Our Team at Great Falls Movement Center
Prior to opening Great Falls Physical Therapy, Mary Jean worked as a physical therapist in New York City and Washington DC. She became a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist in 2018. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. Mary Jean was certified to teach Pilates by Power Pilates and has taught Pilates in individual and group settings. Mary Jean is also a Certified Expert by the Titleist Performance Institute to better allow evaluation and treatment of golf related injuries. Mary Jean has also taken various continuing education courses including Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Dynamics Neuromuscular Stabilization and Dry Needling.
Mary Jean earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2014 from New York University, where she received the Elizabeth C. Addoms Award for Academic and Clinical Excellence. As an undergraduate at Muhlenberg College, Mary Jean taught ballet and graduated cum laude with a double major in Dance and Russian Studies.
Mary Jean grew up in Great Falls, where her family still lives. She attended Great Falls Elementary, Cooper Middle School, and Langley High School. She began studying ballet at the Margaret Haddad Studio of Classical Ballet. In high school, she attended the prestigious Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC where she received an Artistic Degree.
Mary Jean first became interested in the field of physical therapy following her own injuries as a ballet dancer. As a physical therapist, Mary Jean utilizes her prior dance background to assess biomechanics and movement in both dancers and non-dancers. In 2023, she co-authored the article: Return to Ballet Progression for Dancers After Hip Arthroscopy For Instability or Femoracetabular Impingement Syndrome which was published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine. As a clinician, she understands first-hand the importance of individualized and patient-centered care to enable patients to achieve their personal goals. Mary Jean has particular interest in treating young dancers and hypermobile patient populations. She strives to help all her patients become pain-free and stronger than before their injuries. In her free time, Mary Jean enjoys spending time with her husband, Joey, and their dog, Abby.
Mary Jean and Great Falls Physical Therapy were named Top Physical Therapist and Best PT Practice in Washington Family Magazine in 2024. GFPT has also been a repeat winner of Nextdoor’s Neighborhood Favorites.
Dr. Mary Jean Stack PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Ashley Rose, PA-C, MPH
Ashley Rose is a Great Falls, Virginia native with a lifelong passion for movement and wellness. Her journey began as a dancer, training locally at Ravel Dance before leaving home to study ballet at the University of Utah. Unfortunately, she developed chronic hip pain that ultimately required major reconstructive hip surgeries and ended her dance career. Pilates, which she had first encountered through ballet training, became an essential part of both her prehabilitation and post-operative recovery.
Following this experience, Ashley redirected her career toward medicine. She earned dual degrees as a Physician Assistant and Master of Public Health from George Washington University and practiced at the renowned VSI, (formally Virginia Spine Institute). There she completed a spinal residency and worked alongside leading spine surgeons, pain management physicians, physical therapists, and massage therapists providing advanced, collaborative spine care. Throughout her clinical practice, Ashley frequently incorporated and discussed Pilates as a powerful tool for improving posture, stability, and long-term spinal health.
After the birth of her first child, Ashley made another meaningful shift and stepped fully into teaching Pilates. The transition brought together her clinical background, movement training, and desire to help others build stronger, more resilient bodies. Joseph Pilates’ emphasis on posture, flexibility, core strength, and stability aligned closely with what Ashley had seen patients need throughout her work in spine care. From that synergy, Great Falls Pilates was founded.
Great Falls remains the community that shaped Ashley. She attended Village Green Preschool, local public schools, and graduated from Langley High School. Today her three children attend Great Falls Elementary, even continuing in the Japanese Immersion program that was also part of her own education. Great Falls Pilates is a long-standing sponsor of Celebrate Great Falls, and Ashley helps organize the community’s annual Fourth of July Fireworks event.
In addition to comprehensive classical Pilates training, Ashley continues to deepen her expertise through advanced certifications and continuing education. She is always learning to improve her understanding of healthy movement.
Her additional specialized training includes:
Clinical BoneFit Instructor through the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation
Post-Partum Corrective Exercise Specialist, including pelvic floor support and diastasis rehabilitation
Graduate of the Kathy Grant Heritage Training Program, representing direct lineage to one of Joseph Pilates’ first-generation teachers
Movement Science Made Simple, a graduate-level biomechanics mentorship program
Dr. Ryan Galvin PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS
Focus Areas: Return to Sport Performance and Orthopedics
Ryan grew up in the northern Virginia area and earned his B.S. in Athletic Training at the University of South Carolina. While at South Carolina, Ryan worked on the medical staff of several Division 1 teams, and even cut down the nets at the 2017 March Madness Final Four. Ryan then went on to earn his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University.
His path to physical therapy started in high school where he spent hours in the training room rehabilitating his own injuries to get back onto the field. His own experiences inspired him to pursue a career where he could help others accomplish their goals through physical medicine.
Ryan specializes in orthopedic, and sports related injuries. He believes in creating a healing environment and giving the body the full opportunity to move. He works collaboratively with his patients to achieve their goals and return them back to their prior level of function.
