Staff

Jason Powell, PT DPT

Physical Therapist/Clinical Instructor

Jason received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Samuel Merrit University and his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of Puget Sound. As an Honors Program Scholar at Puget Sound, Jason played intercollegiate baseball and minored in Mathematics and Chemistry. In addition, he was involved in research at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Jason completed original research on combination strength training techniques in the male athlete, assisted in research for anti-gravity treadmill training in patients with neurological disorders, and studied neurodynamic abnormalities in patients with orthopedic dysfunction. Jason truly enjoys treating all orthopedic cases with a particular interest in the rotational athlete. He is certified as a Myofascial Decompression clinician. As a California Concussion Institute educated practitioner, Jason is trained to work with patients following concussion when they present with exertional and vestibular impairments. On a personal note, Jason is a Redwood City native who attended St. Pius elementary school and Sacred Heart Prep. He is now a high school baseball coach at SHP, his alma mater, after coaching baseball for 5 years at Menlo School. When not at work, Jason and his wife enjoy raising their two daughters, playing recreational team sports, and watching TV and movies.

jason@starptrwc.com

Matthew Jew, PT DPT

Physical Therapist

Matt is a born and raised Bay Area native who returned home from Los Angeles to be closer to his family and re-immerse himself in his roots. He graduated from San Diego State University for his Bachelor’s Degree and then Cal State Long Beach for his Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy. His main goal when working with patients is to get them back to exactly where they want to be! By creating individualized exercise programs and using specific manual techniques, Matt can cater to each patient’s unique musculoskeletal issues. He places a huge emphasis on getting to know his patients personally, and making their physical therapy a little less intimidating. In his free time, Matt enjoys playing video games, hiking, weightlifting, rock climbing, music festivals, traveling, and martial arts. Give him a hello when you come to STAR, and he will welcome you with a smile!

matt@starptrwc.com

Nicolette Conkin, PT DPT CSCS

Physical Therapist/Clinical Instructor

Nicolette graduated with her DPT from Utica College in New York in the Spring of 2022 after completing her B.S. in Health Studies with a Minor in Healthcare Ethics in 2020. While completing her undergraduate degree, she was a 4-year member of the Utica College Women’s Basketball team. Her passion for sports lead her to become a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach through the NSCA in 2020. This allowed her to train athletes of all ages and competitive levels until graduating PT school in 2022. In her free time, Nicolette enjoys participating in various basketball leagues around the Bay Area and spending time outdoors with her two dogs.

nicolette@starptrwc.com

Michelle Crane-Robba, PTA

Physical Therapist Assistant

Michelle graduated from and received her license from Sonoma College in 2007. Additionally, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Motion Picture from Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. She was born and raised in San Jose, California but has lived abroad, teaching English in Japan. She is certified as both a Myofascial Decompression and Graston Technique clinician. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, mountain biking and cooking.

michelle@starptrwc.com

Amoljeet Kaushal, PTLA DPT

Physical Therapist Assistant

Amoljeet was born and raised in India. She worked as a licensed physical therapist in India for 7 years before getting married and moving to California. Her passion for physical therapy led her to complete her doctorate in physical therapy from Montana University in December 2022. She looks forward to helping her patients achieve their maximal rehabilitation success! In her free time, Amoljeet loves to explore new places, cook, and be with her family.

amoljeet@starptrwc.com

Alex Chang

Physical Therapy Aide

Alex is currently enrolled as an undergraduate at San Francisco State University, working towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. Alex is from California, born and raised in San Francisco. He is looking forward to becoming a physical therapist after completing his undergraduate degree, obtaining experience in the field, and then applying to and completing physical therapy training in graduate school. In his spare time, Alex enjoys being in nature, cooking and baking, and is always curious to experience and learn new things.

Andrew Goyeneche

Physical Therapy Aide

Andrew was born in South Carolina and moved to California when he was 6 years old. He is currently enrolled at Ohlone Community College and plans on transferring to Cal State East Bay or Sacramento State University to complete his Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. He hopes to eventually attend graduate school and become a physical therapist. Andrew has gone on mission trips to the Philippines and Navajo Nation to volunteer for those in need in these communities. In his spare time, he enjoys playing basketball, video games, working on cars, and going to the beach and camping.

Martin Kcancha

Physical Therapy Aide

Martin was born in Palo Alto and raised in Fremont, California. He currently attends Ohlone Community College where he is preparing to transfer to USF or SJSU to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). He eventually plans to further his education by pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and then become a Nurse Practitioner (NP). In his spare time, Martin enjoys playing keyboard piano, electric and acoustic guitar. He loves to be around music and enjoys listening to, playing, or singing music with his friends and family.

Brandon Garcia

Physical Therapy Aide

Brandon was born and raised in Redwood City, California. He graduated in the fall of 2022 from San Francisco State University with a B.S. Kinesiology. He wants to continue gaining clinical experience in a variety of physical therapy settings with the goal of applying to PTA or PT school in the near future. In his free time, Brandon exercises regularly and hopes to return to playing competitive soccer and basketball. Whenever possible, he travels to Mexico with his family. Here at home, he is an enthusiastic Golden State Warriors and Bay Area sports fan.

Jack Loftus

Physical Therapy Aide

Jack was born and raised in Redwood City, California. He is currently enrolled at Menlo College and is completing his Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management and Finance. He plans on applying to law school once he graduates with aspirations of becoming a sports agent in the future. In his spare time, Jack coaches volleyball and basketball and loves teaching kids about sports. Being an avid Bay Area sports fan, Jack loves to attend the Giants, Niners, and Warriors games.

Charles Lim

Physical Therapy Aide

Charles was born and raised in San Francisco, California. He graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. He is taking time to accumulate more experiences with patient care and performing science research at UCSF before applying to medical school to become a doctor. In his free time, Charles enjoys weightlifting, playing video games, going on hikes, and reading.

Howard Lieberman, MA

Business Operations Manager

Howard has over 30 years of clinical experience in spine and extremity musculoskeletal rehabilitation. He is a graduate of UCLA and San Jose State University and possesses a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology. Howard was one of the founders of STAR Physical Therapy in 1994. He specializes in the design of physical training programs specifically related to orthopedic rehabilitation and preparation for rigorous outdoor activities. He is certified as a “Rock Doc” for Kinesio taping and RockBlades instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM). For forty years, Howard has been an avid skier, backpacker, mountain biker/cyclist and trail runner. He is also a licensed private pilot. Howard continues to spend as much time as possible with his wife and two daughters enjoying the high mountains and all types of outdoor adventures.

howard@starptrwc.com

Dwayne Moore

Clinical Operations Manager

Dwayne has over 30 years of Healthcare Administration and Management experience. He a native Californian, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He attended the University of California Santa Barbara and San Francisco State University. He has coached youth soccer for over 17 years at various skill levels ranging from recreation leagues, club teams and high school teams. He is an avid Oakland A’s fan and a soccer (real football) fan. In his spare time he loves cooking, hiking, coaching and a good sci-fi book.

dwayne@starptrwc.com

Stephanie Thorpe

Front Office Manager

Stephanie is the Office and Insurance Administrator for STAR Physical Therapy. She has over 18 years of medical office experience and is an expert in physical therapy benefits for private, worker’s compensation, and Medicare insurance plans. She will be happy to assist you with any scheduling or insurance questions you may have. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her two grandchildren, family, friends and RVing with her husband.

stephanie@starptrwc.com