Clinicians

Dr. Katie Bell completed her Masters and Doctorate degrees in Occupational Therapy at University of Southern California (Fight On!). She has worked with the brain injury population in a variety of settings including day treatment, inpatient polytrauma, residential neurorehabilitation, home & community, and supported living. Dr. Bell has been a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) since 2016 and is committed to continued contributions in the field of neurological rehabilitation through implementation of evidence-based, client-centered interventions. 

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Dr. Bell also teaches occupational therapy students at University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences in San Marcos, CA. She has taught coursework on neuroscience, safe patient handling, anatomy, and clinical practice in adulthood. 

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In her free time, Dr. Bell enjoys boating on the Colorado River, DIY projects, and game nights with friends.

Dr. Will Bernaldo received his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from the University of Saint Augustine in San Marcos, California. He has worked in a variety of clinical settings including outpatient orthopedics, vestibular rehabilitation, and acute rehabilitation. However, his primary clinical focus is in working with individuals with brain and spinal cord injuries. Dr. Bernaldo is also a contributing faculty member at the University of Saint Augustine and Hawaii Pacific University, currently providing instruction in Neuromuscular and Neuroscience courses. In 2019 he was awarded the professional designation of board-certified clinical specialist in neurologic physical therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Treating individuals with neurologic injury is his primary passion in the field, with a particular interest in vestibular system impairment.

 

In his free time he enjoys running, rock climbing, surfing, and learning new skills.

Abby received her M.S. degree in speech-language pathology from Boston University. She has worked with adults and adolescents recovering from brain injury in several settings including inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, as well as in clients' homes and communities. She enjoys leading conversation groups and community outings to promote carryover of communication strategies within social settings.  She has particular interest in working with individuals with concussion/mild traumatic brain injury and individuals with reading impairments. 

 

In her free time, Abby enjoys attending concerts, playing volleyball, hiking, and horseback riding.

Dr. Naureen Imam received her Bachelors in Sociology and Spanish from Emory University, where she developed a lifelong interest in both the scientific and artistic aspects of human movement. Following her undergraduate education, she pursued a Masters of Biomedical Sciences from Rutgers University and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. During her time in the DPT program, she found a passion in treating patients with movement disorders such as Dystonia, Cerebral Palsy, and Parkinson’s disease. She went on to pursue certifications in treating neurological and orthopedic conditions through the Parkinson's Wellness Recovery Program, LSVT BIG, and the Gray Institute. To help inspire future PTs, Naureen serves as adjunct faculty at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences and is also a Certified Clinical Instructor.

 

Naureen spends her free time hiking, reading, and exploring San Diego’s ever-changing boba tea shops.

Dr. Mariam Hussain is a CA-licensed psychologist specializing in clinical neuropsychology. She provides therapy and assessment for patients with medical, neurological, and psychiatric conditions, including dementia, brain injury, epilepsy, strokes, and movement disorders. Dr. Hussain has worked in various settings such as academic medical centers, VA systems, outpatient clinics, and skilled nursing facilities.

Throughout her career, she has maintained a balance between neuropsychological assessment and psychotherapy. Her therapeutic approach integrates humanistic and cognitive-behavioral models, using assessment tools to evaluate where patients are and collaborate with them to choose the most appropriate treatment. She emphasizes evidence-based practices and measurement-based care, adjusting treatments based on symptom severity. Dr. Hussain has experience treating psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, trauma, OCD, and cognitive challenges.

She believes that compassion and empathy, alongside strong scientific training, are key to achieving the best patient outcomes and looks forward to applying this approach with each of her patients.

Dr. Chloë Kerstein earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from San Diego State University (SDSU). Her experience spans multiple specialties—including acute rehab, outpatient neurology, and orthopedics—and has shaped her ability to deliver integrated, patient-centered care. Chloë holds a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Pomona College in Claremont, CA, where she was captain of their NCAA volleyball team and conducted research on how stress affects the brain. She currently continues her research work at SDSU as a Research Assistant II, contributing to research on chronic low back pain and its impact on function and quality of life. Chloë is also certified in Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery (PWR! Moves), further supporting her dedication to evidence-based care for individuals with neurologic conditions.

In her free time, Chloë stays active through tennis, hiking, volleyball and running—and is learning how to surf!

Gisele received her M.S. degree in speech-language pathology from the University of South Carolina. She has worked with the oncology population and adults recovering from brain injury in both the inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient setting. She enjoys making speech therapy both meaningful and practical in targeting functional communication skills. She has particular interest in working with adults with cognitive impairment following chemo and radiation therapy and traumatic brain injury.

 

In her free time, Gisele enjoys taking her lab to the beach, traveling to new places, and catching up with friends.

Dr. Heather David received her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, her Master of Physical Therapy (M.P.T.) from the University of Florida, and her Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition, and Exercise Science from Florida State University. She has over 20 years of clinical experience, working primarily in adult neurologic rehabilitation across various practice settings. Dr. David works remotely as full-time faculty in the DPT program at Hawai'i Pacific University, where she provides instruction in neuromuscular and neuroscience curricula. She is a Board Certified Neurologic Physical Therapist and an international medical classifier for para surfing. Her primary passion is the intersection of adaptive sports and neurologic rehabilitation, with particular research interests in participation in adaptive sports and medical classification for para surfing.

In her free time, she enjoys surfing, traveling, and spending time with her family.