Meet Our Staff
Robb Blackaby, PT, DPT, ATC, CFMT
Owner
Robb is a Physical Therapist, Licensed/Certified Athletic Trainer, and Certified Functional Manual Therapist. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science from the University of Arizona in 1994. He became a Certified Athletic Trainer in 1995. He then went on to pursue his Master's and Doctorate Degrees in Physical Therapy from the Arizona School of Health Sciences in 1998 and 2004 respectively. He achieved his Manual Therapy Certification with honors through the Institute of Physical Art in 2005. Robb and his wife Corrie purchased The Desert Institute of Physical Therapy in March 2009 from Paul Hospenthal.
In addition to providing physical therapy services with a strong manual therapy influence, Robb periodically travels to various action sports events to work as an athletic trainer. He is the Co-founder of Medicine in Motion, LLC, which is a sports medicine company that provides health care to athletes at various events worldwide. He has provided sports medicine care at over 50 national and international events including the 2002 Winter Olympics, 2008 and 2009 Junior World Championships of Snowboarding, ESPN's Summer and Winter X Games, Tony Hawk's Skatepark Tour, Vans skateboarding and snowboarding championships, as well as Megaramp skateboard competitions.
In 2004, Robb toured as a physical therapist for the PGA, LPGA, and Champions Tour golf events and presently treats many of the local professional and amateur golfers that live in the Phoenix valley. He is a certified golf fitness instructor through The Titleist Performance Institute.
Robb also works closely with the Oakland A's Baseball Organization and provides physical therapy for their major and minor league players, coaches and staff.
AZ Golf Alive! Magazine
Robb Blackaby is a contributing writer to the AZ Golf Alive! magazine. To view the latest article click here. Then scroll to page 19.
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Scottsdale Health Magazine
Robb Blackaby is a contributing writer to the new Scottsdale Health magazine. To view the latest article click here.
Corrie Blackaby, PT, DPT
Owner
Corrie and her husband Robb purchased the Desert Institute of Physical Therapy in March 2009. Corrie received her Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy in 2002 and her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science in 1999, both from Northern Arizona University. Corrie currently works three days per week at the clinic, as she is also busy with her two young children, Ciera and Ethan.
Corrie has practiced physical therapy in various locations around the valley, specializing in outpatient orthopedics with a heavy emphasis on manual therapy. She has enjoyed working with all populations including pediatric patients as young as 6 months old to geriatric patients 100 years old. She has focused her continuing education on manual based therapy approaches to help the patient achieve their highest function possible.
Laurie Mackler, PT
Laurie has been with us since 1995. She is a graduate of Ithaca College of Physical Therapy and brings many years of experience throughout the Phoenix Valley. Her past several years of treatment has emphasized orthopedic spine and industrial medicine. Laurie is well known among Valley sports enthusiasts for her innovative approach to physical therapy, and for her success in treating their injuries. Laurie remains current in different and new techniques through regular continuing education.
Kate Maurer, PT, ATC, COMT
Kate Maurer, PT, ATC, COMT, received her Master's degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Iowa in 1997. Prior to being a physical therapist, she worked as an athletic trainer with Iowa State University women’s athletics. She has her certification in a specialized form of manual therapy called Maitland Approach and is working towards a certification in manipulative therapy. Throughout her career she has specialized in outpatient orthopedics predominantly total joint replacements, neck dysfunctions, back pain, and running injuries. In addition to her clinical work she teaches orthopedics for Gateway College PT assistant program. She has also written a rehab protocol for the anterior approach total hip replacement for a local orthopedic surgeon. Future goals are to bridge her love of running with her professional knowledge to help local long distance runners prevent and recover from training injuries.
Dorothy McGuinness, PT
Dorothy joined our clinic in 1999, graduate of Northern Arizona University Physical Therapy program and has over 25 years of experience. Dorothy has a strong orthopedic background and strives to add progressive techniques including craniosacral therapy, Chinese Qi Gong, and Yoga. She has developed a system for healing and balancing the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of life, which is detailed in her upcoming book "Simple Healing, Five Steps to Heal the Body and Soul".
Previously, Dorothy developed a technician training program in Saudi Arabi, the 1st of its kind. She also developed a back education and training program called facts about backs.
Craig Coats, ATC/L
Craig joined our clinic in 2005 and received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Indianapolis. He has a strong orthopedic and sports medicine background, with experience working with both recreational and professional athletes.
Dave Edwards, MS, ATC
Dave is a Certified Athletic Trainer with 20 years of experience in the field. He began his career in 1990, where he was the Head Athletic Trainer at McQueen High School in Reno, Nevada. After McQueen High School, he moved to the Valley to be the Head Athletic Trainer at Grand Canyon University from 1991-1996. He also served as the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League from 1993-1995. In 1996, Dave was named the Head Minor League Athletic Trainer for the Arizona Diamondbacks, a role that he served in for 2 years. In 1998, Dave was named the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Major League Club. He held the role for 13 years.
Dave received his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training in 1988 from New Mexico State University. He received his Master of Science degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Athletic Training from The University of Nevada in 1991.
Kim Ortiz, LMT, CNMT
Kim is a Licensed Massage Therapist who earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University and became certified in Massage Therapy at The Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In addition to the program, Kim received her certification in Neuromuscular Massage Therapy and later earned a certification in Pre and Perinatal Massage. Kim has over 10 years of experience with motor vehicle accident victims, workers' compensation injuries, burn victims, sports injuries and lymphatic drainage.
Scottsdale Airpark News magazine voted Kim Top Massage Therapist in the market for 2008 and 2009. Online ballots were cast by their readers.
