Lee H. Kole, PT

After completing the bachelor’s program at the University of Oregon with a degree in exercise and movement science and a minor in biology, Lee obtained his physical therapy degree from Fontys Hogeschool Eindhoven in the Netherlands. He has been in outpatient orthopedic practice since 1998 and continues to pursue extensive continuing education with an emphasis on functional training and manual therapy. Lee is passionate about helping patients achieve their goals and uses a comprehensive approach consisting of patient education, manual therapy, and functional training. He enjoys working with patients with a wide variety of orthopedic needs. From sports-specific injuries to chronic-pain issues, Lee takes the lessons from each encounter and applies them to the next. He also makes it a priority to schedule surgical observation days with local surgeons to stay current with the advances in technology, techniques, and protocols that are necessary for optimum postsurgical recovery. Additionally, Lee is responsible for program development at BreakThrough and enjoys bringing an educational and proactive approach to BreakThrough patients specifically and physical therapy in general through the programs BreakThrough sponsors. Most recently, Lee was selected to present at the national American Physical Therapy Association Conference in Denver, Colorado. He was honored to work with a local physician to train other therapists on improved concepts and methods for posture and body mechanics in keyboarding and computer work. When Lee is not working, you can find him enjoying time with his family and spending time at the gym, cycling, playing tennis, snow skiing, or on the golf course.

Sarah K. Sivitz, MPT

Sarah obtained her master’s degree in physical therapy in 2001 from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Since graduation, Sarah has completed a variety of postgraduate courses in manual therapy, including the year-long Australian Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy program and a course for the development of postoperative rehabilitation programs for cervical and lumbar spine conditions. She has also traveled to Nicaragua, where she was able to use her Spanish language skills to provide care and teach other allied professionals in this region. Prior to joining the BreakThrough team in 2004, she practiced physical therapy in both private practice and in skilled nursing facilities in the Bay Area. Sarah strives to provide her patients with excellent care through biomechanical analysis and correction of movement faults, manual techniques, patient education, and motivation. Sarah is an outgoing individual who builds meaningful relationships with her patients, something she feels is paramount to quality care. She has been instrumental in extending BreakThrough’s community impact through the organization of regular philanthropic functions to support local charities and causes. Sarah has also taken on the role of historian within BreakThrough and helps us to remember great times and great people by cataloguing our team events and photos in our office scrapbook, which can be found in the lobby. When she is not working, you can find her hiking, biking, and training for her next marathon.

Hilary Genise, DPT

Hilary obtained her doctorate of physical therapy from the University of Southern California in 2008. Prior to receiving her degree, she worked in genetic research, helping people through scientific discovery. After 5 years in research, Hilary realized that she desired to help others more directly so she went back to school to start a new career in physical therapy. As a result of her clinical experience, she combines manual therapy with modalities, therapeutic exercise, and patient education. She now enjoys seeing how her treatment positively affects peoples’ lives. Hilary improves her skills through continuing education and enjoys consulting with her BreakThrough colleagues to provide her patients with the best available care. She is returning to some of her old hobbies—biking, hiking, and reading for fun—and is always open to developing new ones.

Stacey Harper, MScPT

Stacey graduated with distinction in 2005 with a bachelor of science in kinesiology from the University of Alberta in Alberta, Canada. After completing her undergraduate studies, she earned her master’s degree in physical therapy in 2008 from the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada. Her experiences in this program instilled in her the belief that healthcare professionals must be responsive to the changing needs of their patients, receptive to novel treatment approaches and technological advances, and accountable for providing quality care. Stacey is deeply committed to delivering patient-focused care and openly communicates with patients to establish goals, maximize their capabilities, and achieve successful outcomes. She uses active listening in combination with manual therapy, individualized exercise programs, and patient education for a comprehensive treatment approach. She has a lifelong passion for learning and advances her skills through continuing education courses. Outside of her professional life, Stacey is an avid skier and enjoys squash, yoga, and traveling.