Ryan utilizes his experiences on the sidelines in collegiate and professional sports to prepare his patients for the demands placed on their body. He determined that treatment techniques utilized on the highest level of athletes can be applied to anyone. He understands that everyone is deserving of the highest quality care, regardless of background.
Ryan is a certified athletic trainer and strength and condition specialist. He is trained by the Institute of Physical Art in functional manual therapy, as well as neuromuscular facilitation techniques.
When he is not practicing you can find him running, being active outdoors, cheering on his Gamecocks, or traveling with friends and family.
Dr. JJ Kfoury PT, DPT, CSCS
Focus Areas: Ice Hockey, Pediatrics, Orthopedics
JJ Kfoury is a Great Falls native whose initial interest in Physical Therapy started early and came from her career as an elite ice hockey player. She has played all over the country playing in Nationals at age 12 and continued to play through college at the University of Southern Maine.
Following her undergraduate studies, she attended the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Professions where she earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Her final internship at MGH turned into her first professional PT position at Spaulding Rehab, one of the largest and most respected PT organizations in the Northeast. After several years, JJ returned to Northern Virginia to be closer to family.
Locally, she has worked directly with surgeons in orthopedic settings , as well as with children of a wide variety as a member of the Fairfax County Public school therapy PTOT (physical and occupational therapy) team.
JJ is unique in her ability to treat both adults and pediatric patients. She loves the challenge of helping older adults get back to living their best life. She enjoys treating kids with injuries, athletes, as well as those who have developmental or physical limitations.
JJ is the founder of Puck and Recovery PT which creates content for ice hockey players. Her instagram page has become an educational resource for many ice hockey players. Follow her instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/puckandrecoverypt/.
JJ firmly believes that each patient should be treated with respect and empathy. She takes great care to ensure that her treatment plan includes support for the whole person on a functional level. JJ believes in treating each person as unique, with specific issues that must he addressed in order to return to an optimum functional level for living their best life.
JJ’s certifications include instrument- assisted soft tissue mobilization , kiniseotaping, blood flow restriction therapy, as well as experience working with a wide variety of conditions in Pediatrics.
In her free time, JJ is an avid skier. She has skied all over the world including Alaska, and heli skiing in the Canadian Rockies. She enjoys helping family and friends train and prepare for their upcoming ski season!
When not adventuring, JJ enjoys spending time with her husband, family and friends, and raising her son to play ice hockey and ski.
Dr. Jaison Alderman PT, DPT, MBA, CMTPT, CDNT
Focus Areas: Spine, TMJ Dysfunction, and Orthopedics
Jaison grew up next door in Loudoun County and earned his B.A in Physical Education, Health Education K-12 from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV. He earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University in 2011 where he was class President and received the Leadership Award. He also went on to get his Master of Business Administration in 2014 from Shenandoah University.
His journey to becoming a physical therapist started in 1993 while playing football when he sustained a season-ending knee injury. Following his meniscus and MCL knee injury, he underwent a knee arthroscopic debridement procedure. After surgery, he was given an order for physical therapy, where his journey started.
Jaison specializes in orthopaedic manual sport and spine therapy. He approaches each patient as a new challenge to provide individualized treatment that is patient goal centered. He utilizes his manual therapy techniques to promote the start of improved functional mobility, which he reinforces with individualized functional movement training to restore patient body mechanics.
Over the last six years Jaison has been a continuing education instructor for other physical therapists with the Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Treatments, teaching a manual therapy curriculum with a specialization in Trigger Point Dry Needling. He has enjoyed teaching this powerful skill around the country.
Jaison is certified in Trigger Point Dry Needling through Myopain Seminars and the Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Treatments. He also holds the FMT Blades IASTM Certification, incorporating soft tissue instruments and kinesiology taping.
In 2024, Jaison established Sisu Physiotherapy located in Warrenton, VA while continuing to treat part time at Great Falls Physical Therapy.
While not in clinic he enjoys traveling, cooking, being a foodie, and all things outdoors. He is an amateur cell phone sunset photographer. He currently lives with his wife, Sandy, and their dog, Java.
Alesa Deter PT, DPT, CMTPT
Alesa Deter has been practicing outpatient orthopedic PT in the DC metropolitan area ever since graduating with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2010. She has spent over 15 years treating athletes at every level, from youth leagues to professionals as both a clinician and clinic director.
She has taken her passion for both Olympic weightlifting and physical therapy and created a dedicated, safe, and progressive space for athletes to overcome injury and roadblocks to grow healthy as athletes and hit new PRs!
Alesa doesn’t just focus on rehabilitating people to get back to their previous abilities, but sets them up to surpass that. She has always been active, but after discovering Olympic weightlifting in 2019, Alesa went from working out and learning alongside her fellow gym rats to coaching athletes from novices to serious competitors.
She likes to stay at the forefront of her field and continuously grows to learn new approaches, methods and modalities for helping her patients. Alesa is certified and practices dry needling (CMTPT), cupping, (MFD), Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Therapy (IASTM), blood flow restriction (BFR), and is a certified Olympic Weightlifting coach by USAW, and was recently certified in the Barbell Rehabilitation Method (BRM). While continuously working with patients for more conventional sports, she has treated and coached weightlifting, powerlifting, and CrossFit athletes at all ages and levels, providing programming and scales for each person.
