Chris is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, graduating from the dual-degree program at Seton Hall University, receiving both his Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) and Bachelor of Science in Biology. Chris
began his career at Holy Name in the Outpatient Rehabilitation Center, in Teaneck, NJ. Working in a hospital-based outpatient setting gave Chris the opportunity to work with patients of all ages and abilities, including pediatrics to
geriatrics, neurological to sports/orthopedics, pre- and post-operative conditions, and overuse injuries. This diverse patient population has helped Chris specialize across many platforms, and utilize a wide variety of skills and
techniques to achieve ultimate patient satisfaction.
Chris now works at HNH Fitness in Oradell, NJ, where he continues to treat a variety of disorders with an increased focus in athletes and weekend warriors. Chris
believes in always providing quality care and creating memorable moments for his patients. He does this by listening to his patient's goals and developing a highly-specific program to accomplish their needs.
Chris has a passion in Sports Performance Training and has received certifications as a Performance Enhancement Specialist through the National Academy of Sports
Medicine (NASM-PES) and is an Impact Trained Physical Therapist (ITPT) in the prevention and treatment of concussions. Chris believes in applying the principles of both Physical Therapy and Sports Performance Training to enhance
athletic performance while stressing injury prevention and proper body mechanics.
Ronald Drenth PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Ron received his Bachelor's of Science degree in Exercise Science from Keene State College in New Hampshire before working at Montefiore Medical Center as a Clinical Physiologist. While at Montefiore,
Ron performed research investigating the benefits of exercise during hemodialysis treatment. When the study was complete, Ron worked at the South Bronx Medical Center in the Cardiac Rehabilitation unit with a Physiatrist from
Montefiore.
Ron then joined Holy Name and worked at HNH Fitness, both as a fitness instructor and manager while pursuing his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Mercy College. While Ron's main interest is
orthopedics, he wanted to build a diversified background and performed clinical affiliations at Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation – on the spinal cord unit, and at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center on the telemetry and cancer
floors.
Brianne Etter, PT, DPT, CSCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Brianne received her Bachelor's of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Massachusetts–Amherst in 2005. After several years of experiencing physical therapy as a
patient, her passion for the field grew, and she went on to get her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York University. While completing her studies, she became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, furthering her
education in conditioning and weight training. Brianne completed a student affiliation with Holy Name and joined the staff after her graduation. Brianne is continuing her education with classes in vestibular rehabilitation.
Beth Finale
Certified in McKenzie and LSVT Big
Beth graduated with a Bachelor's of Art in Psychology from Villanova University and then earned her Master's in Physical Therapy from Rutgers/UMDNJ. She began her career at Hackensack University
Medical Center where she treated orthopedic injuries, including total joints and athletic injuries.
Beth continued her career as supervisor of physical therapy at North Jersey Brain and Spine Center. She spent 18 years at that facility treating neck and back pain, in
order to help patients avoid surgery and rehabilitate post-surgery. Beth is both McKenzie and LSVT Big certified. With over 20 years of physical therapy experience she has developed treatment plans and cared for patients of all ages
with all types of injuries.
Melissa Russo-Franco
Melissa graduated from the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor's of Science in Physical Therapy. While earning her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Temple University, she worked as a physical
therapist in the performing arts community on Broadway. After receiving her Doctorate, she continued working with such shows as The Lion King, Hairspray, Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, Mamma Mia, and with the Paul Taylor Dance
Company.
A few years later, Melissa moved to New Jersey and continued her career working in an outpatient orthopedic setting and returned to her passion of working with the
performing arts at Papermill Playhouse and the New Jersey Ballet. She then pivoted back to focus on the field of orthopedics, specializing in treating athletes such as runners, tri-athletes, and iron man competitors.
Through the years, she specialized in manual therapy and chronic pain while continuing her Broadway backstage physical therapy sessions. In 2020, Melissa joined HNH
Fitness Center as a physical therapist, where she brings her expertise and knowledge to each patient. She also continues her education with courses in manual therapy.
Stephanie Garzia PT, DPT, ATC
Stephanie received her Bachelor's of Science in Athletic Training from Dominican College and became a Certified Athletic Trainer. Stephanie immediately went on to complete her dual-degree of Bachelor's
of Science in Health Science and Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Mercy College.
