Cardiologist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Chiropractor providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Dentist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Dermatologist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Family Physician providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
OB-GYN providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Ophthalmologist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Orthopedic Surgeon providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Pediatrician providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Physical Therapist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Podiatrist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Psychiatrist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Dr. Karina Paonessa joined the NHST team in 2020 with a holistic approach to treating her patients. She believes that movement is medicine, and that every body has the potential to heal itself given the correct environment. Her goal is to provide patients the tools they need in order to help them reach their therapy goals. She does this through education, manual techniques, movement, and motivation while fostering a fun and healing environment.
Dr. Paonessa earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from West Coast University following her studies in Zoology with a minor in Spanish at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her interest in physical activity and movement started at a young age when she participated in many sports, landing on soccer, cross country, and track in high school. While attending UCSB, she joined the triathlon club team, intramural soccer, and completed 6 half marathons. She now fills her free time walking her dog by the beach, lifting weights, exploring hiking trails, attending concerts, and traveling.
With over 30 years of experience, my goal is to increase function and to decrease pain with innovative treatment techniques, modalities and exercise. I am continual learner and keep up to date on current and best practices. I have experience in in-patient (acute care), out-patient (clinic), sports rehab, acute rehab, worker's compensation and worksite ergonomics. I concentrate on prevention of disability and encourage return to activity. My plan of care centers on integration of their current lifestyle and adding home activity to advance healing and progress patients return to function. I concentrate on wellness-based education and activity to reach the patient's therapy goals.
“Shannon was amazing. Knew exactly what back issues I've been having since college and a realistic plan to attack it. Was able to clearly explain with photos and her indepth knowledge on the body. Can't wait to tackle the back now.”
“It was a great visit. He actually listened, and it was easy to talk to him about my situation. I have seen him before for a shoulder issue and with his help and exercise program my shoulder got stronger. I was able to resume doing exercises at the gym without it hurting.”
Leslie graduated with a B.S. in Health Education from California State University Northridge in 2000, and then received her Master of Science in Physical Therapy degree from California State University Northridge in 2003. Leslie is a lifelong learner and has taken numerous courses since graduation.
Prior to becoming a team member at Goodlife Physical Medicine, she spent several years working at different integrated pain management clinics which specialized in non-surgical spinal decompression, chiropractic, physical therapy, and pilates.
Leslie took up running in 2016 with the goal to accomplish 40 races in one year, and she nearly met that goal with such races such as the 39 Mile Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles Marathon, Bolder Boulder 10k, multiple Spartan Races, Mount Charleston Marathon, etc. In addition to running, she enjoys the outdoors, CrossFit, Krav Maga, athletic training, and working with kids.
She’s also an advocate for Breast Cancer awareness and is in the process of starting a Non-Profit to help educate and give support to people and their families going through breast cancer.
Physical Therapist Erica Fleischauer received both her Bachelor of Science Biology and Master of Science Exercise Physiology at Florida State University. She received her Master of Physical Therapy at University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. She regularly participates in continuing education classes to stay up-to-date on new techniques and other tools that can help her treat patients to the best of her ability.
She has been working in her field for over 20 years. The majority of her experience has been in an outpatient Orthopedic setting, ranging from teens to adults, athletes, post surgical patients, motor vehicle accident patients, sports injuries, and rehabilitation.
She enjoys helping people heal and getting them back to doing the activities they love, as well as educating her patients on their condition, treatment, and rehabilitation.
Erica is an active person, with a past history of triathlons and marathons. She also enjoys pilates and yoga, and is very active with her 4 children, taking them biking, rollerblading, and skateboarding.
Dr. Mark Craig-Jones, PT, DPT received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2011, graduating with high honors. While attending graduate school, he completed advanced coursework in manual therapy techniques and assessment of musculoskeletal conditions. Dr. Craig-Jones has a strong background in exercise prescription and sports performance. He completed his undergraduate degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise science in 2008.
Dr. Craig-Jones began his career as a physical therapist working in an inpatient rehab facility with primarily geriatric patients and treating conditions ranging from post-op total knee replacements to strokes and pulmonary disorders. However, after 1 year in this setting and with his advanced training in musculoskeletal conditions, found that his passion was in orthopedic rehabilitation. Therefore, he worked for the next two years in a private outpatient orthopedic clinic to gain vital experience and refine his manual therapy skills. While working in this field, he also had the opportunity to work as a Home Health therapist treating individuals in their own environment. He continued to work in this setting for 2 years before embarking on his goal of establishing, owning, and operating Pipeline Physical Therapy with fellow PT Dr. Chris Flynn.
Dr. Craig-Jones was born and raised in the United Kingdom before moving to California in 2000. He grew up with a very active lifestyle, playing soccer competitively through youth and college levels, and is an avid surfer and rock climber. He has an interest in all sports and uses this experience to create specific rehab programs for all his patients no matter what their desired activity.
Dr. Vavala graduated from the University of St. Augustine in San Marcos, CA with her doctorate in physical therapy. She graduated with high honors and was recognized for Excellence in Manual Therapy. Prior to becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy, she has experience working pro bono for pediatrics, coaching middle school and high school volleyball, and personal training.
Dr. Vavala was raised in Tucson, AZ. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Nutritional Sciences with Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arizona where she played competitive indoor volleyball through her senior year of college. Her experience as an athlete instilled an appreciation for the power of movement and the importance of maintaining peak physical condition as well as the challenges involved in the rehabilitative process. She continues to enjoy staying active in a variety of ways including weightlifting, running, and pickleball.
Dr. Flynn’s path to the vocation of physical therapist is not the norm. After graduating from Arizona State University with a B.S. in International Financial Management, he embarked on a career in the financial services industry. Growing frustrated with the lack of benefit he could provide to his clients, Dr. Flynn decided to focus on his passion-movement of the human body. This led Dr. Flynn to seek out options for a career in which he could use his skills to better the lives of others on a physical and mental level.
Dr. Chris Flynn, PT, DPT received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2010. While attending graduate school, he completed advanced coursework in manual physical therapy and assessment of musculoskeletal conditions. Since graduation, he has been practicing outpatient, orthopedic physical therapy. Dr. Flynn believes in treating the whole body entirely, using functional movement assessments to determine the cause of dysfunction. Then, working collaboratively with the patient/client, a solution is tailored to each individual. Dr. Flynn partnered with Dr. Craig-Jones to open Pipeline Physical Therapy with a shared vision to provide a new model of physical therapy focused on overall movement, health and wellness of each individual.
Dr. Flynn was raised in Phoenix, AZ and relocated to Southern California for graduate school in 2008. In his spare time, Dr. Flynn enjoys spending time on the beach and local hiking trails with his wife Antonia, son Ashton and their dog Dolce.
Toni joined the Pipeline Physical Therapy family shortly after they opened in 2015. Toni matriculated from Humboldt State University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and then received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in 2011. Toni has a strong background in outpatient orthopedic physical therapy with an emphasis in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction. She has completed the CAPP levels 1-3 series in pelvic floor physical therapy through the American Physical Therapy Association’s Section on Women’s Health.
Being an avid runner, toni also has a special interest in gait mechanics, and she has completed additional training in the assessment and treatment of lower extremity runners. Toni loves the outdoors, and in her spare time, you can often find her running with friends or hiking with her husband, son and their jack russell terrier, Dolce.
*CAPP certification is a complex, three level course program designed to evaluate pelvic health dysfunctions for both male and female individuals. Upon completion of this program the physical therapist is able to perform evaluations and interventions to assist in decreasing pain/dysfunction and increasing pelvic health.