduated in 1992. In 1998, he completed his fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy from the Gulf Coast Graduate Physical Therapy Institute in Gulfport, MS. Currently, he serves on the Examination Committee of the AAOMPT. He is co-owner of Mallers & Swoverland Orthopaedic Physical Therapy in Fort Wayne, IN, where he lives with his wife and two boys. He has been on the faculty of The Manual Therapy Institute since 1999.

Dave Zeigler PT, MS, ATC, FAAOMPT

Dave graduated with a BS in Physical Therapy from the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston in 1983. He received his Master’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Texas-Tyler in 1989. He has worked in outpatient orthopedic physical therapy for over 25 years. He completed his manual therapy fellowship training at Gulf Coast Graduate Physical Therapy Institute in 1998. He has been on faculty with the Manual Therapy Institute since 2000. Dave is currently co-owner of the Institute for Sports and Spine Rehabilitation in Plano, Texas.

Brittany Hodge PT, MS, FAAOMPT

Brittany Hodge graduated from Texas State University in 2009. In 2013 she completed her manual therapy Fellowship training with the Manual Therapy Institute. Currently, Brittany is pursuing her Doctorate of Science through Texas Tech University. She is the owner of Empower Women’s Health in Pasadena, TX.

Alison Vargo PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Alison graduated from Texas Woman’s University in Houston in 2010 with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy, and she completed the Harris Health Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program in 2011. She went on to complete her Fellowship from The Manual Therapy Institute in 2012. She expects to complete her Doctorate of Science in Physical Therapy from Texas Tech University in 2018. Alison is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, and performs her faculty practice with C. Foster + Associates in Houston.

Mark Gutierrez, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, FAAOMPT

Mark graduated from Texas A&M University in 2009 and Texas Woman’s University – Houston in 2012 with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. He completed his manual therapy fellowship training through the Manual Therapy Institute in 2015. He is board certified in Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy. He currently manages an outpatient orthopedic clinic in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Jonathan Bray PT, DPT, EdD, MS,FAAOMPT

Jonathan received his Master of Physical Therapy degree from Quinnipiac University and his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Utica College. He has completed he his Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy  with MTI and is recognized as a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. Jonathan completed his Doctorate in Education with a concentration in organizational leadership from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Jonathan is the Assistant Program Director and an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Miami campus. Prior to joining the university, he was a multi-site area director in an occupational medicine setting. He was an officer in the United States Army Reserve for over eight years as a member of the Army Medical Specialist Corps. Jonathan continues to treat in outpatient clinics in southern Florida and is an active member of the Florida Physical Therapy Association.

Katie Gwyn PT, DPT, Cert. MDT, FAAOMPT

Katie was born in Bedford, England and lived in several countries before settling in Austin, Texas. She graduated from Rice University with a BA in Kinesiology. While at Rice, she was a varsity member of the cross country and track teams during a time when they won 8 conference championships. Katie earned her Master’s of Science in Physical Therapy and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. Katie received her certification in the McKenzie method of mechanical diagnosis and therapy in 2013 and her Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy with the Manual Therapy Institute in 2015
She is the co-owner of Mondo Sports Therapy in Austin TX.

Chris Traut PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Chris has over 20 years of experience in Orthopedics, including the last 10 in Industrial Health. He has served as a leader in both the for profit and non-profit settings. Chris earned his doctorate in physical therapy from A.T. Still University and completed his Fellowship training with the Manual Therapy Institute in 2016. He is a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Specialists, and a board-certified orthopedic specialist. He also holds certifications in Functional Dry Needling, Vestibular Rehabilitation, and the Selective Functional Movement Assessment. Being an active Clinical Instructor (CI), Chris has served as a CI to nearly 30 doctoral students in the past 5 years. He received the University of Colorado Clinical Instructor of the year award in 2020 and was nationally recognized as a CI in 2021.

Rachel Forte PT, DPT, FAAOMPT

Rachel Forte graduated from the University of Pittsburgh’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2014. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Northern Arizona University as well as a clinician with a special interest in occupational health and perinatal care. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists, Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy and a Certified Obstetric Physical Therapist. Aside from patient care, she is a FAAOMPT mentor and serves on the scholarship committee for the Arizona Physical Therapy Association.

Lauren Cooper PT, DPT, FAAOMPT

Lauren graduated with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences in 2016. She went on to complete her Fellowship training from The Manual Therapy Institute in 2021. Lauren is the owner of Achieve Movement Physical Therapy in Boca Raton, FL and is an adjunct faculty at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Miami campus.

Mentoring Faculty