She completed a clinical affiliation in Holy Name's Outpatient Center for Physical Rehabilitation, and is now a member of the HNH Fitness team as a physical therapist.
Stephanie plans to pursue her professional interests in Kinesio Taping and evidence-based, manual techniques.
Melissa Isaza
Melissa joined the rehabilitation team at Holy Name Medical Center in 2021. She obtained her Master of Speech - Language Pathology from East Stroudsburg University in 2012. She completed her graduate internship at Holy Name in 2012, where she worked with pediatric and adult patients in inpatient and outpatient settings.
Melissa specializes in pediatric communication disorders. She has experience providing therapy in the public school, daycare and early intervention settings. She was motivated to join the team after observing the quality of care delivered to her own family members who required rehabilitation services at Holy Name.
As a clinician, Melissa has experience working with a variety of communication disorders secondary to a variety of developmental and congenital disorders. Her experience includes, but is not limited to; treating and evaluating children with Expressive/Receptive Language Disorders, Auditory Processing Disorders, Articulation & Phonological Disorders, Apraxia of Speech, Selective Mutism, Autism, Prader Wile Syndrome, Down Syndrome, cognitive - linguistic deficits and language and learning disabilities.
Melissa is trained in PROMPT (PROMPTS for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) and PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System). She has a passion for working with patients who require AAC devices (Augmentative, Alternative Communication), as she is determined to provide her patients who are highly unintelligible or non - verbal with a voice.
Melissa has been awarded the ACE award (Award for Continuing Education) twice, by the American Speech - Language and Hearing Association, for her dedication and excellence in obtaining continuing education to best serve her patients. Melissa holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association.
Kyu Chul Lee, OTR/L, CHT
Kyu Chul is a licensed occupational therapist and certified hand therapist. Kyu Chul graduated with a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Yonsei University, South Korea in 2014. He began his carrier as a Staff Occupational Therapist at Asan Medical Center, South Korea's top hospital. Kyu Chul routinely assessed and treated various acute and post-operative conditions, including orthopedic injuries, neurological disorders, and a high percentage of severe trauma.
Kyu Chul moved to New York City and graduated with a master’s degree in advanced occupational therapy from New York University in 2017. When he was a graduate student, he fell in love with hand therapy during his volunteer work at Bellevue Hospital's occupational therapy department. Kyu Chul decided to pursue his career as a hand therapy specialist and obtained his CHT (Certified Hand Therapist) certification from HTCC in 2020.
Kyu Chul has been a part of the Holy Name Medical Center since 2022 with a strong background in both orthopedic and neurologic treatments. Kyu Chul is highly specialized in upper extremity treatments including post-operative rehabilitation of the upper extremity, trauma, tendon and nerve injury, fractures, and fabricating custom orthosis. He is passionate about learning the latest trend in therapy to provide the best possible treatment for all patients.
Kyu Chul speaks both English and Korean and he strives to serve the Korean community to improve their awareness and understanding of hand therapy.
Andrea Recinos M.S., CCC-SLP
Andrea is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Speech-Language Pathologist. She joined the rehabilitation team at Holy Name after earning her Master's of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from
William Paterson University.
Andrea completed her graduate internship and her clinical fellowship at Holy Name. She works with both children and adults in rehabilitative and acute settings and has
experience working with a wide range of communication, cognitive and swallowing disorders.
As a clinician, Andrea has experience in treating and evaluating the pediatric population with a variety of developmental delays and congenital disorders including but
not limited to Autism, Articulation & Phonological Disorders, Apraxia, Cerebral Palsy, Expressive/Receptive Language Disorders, and Huntington's disease.
Andrea is trained in PROMPT (PROMPTS for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets), a multidimensional approach to speech production disorders. She is also certified
in Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD), an innovative and clinically-proven method for improving voice and speech in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Andrea holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech
and Hearing Association.
Reg Grant, CAT(C), RSCC*E
Director, Human Performance
Reg Grant is the Director of Human Performance at Holy Name, which owns and operates HNH Fitness. He has spent the past 25 years in the field of elite athlete performance development, reconditioning, and rehabilitation. His experience includes 17 years as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the New York Rangers Hockey Club. In that role, Mr. Grant guided the team through the explosion in evaluation, training, tracking, and analytics by developing a comprehensive program targeted at improving athletic performance, managing recovery, and implementing strategies to reduce the risk of injury.
