CBMW Team

Sean Clark, Ph.D.
Center and Research Director
Chair of the Department of Kinesiology

Dr. Clark joined the kinesiology faculty at Gordon College in 2000 and teaches courses that focus on the neurophysiological and mechanical basis of human movement. He also serves as the Academic and Research Director for the Gordon College Center for Balance Mobility and Wellness. 

Dr. Clark's research interests focus broadly on the coordination and multisensory control of posture and orientation. His most recent research projects have examined the use of balance assessment tools to quantify postural stability in both athletes and older adults. Dr. Clark's current research interests are in developing effective treatment strategies to improve functional balance performance in older adults. 

Marie Lucey, PT, GCS
Center Clinical Director

Marie is a 1984 graduate of Simmons College with post-graduate coursework at Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. Marie is the Clinical Director for the Center for Balance, Mobility and Wellness and was instrumental in the development of the Center in 2003 and its growth to the present. Prior to coming to Gordon College, Marie worked as a senior therapist in the Balance Center at Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA. She has completed extensive coursework in Vestibular Rehabilitation including the Basic and Advanced Vestibular Competency Courses at Emory University. She has co-authored a chapter on vestibular function in Netter's Neurology, published by ICON Learning Systems. Most recently, Marie has advanced her clinical expertise by becoming board certified as a Geriatric Clinical Specialist by the American Physical Therapy Association. Marie brings her passion for wellness to the Center and to each of her clients empowering them to achieve their personal goals through healthy aging.

Emily A.W. Righter, PT, DPT, GCS
Center Clinical Manager

Emily Righter, PT, DPT, GCS received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology from Occidental College in Los Angeles in 2008. In 2011, she earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston where. Emily joined the Center for Balance, Mobility and Wellness as a full-time therapist in 2010 following a one-year internship. Emily has since expanded her role to Clinical Manager and now serves as a mentor and leader at the Center.

Emily enjoys treating patients with gait and balance impairments and vestibular disorders, recovery from concussions and other injuries and in helping patients improve functional mobility and independence. She has given educational lectures to area physical therapists and other health professionals on vestibular rehabilitation after concussions. Emily has completed extended coursework in vestibular rehabilitation and received her Certificate of Competency in Basic and Advanced Vestibular Rehabilitation and Cervicogenic Dizziness from the American Physical Therapy Association’s Vestibular Rehabilitation Competency-Based Course. Most recently, Emily advanced her education and specialization by becoming a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. 

In addition to working at the Balance Center, Emily works per diem as a lab instructor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in both the classroom and their Physical Therapy Center for Clinical Education and Health Promotion. Additionally, she is on the executive board of the American Physical Therapy Association of Massachusetts Geriatric Special Interest Group.

Alison Stallings, MSPT
Physical Therapist

Alison graduated from Gordon College in 1994 with a B.S. in Movement Science. She attended graduate school at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell where she received a Master of Science in Physical Therapy in 1996.

Alison joined the staff at the Center for Balance Mobility and Wellness in November of 2010. She has experience working in a variety of clinical settings including inpatient rehabilitation, acute care, home care and skilled nursing facility.

Her physical therapy interests include neurological, vestibular, gait and balance rehabilitation. She has completed extensive coursework in vestibular rehabilitation including receiving a Certificate of Competency in Vestibular Rehabilitation from Susan Herdman’s Vestibular Rehabilitation Competency-Based Course at Emory University. She has also completed certification for LSVT Big therapy for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. She facilitates an exercise group for people with Parkinson’s disease offered annually at the Balance Center.

In addition to working at the Center, Alison works as a per diem physical therapist in an acute rehabilitation hospital. She has a loving husband and four children. Her family breeds Cocker Spaniel dogs and they are animal lovers. In her free time, she likes to exercise and scrapbook.

McKenzie DiStefano, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist

McKenzie Garvey PT, DPT has been a full-time staff physical therapist at the Center since 2013. She received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Gordon College in 2009 where she completed an internship at the Center for Balance, Mobility and Wellness. During her internship at the Center, she developed and co-instructed a balance class designed to decrease fall risk. She continued on to graduate studies at Sacred Heart University where she received a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) in 2013.

McKenzie has concentrated her physical therapy practice in vestibular, neurological, balance and concussion rehabilitation. Prior to joining the Center for Balance, Mobility and Wellness, she completed a clinical rotation at the Balance and Concussion Center at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Jersey where she specialized in evaluating and treating patients with vestibular, balance and post-concussion impairments.

Heather Lewis, MSPT
Physical Therapist

Heather graduated from Ithaca College in 1998 with a Bachelor's Degree in Clinical Science, and in 1999 with a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy.

Heather joined the staff at the Center for Balance Mobility and Wellness in February of 2017. She has experience working in a variety of clinical settings including skilled nursing facilities, homecare, and acute care for surgical, cardiac, and general medical. She worked in an outpatient orthopedic setting for 10 years prior to coming to Gordon.

Her physical therapy interests include orthopedic issues in the aging adult, including chronic low back pain, as well as gait and balance disorders. She has completed a two-year fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Therapy. She is enrolled to attend Susan Herdman's Vestibular Rehabilitation Competency-Based Course at Emory University in March 2018.

In addition to working at the Center, Heather works as a per diem physical therapist in homecare. She has a loving husband and two children. Heather was a rower in college and after college at a club on the Charles River in Cambridge. Since having kids, Heather enjoys cross-country skiing in the winter and exploring the back roads of Massachusetts on her bicycle in the summer.

