Staff

Our physical therapy department at PT Hawaii is staffed with highly skilled Physical Therapists and Massage Therapists. Our staff consists of fully licensed, experienced health care professionals as well as support personnel dedicated to the highest level of service and quality.

Meet PT Hawaii Staff:

Maria Dizon-Correa, (Licensed Physical Therapist, MBA/HCM)

Maria was born and raised in the Philippines. She earned her degree in Physical Therapy from the Fatima University of the Philippines. After she moved to the United States and became a licensed physical therapist she furthered her career by pursuing an MBA with a special emphasis in Healthcare Management from the University of Phoenix.  Maria’s clinical experience includes hospital care, home health and out-patient rehabilitation centers. Sensing an opportunity to broaden her career with a multifaceted approach to patient care, Maria joined Leeward’s leader in physical therapy, PT Hawaii, in October 2008.  Everyday she brings her passion to the clinical out-patient setting at PT Hawaii by “restoring patients to maximum function”. I recognize that each patient requires their own distinctive physical  therapy treatment. At PT Hawaii we strive to ensure every patient receives a customized treatment based on the patient’s diagnosis and response to therapeutic touch.

Dana Fong (Licensed Physical Therapist, CSCS)

Dana is a graduate from the University of Southern California, which is the #1 Physical Therapy school in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report. Her extensive didactic and clinical training at USC integrates the most current research and patient care knowledge to allow the highest quality of care to all patients.

She has become a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), enabling her to treat athletes for return to sport as well as high level functioning patients for work hardening and conditioning programs 

Dana is an active member of APTA, NSCA, and a regular attendee to the annual Combined Section Meetings

Her Clinical Background

includes inpatient/acute rehab, pediatric care, vestibular training, aquatic therapy, and sports and outpatient rehabilitation.  

Dana has recently moved from California to Hawaii to be a part of PT Hawaii’s Kapolei team in September 2009.   Her clinical experience includes many physical therapy settings in various cities, such as San Diego, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. Her experience and practice in the outpatient orthopedics setting focuses on manual therapy, postural conditioning, sports rehabilitation, and global fitness and health education. With her educational and clinical background, she is actively involved in mentoring doctoral interns and physical therapy assistants.  Recreationally, she enjoys playing basketball, stand up paddle boarding, and being a “foodie” at all of Hawaii’s multicultural restaurants.  

Quote: “ Quality care is my utmost priority when treating patients.  PT Hawaii’s professionals and staff all collaborate and cooperate to deliver the highest care each day so that patients can reach their goals.”

Shaun Reyes   (Licensed Physical Therapist, CAATE)

Shaun is a graduate from the University of Southern California, which is the #1 Physical Therapy school in the nation, according to U.S. News and Report

Shaun also earned his athletic training certification from UNLV, which is a CAATE accredited athletic training program, focusing on orthopedic and sports injuries.  

Shaun is an active member of APTA, NATA, and a regular attendee to the annual Combined Section Meetings

His Clinical Background includes acute rehab, pediatric care, outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation, and high school/collegiate sports/athletic training.

Shaun has joined PT Hawaii’s team in October 2009 and works in Kapolei and Waipahu facilities.  His areas of interest are athletic and sports conditioning and rehabilitation, work hardening programs, and post-surgical rehabilitation, and shoulder/knee injuries.  He also is involved in training physical therapy students and assistants to develop their clinical skills.  Recreationally, Shaun is an active individual.  Since graduating from Kaiser High School in ’98, he continues to play sports, such as basketball, golf, and stand up paddle boarding.

Quote:  " Here at PT Hawaii, we combine evidence-based practice with clinical experience to provide optimal care to our patients."

Mark Perez  (Licensed Physical Therapist) MSPT

Mark was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas.  He earned his Master’s of Science in Physical Therapy from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas in 2004.  Mark’s thesis work at Texas State earned him national recognition by the American Physical Therapy Association and was presented at the Combined Sections Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee in 2004.  Mark started his career in south Texas where he directed two outpatient physical therapy practices, one of which he helped build from the ground up.  His clinical background includes hospital care, home health, skilled nursing facility, aquatic rehab, sports rehab and outpatient physical therapy.   Mark also participated in volunteering his services to underprivileged special needs children and helped establish the DREAMS Project chapter in Acuna, Mexico.   Mark joined the Waipahu branch of PT Hawaii in September 2009 and is enrolled in his Orthopaedic Certification Specialist (OCS) residency to further his career and provide a higher level of specialized patient care.    

Mary Joy Hallares (Licensed Physical Therapist) 

Education: Graduated in 1998 with a B.S. in Physical Therapy.
Experience: Has been working in Hawaii since 2007as a physical therapist.

Katherine S. Castro (Physical Therapy Assistant)
Education: Graduated in1999 with B.S in Physical Therapy,.
Experience: Worked in the Phillipines for five years as a Physical Therapist. Katherine as been working in Hawaii since 2006 as a Physical Therapy Assistant, and she is getting ready to take the test to become a Licensed Physical Therapist.

Charis Kepoo (Licensed Massage Therapist)
Education: Graduated in October 2007from the Hawaii School of Professional Massage.
Experience: Worked in a clinical setting for about 444 hours and completed intensive hands on training where she gained full knowledge about different massage techniques, including Swedish, Deep tissue, Shiatsu, and Reflexology. Charis has said that she would like people to know that “Many say my hands are my gift. I’d like to think that my communication skills, personality and a good ear for listening gives my patients a rejuvenating and relaxing massage. I put my heart into my hands and so when you get a massage from me you leave with a piece of my heart.”

Czarina Montenegro (Physical Therapist Assistant)
Education: Graduated in 2000 with B.S. in Physical Therapy.
Experience: Czarina has been working since 2004as a Physical Therapist Assistant, and she is getting ready to take the test to become a Licensed Physical Therapist. Czarina has said that she would like people to know that “My goal is to render excellent and professional health care service by maximizing my academic and creative skills to help our patients reach their maximum functional capabilities.”

Aldridge Acidera (Licensed Massage Therapist)
Education: Graduated in 2002 from the Hawaii Massage Academy (HIMAC)
Experience: Began working in Hawaii in 2005 as a massage therapist.

Malia Hugentugler (Licensed Massage Therapist)
Education: Graduated in 1989 from the Honolulu School of Massage
Experience: 20 years of experience in Hawaii as a massage therapist, and since 2003 has been employed by PT Hawaii as a massage therapist.

Kevin Lee (Director of Massage Therapy and Licensed Massage Therapist)
Education: Graduated in 2008 from the Kauai Community College Massage Therapy Program
Experience: Began working in Hawaii in 2008 as a massage therapist, and since May, 2009 has been the PT Hawaii Director of Massage Therapy.

Ray Wright (Licensed Massage Therapist)
Education: Graduated in 1997 from the Honolulu School of Massage.
Experience: 11 years of experience in Hawaii as a massage therapist.

Bienvenido Pangan (Licensed Massage Therapist)
Education: Graduated in 2008 from the Remington College Massage therapy Program.
Experience: Began working in June, 2009 as a massage therapist at P.T. Hawaii.

Sharon Vidal (Licensed Massage Therapist)
Education: Graduated in 2008 from the Kapiolani Community College Massage Therapy Program.
Experience: Began working in May, 2009 as a massage therapist at P.T. Hawaii.

Francis Pagdilao (Licensed Massage Therapist)
Education: Graduated in 2008 from the Remington College Massage Therapy Program.
Experience: Began working in June, 2009 as a massage therapist at P.T. Hawaii.