Mr. Grant also spent six years as the president of the Strength and Conditioning Association of Professional Hockey, which included assisting in the development of the current NHL combine, an assessment that includes medical screenings and fitness tests over a four-day period.
He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association, holding the designation of Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC*E), which is reserved for those members who have spent at least 20 years in elite-level strength and conditioning. Mr. Grant is also a Certified Athletic Therapist (CAT(C)) from the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association, which enables him to bring vision and insight to the merger of the medical, development, and performance fields.
Maxx Edmiston, MSA, CSCS
General Manager
Maxx Edmiston is the Manager of HNH Fitness and has years of experience working with special populations and as a personal trainer. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Mr. Edmiston has trained youth, high school and college athletes and earned his Master's degree in Sports Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University. During this time, he also served as a game-day intern for the New York Jets Ticket Sales and Service Department. He graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Exercise Science from Montclair State University.
Norelis Duran, PCES, CPT
Coordinator, Member Services
After working for years as a social worker, Norelis Duran became a certified fitness trainer and serves as the Member Services Coordinator at HNH Fitness. She uses the knowledge she gained from degrees in mental health and social work to nurture a holistic approach to providing client services.
Ms. Duran has found that movement is essential in managing stress and used that foundation often when working with women to help them make changes that improved their lifestyle. For many, their sleep patterns were refined, their time-management skills improved, they became mindful of their eating habits and scheduling self-care became a priority.
She helps clients understand that all systems must work in conjunction for a person to feel well. Health and wellness are not only about joining a fitness facility, but require a mind, body, and emotional connection. Ms. Duran has worked with individuals, families and children, in various backgrounds, including the disadvantaged, elderly, and physically compromised. She is adept at connecting clients to resources and helps everyone reach their own wellness goals.
Debbie Bessen, MS, RD, CSO, CLT
Nutrition Outreach Manager
Debbie Bessen is the Nutrition Outreach Manager for Holy Name and has more than 25 years of experience as a registered dietitian nutritionist, with broad experience in the field. She holds a Master's of Science degree from Queens College and is a board-certified Nutrition Specialist in Oncology.
Ms. Bessen believes food plays a vital role in overall health and has an integrative approach when counseling patients. She specializes in weight management, gastrointestinal issues, food sensitivities and helping her patients reach their health goals with wellness in mind. Ms. Bessen loves sharing her knowledge of nutrition and food and focuses on healthful habits instead of restrictions.
Tracee Yablon Brenner is the Outpatient Integrative Dietitian Project Coordinator for Holy Name. Ms. Brenner is a trained culinary professional who has more than 25 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian working in culinary nutrition, medical nutrition therapy and coaching, as well as nutrition communications.
She is a Holistic Health Coach and is very interested in the benefits of integrative and functional nutrition. Ms. Brenner has co-authored two books and been published in a number of national magazines.
Aimee Jengo, MPA
Sleep Center Manager
Aimee Jengo is the Manager of Holy Name's Center for Sleep Medicine. She has served in this position for 24 years, educating patients on the importance of proper sleep and making sure they feel comfortable during sleep studies.
Ms. Jengo earned her Master of Science in Business Administration and her bachelor's degree from Centenary College. She also received her Master of Public Administration for Health Care from Walden University.
J. Christopher Mendler, MD
Sports Medicine Physician Medical Director, Holy Name Sports Medicine
Medical Director, HNH Fitness
Dr. James Mendler is the Medical Director of Holy Name Sports Medicine and the Medical Director of HNH Fitness. He is board certified in both family medicine and sports medicine, with additional training in lifestyle medicine. Dr. Mendler is also certified by The American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a group fitness instructor and ACE-certified health coach. He enjoys bringing his enthusiasm for all aspects of building a healthy and active lifestyle to his clinical sports medicine practice and the programming at HNH Fitness.
Matthew Hoeppner, MPAS, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant by the (NCCPA), HNH Fitness
Matthew Hoeppner is a certified Physician Assistant by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) at HNH Fitness. He has more than 15 years of experience, primarily in Emergency Medicine, and has evaluated and treated a full spectrum of health conditions and injuries.
At HNH Fitness, Mr. Hoeppner has led initiatives to improve patient care via coordination of dietary, exercise and sleep services with a focus on holistic treatment and disease prevention. He is committed to finding new ways to support his patients and optimize their healthcare experience. Mr. Hoeppner is passionate about educating his patients – he believes the best decision is an informed decision – so they fully understand their healthcare needs and feel comfortable with their chosen treatment plan.
