Our Staff

	June DeStefano Tait, PT is the owner of SPTA since its opening in 1994. A graduate of the University of Lowell, Lowell, MA, she has been practicing physical therapy since 1986. June received a diploma in Integrative Manual Therapy in 2006 from the Connecticut School of IMT which is affiliated with Westbrook College of Arizona. She specializes in manual therapy techniques for musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. June is trained in mat Pilates and teaches Modified Pilates for Core Strengthening. She is currently training in the Pilates reformer series. Strengthen your core and change your life! June is certified in Dry Needling techniques, KinesioTaping techniques as well as in Power Plate acceleration training. She is constantly furthering her education to learn new skills and techniques as she loves physical therapy and SPTA. She enjoys being active and being outdoors. She is a yoga and Pilates enthusiast! June also enjoys playing pickleball with her husband! She and her husband love to travel and visit their adult children wherever their journey brings them!
	Melissa Auger, PTA is a graduate of Ohlone College, Fremont CA. She has been practicing physical therapy since 2015. Melissa also has a BS in Business from University of Oregon. She moved to Maine from California in 2019. She has experience working in several orthopedic outpatient settings. Melissa specializes in working with pelvic floor dysfunctions affecting bladder, bowel, and sexual health. She also has a background in personal training and group fitness instruction. Outside of work, Melissa spends time with her husband, two young kids, and dog. She enjoys fitness, reading, and wine.
	*Brenda Belanger, PTA* is a graduate of Newbury College, Brookline MA. She has been practicing as a physical therapy assistant since 1988. Brenda is on the Facial Pain Treatment Team and has over 20 years experience in the treatment of TMJ and cervical dysfunction. She has a strong background in orthopedic and sports physical therapy. Brenda has training in manual therapy for the treatment of musculoskeletal dysfunction. She is certified in KinesioTaping. Brenda is also trained and certified in Power Plate acceleration training. When not in the clinic, Brenda enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
	Kate Brewer, PT, DPT is a graduate of the University of New England. Kate has been practicing PT since 2014 and is experienced in treating a multitude of different diagnoses. Her passion lies in outpatient orthopedics but has enjoyed working with patients with acute needs in a hospital-based setting. Kate enjoys designing treatment plans to specifically match each patient’s needs to provide the best care, meet goals, and improve overall quality of life. Most importantly, she studies how each patient moves and works with the patient to improve quality of movement to maximize rehab potential and lower risk of re-injury. In her ‘down time’, you can find her chasing after her twin boys, playing with her yellow lab, riding her Peloton, watching the Bruins and Patriots, paddle boarding, and enjoying life alongside her husband, Eric.
	*Sarah Elia, MPT* has over 15 years of experience in the field of outpatient physical therapy, receiving her B.S. and MPT from American International College in Springfield, MA. She believes strongly in the utilization of her hands and manual techniques to help her patients heal, and work to improve their quality of life. She has extensive training and experience with a wide range of orthopedic conditions, pelvic floor dysfunction, bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction for women and men. In the clinic, Sarah uses various methods of treatment to help alleviate pain and increase functional mobility. She has completed coursework in soft tissue techniques, joint mobilization, muscle energy techniques, craniosacral therapy, and dry needling. She is passionate about a pain free and healthy lifestyle. Sarah grew up in Southern NH and moved to Maine with her family. Sarah is an avid runner and enjoys being outdoors hiking, biking and spending time at the beach with her family.
	*Gretchen French, PT* is a graduate of the University of New England, Biddeford ME. She has been a practicing physical therapist since 1987. She specializes in vestibular and balance rehabilitation. She is certified in Dry Needling, KinesioTaping, and Power Plate acceleration training. Gretchen is currently developing a Barre class for core strengthening. She is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory receiving a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in dance. Gretchen enjoys incorporating her dance background into exercise and fitness programs. When not working, she enjoys antiquing with her husband, trips to NYC to visit her daughter and take in a Broadway show, and watching football with her son.
