Rehabilitative Care

Staff Bios

We are proud of our highly qualified Rehab Staff here at The Virginian. Below is a brief description of each staff member’s professional accomplishments.

Cathleen Renkiewicz, PT, Director of Rehabilitation
Cathy graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy in 1978. She has practiced in acute care and rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient orthopedic and sports medicine practices in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. As a clinical director, she developed programs in breast cancer rehab, sports screenings for high school, professional and recreational athletes, foot orthotic fabrication and treatment of biomechanical injuries, aquatic therapy, and vestibular/balance rehabilitation in various practice settings. She has been a member of the Geriatric, Orthopedic, and Oncology sections of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) for over 28 years, and has been the Director of Rehabilitation at the Virginian since 1997. Phone: (703) 277-6611

Lisa Rabinowitz, PT, MS, Assistant Director of Rehabilitation
Lisa received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1983. She also completed a Master’s degree in Health Administration at Pitt in 1988. Her experience ranges from acute care to home health. However, she enjoys working with older adults the most, and thus has focused her continuing education and practice in recent years on geriatrics. She has worked at The Virginian for 8 years. Phone: (703) 277-6611

Laurie Woydziak, PT
Laurie is a graduate of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy in 1985. She has experience in a variety of practice settings including long term care, acute care, and outpatient orthopedic clinics. Ms. Woydziak is a Geriatric Section member of The American Physical Therapy Association and her continuing education in recent years has concentrated on health concerns particular to the older population. Phone: (703) 277-6611

Lorraine Fischer, PT
Lorraine obtained her BSc in Physiotherapy from McGill University in Montreal, Canada in 1983. She initially worked in Ottawa, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec as staff therapist, gaining experience in acute care treatment in several hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation, with a special interest in treating the hemophiliac patient and children. Lorraine relocated to the Washington, D.C. area in 1989, and has primarily worked as a home care Physical Therapist, gaining experience with a variety of patient populations. She sought employment at The Virginian after hearing many of her home care patients speak highly of their care as inpatients. Lorraine has worked at The Virginian since February 2006.

Heidi Pena-Moog, LPTA

Heidi Pena-Moog earned her Associate's Degree in Physical Therapy from Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) in 1993. She has provided Physical Therapy services in a variety of clinical settings, including orthopedic outpatient clinics, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities for over 15 years. Ms. Pena-Moog's interest in hands-on therapy techniques and wellness led her to seek additional certification and licensure in Massage Therapy.  She graduated with an additional two year Associate's Degree in Massage Therapy from NVCC in 2007.  She then obtained her NCTMB State license to provide massage services in the medical orthopedic setting.  Ms. Pena-Moog has a special interest and skills in working with seniors in both the nursing home setting and community.  She is fluent in Spanish.

Hilary West, LPTA
Hilary graduated from the Northern Virginia Community College in 1981 with an applied science degree in Physical Therapy. She initially began her career working in orthopedic outpatient clinics, but has focused on long term care and geriatric rehabilitation over the past 10 years. She has a special interest in the treatment of osteoporosis and balance. She is certified by the Arthritis Association as a group exercise instructor. Phone: (703) 277-6611

Kristi Irby, LPTA
Kristi graduated from Northern Virginia Community College in 1989 with an Associates Degree in Physical Therapy. She has worked locally as a Physical Therapy Assistant in an acute care hospital, two skilled nursing facilities, an outpatient facility, and a home health care agency providing P.T. interventions. Most of Kristi's career experience and continuing education has focused on the older population.

Karman Reese, Speech-Language Pathologist M.S./CCC/SLP
Karman graduated with her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2001. Karman has experience with patients from 1-101 years. She is certified in VitalStim, an innovative treatment modality for dysphagia, and enjoys working with residents and outpatients with aphasia and swallowing complications. Karman is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Phone: (703) 385-0555 X392

Erin Nolan, MCD, CCC-SLP
Erin graduated with her Master of Communication Disorders from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans in 2004. She has experience working in the acute care, outpatient, and long-term care settings with adults and geriatric patients. Erin is certified in Vital Stim, an electrical stimulation treatment for dysphagia. She particularly enjoys working with patients suffering from swallowing and cognitive deficits.

Carrie Bryant, OTR, Lead OT
Carrie received her Occupational Therapist degree from Utica College of Syracuse University in 2003. Her clinical experience and areas of expertise include low vision, geriatrics, home adaptations and wheelchair seating and positioning. She recently relocated to Virginia from upstate New York.

Jennifer Cooper, OTR
Jennifer received her Occupational Therapy degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1986. Her varied clinical experience includes acute care, home care, pediatrics, orthopedics and geriatrics. She co-owned a hand therapy clinic for 9 years. She has worked at The Virginian for 10 years. Phone: (703) 277-6611

Shannon Digsby, OTR
Shannon earned her Associate’s degree from Herkimer Community College in 2002, with certification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). She went on to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Health Studies from the Utica College of Syracuse University in 2004, and then a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy in 2006. Areas of interest and clinical expertise include low vision and geriatrics.

Nate Pendell, OTR
Nate earned a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois in 2002. He worked for 2 years in the research department at the University of Florida in the Occupational Therapy Department. Afterwards, he entered the Occupational Therapy program, receiving his OT degree in 2006. His clinical expertise includes outpatient orthopedics, hand therapy, and geriatrics.

Michele McCarthy, Senior Fitness Specialist    

Michele has been working in the fitness profession since 1999.  She has earned numerous fitness certifications as a personal trainer and group exercise instructor from the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and also from the American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA).  Her passion for working with the older population led her to gain additional certifications from AFPA as a Senior Fitness Specialist and from the Arthritis Foundation as a Certified Arthritis Exercise Program Instructor as well as the American Senior Fitness Association (ASFN) as a Long Term Care Fitness Leader.  Michele has created incentive fitness programs for all fitness levels that encourage interaction and sound conditioning along with an element of fun.

Personal Exercise Program Staff
Toni Drees
Elizabeth Aremu
Vera Tabi