Jeanette Krogstad, PT

Jeanette completed her bachelor of science degree in physical therapy in 1992 at California State University at Fresno. Since receiving her physical therapy license in 1993, she has worked in a number of settings throughout Santa Clara County, including outpatient orthopedics, sports rehabilitation, and acute care. Her pursuit of extensive continuing education coursework in manual physical therapy, joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, pelvic girdle treatment, lower extremity biomechanics, thoracic outlet syndrome, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, and dynamic stabilization has helped her to develop a vast array of treatment options that are customized for each patient.  She enjoys working with patients to help them achieve maximum functional ability and believes an integrated approach using manual therapy and therapeutic instruction combined with an independent home program enables her patients to achieve their maximum potential.  When not at work, Jeanette enjoys staying physically fit with Pilates, hiking, biking, and skiing.  She is also active in her family’s church and school communities.

Leeanne Knaus, PT

Leeanne graduated with a bachelor of science degree in physical therapy from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981. She owned and operated an outpatient orthopedic clinic in San Mateo for 20 years, treating a wide variety of orthopedic conditions. Leeanne now enjoys focusing her efforts on direct patient care. She takes great pride in her extensive experience in manual therapy and sports medicine and is certified in augmented soft tissue mobilization, or ASTYM, for the treatment of soft tissue restrictions. Leeanne specializes in the evaluation and treatment of neck, back, temperomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, and post-mastectomy patients. She also has an extensive history of continuing education coursework, especially in regard to osteopathic approaches to physical therapy. As an avid golfer, Leeanne enjoys working to rehabilitate injured golfers and has taken coursework on this subject as well. She uses her experience to the benefit of each patient by first evaluating and understanding their history and goals, then educating the patient in all aspects of their diagnosis and treatment, applying a variety of manual therapy and neuromuscular re-education skills, and then prescribing a progressive personalized exercise program designed to maximize the patient’s function. When she is not working, Leeanne enjoys time with her family, golfing, hiking, and getting involved with her church and other community outreach organizations.

Sofia I. Russell, Senior Client Account Specialist

Sofia is a native Californian who has lived in the Bay Area her entire life. She has hiked, cycled, or ridden horseback from one end of the state to the other. Sofia has a great deal of empathy for the achy patients that visit our facility. In Sofia’s words, “In the late 1960s, I was a musician who performed for dignitaries at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, co-wrote a song that became the theme song in a Mexican spaghetti western, was caught on the outskirts of a messy student revolution, received a general education/electronic technology degree and climbed the Popocatépetl (an active volcano and the second highest peak in Mexico). Did I mention my fear of heights? After clicking my ruby slippers, I returned home to a quiet and uneventful career in quality assurance, testing and demonstrating semisecret systems to government customers in a cute, spy-versus-spy kind of way.” Sofia has an affinity for problem solving, which led her to a life of troubleshooting in one form or another. Sofia has been an invaluable asset to BreakThrough since our inception (July 2004). As BreakThrough’s senior client account specialist, she is responsible for much of the “behind the scenes” efforts that allow the rest of the organization to run smoothly. This involves troubleshooting client accounts, developing improved procedures in all aspects of the organization, providing accounting support, and managing all contracting issues. In her spare time, Sofia can be found with a book in hand, scooting around the neighborhood on her electric skateboard, or wiling away the hours with her husband, 3 dogs, and cat.

Kristin Garcia, Client Services Representative

As the first face you see upon entering BreakThrough, Kristin strives to establish a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all. She prides herself on her attention to detail and clear communication. She makes every effort to provide a personalized touch for our clientele, creating a unique and satisfying experience for each patient. Since 2007, Kristin’s primary responsibility has been to maintain all front office duties, including scheduling, insurance verification, and database management. In her spare time Kristin enjoys various aspects of design, photography, and music, as well as a wide assortment of movies, especially foreign and independent films.

Aide Team

BreakThrough’s Aide Team is second to none! These team members have a vested interest in patient care and thoroughly enjoy the great relationships they build with patients at BreakThrough. Aides are typically somewhere on the path toward a career as a physical therapist and require experience prior to being accepted into a masters or doctorate level physical therapy program. Most of our aides have graduated with a bachelor’s degree or are currently enrolled in a bachelor’s program. Aides play a critical role within the BreakThrough organization. Under the direction of a physical therapist, they are responsible for exercise instruction and modality set-ups. Aides are often involved in answering phones, scheduling, collecting co-payments, inventory management, filing, cleaning, and many other tasks that help to make each patient’s experience the best it can be. A special thank-you and a lot of credit are deserved by BreakThrough’s aides, as they are truly the glue between the patients, the administrative team, and the physical therapists.