Kevin Kinnard, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist

Kevin is a 2011 graduate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and minor in Psychology. In 2015, he earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Northeastern University. Prior to coming to Gordon College, Kevin worked as a staff physical therapist at Health South Rehabilitation Hospital in Braintree, MA and Massachusetts General Hospital, where he worked with patients with various neurological, cardiovascular, and orthopedic disorders and injuries. Kevin has focused his physical therapy practice in neurological, vestibular, and balance rehabilitation while guiding patients to meet their personal goals, maintain their independence, and prevent falls. In his free time, Kevin enjoys playing baseball, softball, and hockey, fishing and hiking with his dog, Winnie.

Jessica Turner, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist

Jessica Turner graduated with the class of 2009 from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in Spanish and International Health. She then went on to study at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2013.

Prior to joining the staff at CBMW, Jessica worked in the inpatient rehabilitation and orthopedic outpatient settings where she began to develop her interest in treating the balance and dizziness patient population. She joined the CBMW team in August 2017 and is now concentrating her physical therapy practice and continuing education in vestibular and balance rehabilitation.

Charity Trombley, MSPT
Physical Therapist

Charity Trombley PT, MSPT received her Bachelor of Science in Movement Science from Gordon College in 2003. She continued on to graduate studies at the University of Rhode Island where she received a Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT) in 2006.

Charity has concentrated her physical therapy practice in vestibular, orthopedic, neurological and balance rehabilitation. She worked in both outpatient orthopedics and subacute rehabilitation prior to joining our team at the Center for Balance, Mobility and Wellness in 2008. She has completed extensive coursework in vestibular rehabilitation and has received a certificate of competency in vestibular rehabilitation after completing coursework and exams at Susan Herdman's Vestibular Rehabilitation Competency-Based Course at Emory University.

Elisabeth Whitley, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist

Elisabeth (Lissa) received her Bachelor of Science in Movement Science from Gordon College in 2001 with a minor in music. She continued her education at MGH Institute of Health Professions and received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2004.

Lissa joined the CBMW in 2005 and was involved in the initial development of the wellness program and exercise classes for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. She has been a guest speaker at local support groups for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and their caregivers. She has completed continuing education courses in vestibular rehabilitation, geriatric strength training, and movement disorders. She feels it is such a privilege to work with patients to meet their goals and continue or advance their regular physical activity for healthy aging.

Prior to joining the staff at the CBMW, Lissa worked at Children’s Hospital Boston in inpatient and outpatient clinics and in a local outpatient orthopedic setting. She continued as a per diem therapist at Children’s for 12 years prior to having her 4th child. She currently works per diem at the CBMW in order to be home and keep up with those sweet kids.

Andrew Walker, BS, ACE-CPT
Center Wellness Director

Andrew received his Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology from Gordon College in 2001. Upon graduation, he began his career at Orthopaedics Plus as an exercise physiologist where he assisted clients recovering from orthopedic and spinal injuries, joint replacement and other orthopedic surgeries.  In 2003, Andrew became nationally certified as a personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise (NCCA accredited) and has trained a variety of clients from high school age through the older adult population. He maintains his certification to date by attending nationally recognized NCCA accredited continuing education programs.

In 2007 Andrew began his management career, first as the Director of Health and Wellness at the Greater Beverly YMCA. In 2013 Andrew was promoted to oversee both Membership and Health and Wellness Departments at the YMCA. In mid-2014 Andrew expanded his role, leading disease prevention initiatives for the YMCA in addition to overseeing operational pieces of wellness and membership. In mid-2015, Andrew took an opportunity as a Branch Executive Director and led his team in successfully opening a brand new YMCA in Exeter, NH. In the fall of 2017, the CBMW was pleased that Andrew returned as Wellness Director. In his role, Andrew leads wellness operations at the Center including membership, community outreach, student development, marketing, program development/design and patient transition from therapy to wellness.

His professional interests include strength and conditioning throughout the lifespan, geriatric health and well being, community wellness, sports specific conditioning, group and individual program design, and wellness education. Andrew's personal interests include strength and conditioning, hiking, sailing, camping, reading, traveling, house projects and spending time with his wife and twin daughters.

"Exercise is medicine and with the right types in the right doses can bring about powerful change to your body at any age in the quest to reach your goals!"

Sara Twombly, BS
Wellness Coach

Sara earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Gordon College in May 2018. Her involvement with the Center began in the spring of 2017, first as a volunteer. Having found great joy and passion working directly with the older adult population, Sara stayed with the Center as a student staff member for the summer and remainder of her undergraduate career.

Sara is now very happy to have re-joined the Center, this time in a professional role that will still include direct care as well as fitness administrative support. Currently, Sara is preparing to become nationally certified as a personal trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine.

During her time as a student, Sara had the opportunity to manage the women's basketball team, where the fitness realm and weight training in particular would first spark her interest. A Northern Maine native, Sara also enjoys kayaking, hiking, and snow shoeing. With her academic background, Sara aspires to pursue graduate education in nursing, specializing in adult/geriatric primary care.

Dede Petre
Office Manager

Dede graduated from Boston University in 1985 with a degree in French and business administration. She and her husband worked for 15 years in Christian ministry in France and Quebec and here on the North Shore. She spent five years in Christian publishing and most recently she and her husband, Kelly, owned and operated a small gym in Swampscott, Massachusetts.