Our Staff
Yvette Slezak, DPT, ATC, a physical therapist and the owner of Premier Physical Therapy. I have been practicing physical therapy since 1997 and I have been in the Fredericksburg area since 1999. I received my Masters Degree in Physical therapy in 1997 from Slippery Rock University in PA. In December 2006, I received my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Des Moines University in IA. I currently reside in Spotsylvania county with my husband and three children.
Tania Baltes, PT, received her degree as a Physiotherapist in 1988 from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. She worked for the South African Defense Force for 4 years at the Institute of Maritime Medicine in Simonstown. She came to the US in 1992, working in New Orleans for 5 years. Tania met her husband while he was an active duty Marine. After marrying him, they moved to North Carolina and then Virginia in 1999. Tania is strong in manual therapy, but implements many different techniques based on patient need. She has been working at Premier Physical Therapy since 2008 and enjoys working closely with her peers and patients.
Karen Buchholz, DPT, a Physical Therapist at Premier Physical Therapy, was born in Fredericksburg and raised in King George, VA. In 2005, she graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Health Science. In 2008, she received a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University. She now resides in King George with her husband.
Kelli Kernen, PTA, a Physical Therapist Assistant of Premier Physical Therapy, was born in Morenci, Michigan and raised in Hillsdale County Michigan. She holds an Associates Degree in Physical Therapy from Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek Michigan. She has been practicing physical therapy since 1990 and has been in the Fredericksburg area since 2002. She now resides in Locust Grove Virginia with her husband.
Jenny Rector, office manager of Premier Physical Therapy, was born in Fauquier and raised in Culpeper County. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Strayer University. She has worked in a medical setting since 2002. She resides in Charlottesville, VA with her husband.
Robbie Hutto, a Receptionist of Premier Physical Therapy, was born and raised in southeast Alabama. Her work history includes administrative staff support as a public affairs coordinator and customer service representative. She is a Navy Wife and currently resides in Fredericksburg, VA with her husband.
Jodi Holmes, a Receptionist of Premier Physical Therapy, was born in Spotsylvania, Virginia. She has worked in a medical setting since 2006. She currently resides in Orange County, Virginia with her husband.
Bryan Trumble, a Physical Therapy Tech of Premier Physical Therapy, moved to the Spotsylvania area in 1995. He went to Courtland High School and later graduated from Christopher Newport University with a Humanities Degree. While at CNU, he worked as a supervisor at the campus gym, took personal training classes and played ice hockey.
Shannon Hauser, a Physical Therapy Tech of Premier Physical Therapy, was raised in Scotch Plains, NJ. In 2010, she graduated from University of Mary Washington with a B.A. in History. She now resides in Fredericksburg, VA.
Andi Fulena, a Massage Therapist at Premier Physical Therapy, is a Career Training Solutions graduate and has concentrations in her required star/national CEU’s in medical massage. Andi has experience in spas, chiropractors’ offices, teaching manual therapy at CTS and working in physical therapy clinics.
Karyn Chapman, a Massage Therapist at Premier Physical Therapy, has 15 years of therapeutic massage experience in both New Zealand and the United States. She was born and raised in the North Island of New Zealand and started her career being mentored in a community house by a gifted Osteopath, Naturopath and Craniosacral therapist, Madhu Bhana. Karyn completed a Health Science certification and ran a successful massage business. In 2011, she attended the U.S. Career Institutes Massage Therapy program where she gained valuable experience in sports, chair and deep tissue massage. She currently resides in Fredericksburg with her husband and cat and enjoys her second passion – working with horses.