	*Frank Gentile, PT, IMTC* is a graduate of University of Vermont, Burlington VT. He has been practicing physical therapy since 1979. Frank also has a BS in Health Science from Boston University, Boston, MA. He has a Certificate in Manual Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in 1988 and certification in Integrative Manual Therapy since 2001. Frank helped to establish the first free standing Orthopedic and Sports private physical therapy practice in Maine in 1981 where he realized that no single approach to treatment is the appropriate approach for every individual. Frank has studied many different forms of hands on manual therapy and was fortunate to train with highly skilled practitioners including Osteopathic Physicians and Physical Therapists. Frank joined the faculty and staff of the Institute of Integrative Manual Therapy and participated in research and development. Frank has taught extensively in manual therapy techniques and incorporates his own treatment techniques from the past 40 years of education and research. Frank was in private practice in Falmouth, ME since 1998 and joined SPTA in January of 2018.
	*Marjorie Haney, PT* is a graduate of Boston University, Boston, MA. She has been practicing physical therapy since 1990. Marjorie has a strong background in manual therapy techniques for musculoskeletal dysfunction. She is the Integrative Manual Therapy Coordinator at SPTA. Marjorie is certified in Power Plate acceleration training and is pursuing personal training certification. Outside of the physical therapy, Marjorie coaches basketball at the high school level. She is an avid runner and enjoys being physically fit.
	Chelsea Harvey BS, PTA is a graduate of PIMA medical institute, University of Maine at Presque Isle, and Husson University. Chelsea has been practicing physical therapy since 2016 and is experienced in treating in both outpatient and home healthcare settings. She enjoys working with patients who have chronic pain. She strives to create an individualized and functional treatment for patients to improve their daily activities and overall quality of life. She has completed course work in Muscle Energy Techniques, Vertigo treatment, Kinesiotaping and is a credentialed clinical instructor. Outside of work Chelsea enjoys spending time with her husband and two little boys enjoying nature hiking, hunting, fishing, and bike riding.
	*Debbi-Jo Harvey, PT* grew up in Aroostook County until she migrated to Southern Maine to attend college at University of New England in Biddeford. She has been loving practicing physical therapy since 1989. Debbi-Jo has experience in a variety of settings over the years including work hardening, in-patient and out-patient clinics, skilled nursing facilities and aquatic therapy. She has specialized in the treatment of TMJ disorders, facial pain and headaches. Debbi-Jo works with patients with a wide variety of musculoskeletal disorders incorporating manual techniques, stretching, exercise, postural training and modalities. In her free time, she enjoys motorcycle riding with her husband and traveling. She has lived with her husband and three sons in Scarborough for the past 25 years.
	Sara Hatheway Merrill, MPT is a graduate of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. She has been practicing physical therapy since 1988. Sara specializes in orthopedic and sports physical therapy, and has extensive experience with functional and sports specific training. She has developed and implemented programs such as Dynamic Lumbar Stabilization for back injury management and in recent years has implemented Pilates for Rehabilitation into her practice. Sara also has a strong background in manual therapy techniques for the treatment of musculoskeletal dysfunction. She has been certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, KinesoTape Practitioner and in Power Plate acceleration training. Sara has taught both Pilates classes and Senior Fitness classes focusing on improving posture, balance, strength, and overall fitness. Sara enjoys working with clients of all ages to help them achieve their goals and reach their full potential. She enjoys spending time with her family, appreciating the outdoors, hiking, biking, and skiing.
	Alison Ouellette, DPT has been practicing as a physical therapist since graduating from Simmons College in 2003. She has experience working in acute care settings within hospitals, at outpatient clinics and in home health. Alison has seen patients for a wide range of orthopedic conditions and pelvic floor diagnoses. Her passion is working with women and men who have pelvic floor dysfunctions affecting their bowel, bladder and sexual health. She incorporates manual therapy, postural and body mechanics education, biofeedback and Pilates-based exercise into her treatment approaches. Alison strongly believes in providing education to her patients along their path to wellness so that each of her patients has the knowledge of how to continue with their individual programs at home. When Alison is not working, she can be found spending time with her husband and two daughters. Alison is a life-long inhabitant of Maine and enjoys taking in all that Maine has to offer in each of the four seasons with her family.