Maureen Buchheister, MS, CPT
Personal Trainer And Health Coach
Maureen Buchheister, a personal trainer with more than 25 years of experience in the fitness industry, has been helping people at HNH Fitness reach and surpass their personal goals since 2008. She specializes in senior and special populations, although her client base encompasses males and females of all ages and capabilities.
Ms. Buchheister is certified by The American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a personal trainer and health coach, and has a Master of Science degree in exercise science. She also has numerous other nationally recognized certifications. She is driven by her desire to help her clients reach their goals and is passionate in sharing her knowledge, enthusiasm and deep commitment to health and fitness.
Maureen Wandell, CPT
Certified in the following areas:
Ace Group Fitness,
Corrective Exercise,
Senior Fitness,
Strength and Conditioning,
Fitness Nutrition/Nutritionist and Coach,
200 and 500 Hours Yoga Teaching,
Pronatal - Pre/Post Natal Exercise and
Pilates Reformer and Mat
Maureen Wandell is a personal trainer and certified as a TRX RIP trainer. After a 28-year career in the retail industry, Ms. Wandell decided that she wanted to enter the fitness and personal training field and went on to earn numerous certifications in the fitness industry.
She is focused on helping her clients achieve greater strength, balance and flexibility, which in turn bolsters their self-confidence. She continues her education in all aspects of fitness and wellness and is dedicated to passing on her knowledge to her clients to enhance their own personal goals.
Dayan Hadavi, SPT 2023, CPT, CES, PES, FNS, WLS
Certified Personal Trainer
Dayan Hadavi is a personal trainer certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, as well as a corrective exercise specialist, performance enhancement specialist, fitness nutrition specialist and weight loss specialist. He is currently studying for his doctorate in physical therapy.
Mr. Hadavi uses his wide range of fitness education specialties to help train people of different backgrounds with varying goals. He analyzes each client's lifestyle and, based on their needs, designs the best workout routine to help them achieve their personal best.
Mr. Hadavi's rich background in movement training and education allows him to analyze a client's biomechanical functions and help them retrain their body to work at its best. He also helps his clients apply movement reeducation and activation, enabling them to coordinate movement and develop better strategies to function.
Alexandra Reap
Certified Personal Trainer
Alexandra "Ali" Reap is a personal trainer, certified by The American Council on Exercise, and has earned her certification in a number of fitness specialties. Her breadth of knowledge enables her to work well with a variety of populations, male and female, ranging from children to teens, young adults to the elderly and especially with pregnant and postpartum women. Ms. Reap specializes in creating an individual program for each client based on their personal needs, limitations and goals.
In addition to her extensive training, Ms. Reap has spent years teaching group exercise classes that include barre, bootcamp and full body strength. She is a fitness nutrition specialist and senior fitness specialist, and is certified in group exercise, post-rehab considerations for the exercise professional, fundamentals of nutrition for the fitness professional, TRX functional training, pregnant and postpartum, integrated stretching and spinning.
Ron Jake O'Neill
Certified Personal Trainer
Jake O'Neill is an American Council on Exercise certified personal trainer and Rock Steady certified instructor who oversees the boxing program at HNH Fitness. His training technique incorporates both the physical intensity as well as the mental focus required to be an effective fighter.
Mr. O'Neill is a retired, highly decorated NYPD detective and PBA boxing team member. He has 40-plus years of boxing experience, as both an amateur boxer and successful trainer, giving him the boxing acumen to train all athletes, from experienced professionals to those just starting in the sport.
Andrew Schmitt, NSCA CPT, NASM , NASM PES, NASM CE
Certified Personal Trainer
Andrew Schmitt has been a Personal Trainer since 1990, certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He is also a massage therapist and Barefoot Training specialist, and has expertise in Rock Tape Performance and Functional Movement Techniques. Mr. Schmitt gives every client a general and goal specific assessment in order to personalize the workout parameters that are specific to each person's goals.
Mr. Schmitt works with clients of all skill and strength levels, from All-American college and All-County football players to Broadway actors on weight management and injury prevention. He has also worked with youngsters to improve their pitching performance and with senior citizens training for quality of life enhancement and function maintenance and improvement.
