Physical Medicine & Rehab Services

Lis Cade, MA,CCC-SLP is a two-time graduate of UCONN having completed her B.A. magna cum laude in 1996 and M.A. in 1998. She has worked extensively in a variety of healthcare settings, including acute care hospitals and acute and sub-acute rehabilitation settings. She is an expert in adult and pediatric disorders of speech, language, swallowing, voice, cognition and fluency (stuttering). She is a certified member of the American Speech Language Hearing Association.  

Nancy Corvigno, MSPT Received her M.S. in Physical Therapy in 1998 from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY. Over the years, she has worked in several therapy settings treating patients with a variety of diagnoses including: orthopedics, neurological rehab, women’s health, scar management, lymphedema, obstetrical concerns and pelvic floor dysfunction. As an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association in the Women’s Health and Oncology Sections and the Connecticut State Representative for the Section on Women’s Health, her passion has been providing care and education in women’s health related issues in the community.  

Tina DePalma, MSPT is the Supervisor of the Physical Therapy Department at Griffin Hospital. She is a graduate of the University of Scranton with a B.S. in Physical Therapy and of Quinnipiac University with a MSPT in Advanced Clinical Practice. She has been working in the inpatient and outpatient setting for over 12 years. Treating pediatric to geriatric patients with a wide variety of diagnoses including, but not limited to: neurological, orthopedic, amputation, congenital torticollis, wounds, musculoskeletal injuries. Much of her continuing education is concentrated in stroke rehab, fall prevention and wound care. Besides patient care in the clinical setting, she has developed and presented fall prevention programs to community groups. She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association in the Acute Care, Geriatrics & Neurology Sections.  

Michael Desjardins, PTA Received his A.S. in Science from Naugatuck Valley Community College and his A.S. in Physical Therapy Assisting from Housatonic College in 2000. He works with a variety of diagnoses involving: orthopedics,sports medicine and neurological issues. He also cares for the hospital acute care patients.  

Amber Ives, MSPT Received her B.S. in Sports Medicine in 1999 from California Lutheran University and her M.S. in Physical Therapy from University of Rhode Island in 2002. She has worked primarily in outpatient orthopedics, but has experience in the treatment of a variety of diagnoses including: joint replacements, sports therapy, neurological, Bell’s Palsy, as well as the acute care setting.  

Linda Koreiwo, PT, a graduate of Quinnipiac University has thirty years of experience, primarily in outpatient orthopedics. She has worked in various settings including work hardening, neurosurgical and sports medicine clinics. Her areas of interest are in pre- and post-op back and neck care and in joint replacement rehabilitation.

Jennifer Kovalusky, MSPT Received her M.S. in Physical Therapy from Sacred Heart University in 2003 and is currently working toward her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Temple University. She is a member of adjunct faculty for the Sacred Heart University Physical Therapy Program. She works primarily in the acute care setting, but is also involved in the joint replacement program and provides vestibular rehabilitation services in the outpatient department.

Myra Mathews, DPT Received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences at Boston University. Clinical experiences include working in both outpatient and acute care setting, serving on the Neurology Team at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Wound Care Team at Gaylord Hospital. Other areas of interest include: orthopedics, balance dysfunction and work related injury prevention. She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association in the Neurology Section.

Heather McAllister, OTR/L, CHT is an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist, specializing in the treatment of upper extremity conditions. Received her degree from Quinnipiac University in 1997. She has worked in outpatient, acute rehabilitation, homecare and subacute settings. She has experience in stroke rehabilitation and outpatient orthopedics and has skills in custom splinting, scarmanagement, edema management, manual therapy, visual retraining and patienteducation. In addition to her hand therapy, she is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and a registered Yoga teacher. She incorporates the principles of yoga into treatment when appropriate.

Krystyna Piotrowska-Nyerick , MD (Physiatrist) is the Medical Director of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at Griffin Hospital. She has experience in the treatment of pediatric to geriatric populations with a wide range of diagnoses. She joined Griffin staff in 1965 and is an active member of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, Connecticut State Medical Society, New Haven County Medical Society and Naugatuck Valley Medical Society. Her office is located in the Physical Medicine Department and she is available for appointments throughout the week.

Jeri Opuszynski, PTA Received her degree from Southern Connecticut State University, her Physical Therapist Assistant certification from Naugatuck Valley Community College with honors in 1999. She works with a variety of diagnoses including: geriatrics, orthopedics, neurological rehab, head-ache and pain treatment. Presently she is an instructor for the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at NVCC, a clinical instructor for PTA students at Griffin Hospital and an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association in the Acute, Geriatrics and Oncology Sections.

Mary Ellen Price, PT is the Director of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at Griffin Hospital. Received her degree from the University of Connecticut in Physical Therapy and has over 30 years experience in acute care and outpatient physical therapy in areas from pediatrics to geriatrics. She is responsible for the administrative aspect of the department and has a strong interest in adolescent/young adult care. She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association in the Health Policy & Administration and Acute Care Sections.

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