With her free time, Alesa enjoys traveling the world, snowboarding, hiking, weightlifting, coaching and leading an active lifestyle with her husband and dog.
Natalie Sjoberg
Natalie is a Comprehensive Peak Pilates® Instructor with more than eight years of teaching experience. Originally from Utah, she brings a strong classical Pilates foundation along with a practical, results-driven approach shaped by years of working with a wide range of clients, including those with orthopedic concerns at Great Falls Pilates. She has been mentored for spine specific needs and is an integral part of our team here. She is known for delivering highly tailored private sessions that meet clients where they are while helping them build strength, resilience, and confidence in their movement.
As a busy mom of three, Natalie understands the realities of balancing family, activity, and self-care. Pilates has been a constant for her through every stage of life, including pregnancy and postpartum, helping her stay strong, energized, and connected to her body.
Natalie loves introducing beginners to the foundations of Pilates while also delivering dynamic, challenging workouts for more experienced clients. Her group classes are energetic and creative, and she especially enjoys incorporating props to add variety, challenge, and deeper body awareness to the work. Her teaching style is supportive, motivating, and focused on helping clients leave feeling stronger than when they arrived.
Sara Aboushara
Sara discovered Pilates during a personal search for a more holistic and sustainable approach to fitness. What began as curiosity quickly grew into a deep passion as she experienced how Pilates transformed the way she moved, thought, and connected with her body. She was especially drawn to the strength, mindfulness, and grace that Pilates develops, and those principles continue to guide her teaching today.
Sara believes that a strong mind body connection creates a deeper and more meaningful approach to movement. Her classes focus on building strength, confidence, and body awareness in a supportive and welcoming environment where clients feel both challenged and encouraged. She enjoys helping clients discover what their bodies are capable of and develop movement practices that carry into everyday life.
Outside of the studio, Sara enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children. As a family they love traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Jessica Sullivan
Jessica discovered Pilates as a teenager when she took her first class with her mother at age 16. The intelligent movement, physical challenge, and the way Pilates made her body feel immediately resonated with her. While in college, she completed her first comprehensive classical certification and knew she had found her professional path.
Jessica has been teaching Pilates full-time for more than a decade. She trained in the Romana lineage of classical Pilates and later served as a Master Instructor for Peak Pilates, where she certified and mentored new teachers, helping them develop into confident and skilled instructors.
Jessica believes Pilates is truly for every body and is known for meeting clients where they are while guiding them toward meaningful progress. She especially enjoys working with prenatal clients and those recovering from injuries, helping them restore strength, stability, and confidence in their movement. Her teaching emphasizes the powerful role Pilates plays in supporting joint health, spinal strength, and overall functional movement so that clients feel better not only in the studio, but in everyday life.
Graeme Buenaflor, NASM Personal Trainer
Graeme Buenaflor has over 20 years of expertise in the fitness industry. He ardently believes that how we move, directly correlates with our overall health and ability to achieve fitness goals. Limited joint mobility or stability, poor muscle coordination, and muscle imbalances, all decrease the quality of our movement. The movement within every exercise, even using fixed machines, is highly variable based on individual coordination, stability, and muscle strengths and weakness.
Graeme’s passion and inspiration comes from his years training in sports like football, track & field, and for his love of rock climbing. Graeme is dedicated to helping his clients optimize movement to ensure balanced development, decrease the risk of injury and reach individual goals and potential, including those that may involve particular sport passions.
Specializations & Certifications:
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist
Strong First Level 1 Kettlebell Instructor
Post Rehab Specialist
Massage Therapy
Lisa Durand, NASM Master Trainer
Lisa Durand is a NASM Master Trainer with over 22 years of experience helping clients of all ages unlock their full potential. A former volleyball, basketball, and track athlete, she understands peak performance firsthand. She also brings deep expertise in supporting women through perimenopause and menopause—addressing how hormonal shifts impact strength, recovery, metabolism, and overall wellness.
With a lifelong passion for kinesiology and functional movement, Lisa designs personalized programs that build strength, enhance mobility, and improve performance for everyone from athletes to those simply seeking to move and feel better.
Lisa’s career includes leadership roles such as Corporate Wellness Director at Burger King Headquarters and Fitness Director at Sport & Health, One Life, and The St. James Performance Center. Now independent, she combines her extensive experience in personal training and corporate wellness to help individuals build sustainable, healthy lifestyles.
Active in her community, Lisa serves on the Board of the Great Falls Young Men’s Service League and has coached teams for 5Ks, marathons, and MS 150 cycling events. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking with her Vizslas, Rowdy and Pilot, taking spontaneous road trips to her hometown of Salem, MA, and spending time with her husband, Miguel, and their son, Logan.
Specializations & Certifications:
NASM Personal Trainer
NASM Youth Exercise Specialist
NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist
NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist
ACSM Functional Movement Screening Specialist
Certified Health Coach (Institute for Integrative Nutrition)