	Aija Paegle, PT, DPT, CFMT is a physical therapist, educator, and former dancer. Studying movement has been a life-long passion and as a physical therapist, Aija uses the knowledge that she has gained from years of dance, over 20 years in the fitness industry teaching Pilates and studying many manual and neuromuscular movement methods to help each patient discover their own unique movement solution. Aija’s educational background includes a double B.A in Dance and Political Science from the University of California Santa Barbara and an M.A. in Physical Therapy from Hunter College, City University of New York. Currently, Aija is completing post-graduate course work to advance her degree to a clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Aija’s advanced certifications include Certified Functional Manual Therapist (2011) and Schroth Method level C2 (2014) which is a specialized 3D treatment approach for scoliosis. Aija was part the inaugural class for Pilates certification by the Pilates Studio in NYC, apprenticing over 600 hours with Pilates protégé, Romana Kryzanowska and master teacher Bob Liekens. Aija was able to land at SPTA after fulfilling a decade long goal of moving to Maine last December from New York City where she started her dance career and finished the last 13 years as physical therapist at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Despite a demanding hospital position, Aija kept one foot in the dance world, treating Broadway dancers backstage in NYC, and spent the past 3 summers treating at Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival in Becket MA. The other foot was in education. Aija has taught courses on the rehabilitative applications of Pilates in Physical Therapy at Columbia University and has lectured at national and international rehabilitation conferences. Aija moved to Maine with her husband where both relish the outdoors, fishing, mushroom foraging and the climate that makes them feel much closer to their Latvian roots.
	*Ashley Pitchforth, MS, PT* attended Ithaca College in New York and obtained a Master’s of Science in Physical Therapy in 1998. Over the 20 years of her career she has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient orthopedics, inpatient rehabilitation, acute care and finally returning to outpatient orthopedic therapy. She has a wide scope of practice and has been building her manual skills over the past few years. Seeing patients be able to return to activities they love or regain function they have lost is the most rewarding part of physical therapy for her. She is excited to join Scarborough Physical Therapy Associates where she can give patient’s one on one attention. In her free time she enjoys running with friends and walking on the beaches of Kennebunk with her husband and two daughters.
	*Susan Ramsey, PT, MA* is the Pelvic Floor Rehab Team Leader. When people experience difficulty in their sexual, bladder or bowel function it is not uncommon for the quality of their lives to decrease or unravel. Susan’s passion as a pelvic floor rehab physical therapist is to bring education, support and guidance to women and men dealing with health issues related to their pelvic floor and core. No single approach is the right one for every individual, and therefore Susan has been trained in many different healing techniques including manual therapy, biofeedback and Pilates Rehab. She has spent the last twenty years of her career both deepening her knowledge in, and giving presentations on the benefits of pelvic floor rehab with patients who have sexual, bladder or bowel issues. Susan’s educational background includes a B.S. from Ithaca College in Physical Therapy and an M.A. from the University of Santa Monica in Applied Psychology. She also is a writer and mixed media artist. Susan lives in Buxton Maine with her husband and two daughters.
	Susan Thompson-Brown, MPT, RYT (Clinical Manager) has enjoyed a lifelong love of movement and brings this joy to her clinical practice. With a background in dance, choreography, and yoga, she brings a creative and personal approach to treatment. She holds a Masters degree in Physical Therapy from Northern Arizona University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science and Exercise Physiology from the University of Arizona. She specializes in holistic manual therapy techniques, utilizing Integrative Manual Therapy, craniosacral, myofascial release, and other approaches in treatment. Susan is certified through the Dry Needling Institute and most recently has studied with APPI in Pilates mat and reformer. Additionally, she is an experienced yoga instructor, registered through Yoga Alliance. She teaches classes, workshops and professional training through her company, LifeDance – yoga, movement and wellness. Her life philosophy can be described by Rumi: “Let the beauty of what you love, be what you do.”
Office Staff
Melanie Blaney, Practice Administrator Anne K. Ryan, Billing Rep. *Christa Crosman,* Patient Care Coordinator
*Darlene Edgecomb,* Office Asst. Emily Abbott, Receptionist Jamie Jannarone, Reception/Office Assistant

I was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in July 2008. I began my treatment at Scarborough Physical Therapy shortly after my surgeries and during my radiation and chemotherapy regimens that left me nauseous and weak both physically and emotionally. My therapists treated my symptoms with great skill, ingenuity, empathy and compassion, and I credit them with advancing my recovery and my return to health and wholeness. I will be forever grateful to June Tait and her amazing team of practitioners, and I recommend Scarborough Physical Therapy whole-heartedly to anyone who has suffered an injury or illness.

(R.)