Physical Therapists & Staff of Beyond Basics Physical Therapy

Our Staff

Our Staff Physical Therapists:
Amy Stein, MPT, BCIA-PMDB
Roseanne Cruz, DPT
Dania M. Kafka, MS, PT, DPT
Miryl Friedman, DPT
Dustienne Miller, MSPT
Michele McGurk B. Sc
Denise Vidal
Riva Preil, MS, PT, DPT

E-mail a Question to the Experts

If you have any questions regarding physical therapy treatment, please e-mail us at
helpdeskbeyondbasicsphysicaltherapy.com and one of our physical therapists will get back to you within 2-3 business days. You are also welcome to call at anytime with any questions.

All Beyond Basics staff participate in ongoing continuing education in their specialties.

All Beyond Basics physical therapists are licensed in the State of New York and hold a master's degree in physical therapy with specialized training in pelvic floor dysfunction, women's health care, and orthopedic injuries. In addition, all physical therapists have extensive training in manual therapy.

Amy Stein, MPT, BCIA-PMDB
Physical Therapist

Amy Stein is the founder and a practitioner of Beyond Basics Physical Therapy in NYC, specializing in pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic pain, women's health, and manual therapy for men, women, and children while taking a holistic approach to each patient's entire well-being. She is the author of Heal Pelvic Pain, an easy-read, self-help book. Amy is also a contributor to the medical textbook, Female Sexual Pain Disorders: Evaluation and Management, and serves on the board of the International Pelvic Pain Society, since 2007. She is a well recognized expert in her field, lectures nationwide, and has been interviewed in media outlets ranging from the medical segments of popular TV news shows, like ABC's 20/20 to such newspapers as the New York Daily News to internet sites like www.ourgyn.com. She is also an editor of painchannel.com and a member of the NVA, ICA, as well as many other organizations. Amy received her Masters in Physical Therapy from Nova Southeastern University and is currently working towards her Doctorate in Physical Therapy.

Roseanne Cruz, DPT
Senior Physical Therapist
Certified Lymphedema Therapist

Roseanne Cruz, PT, DPT, received her B.S. and her doctoral (DPT) degree from New York University. Before joining Beyond Basics Physical Therapy, Roseanne worked with patients who were diagnosed with various neurological and orthopedic issues such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, strokes, total joint replacements, and low back pain. Roseanne has been interested in working with patients with pelvic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, and lymphedema for many years and has spoken in the Greater New York area on these topics.

Roseanne Cruz, PT, DPT, LLCC successfully received her Lymphedema/CDP Certification through the Upledger Institute. She pioneered, and is currently the head physical therapist for the Lymphedema Program, which addresses the upper and lower extremities, the trunk and the pelvic region in men, women, and children.

Dania M. Kafka, MS, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist

Dania M. Kafka, MS, PT, DPT, received her BA at Barnard College and completed her Masters and Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons. She is the founder and director of the Pilates Program at Beyond Basics Physical Therapy, has extensive training and knowledge in Pilates. Dania has extensive training and experience in orthopedics, manual therapy, women's health, and pelvic floor dysfunction in men, women, and children. She has been working at Beyond Basics Physical Therapy since 2007. Dania is currently training at the Kane School - a comprehensive Pilates certification program in both mat and equipment, well-known for its intensive study of anatomy, biomechanics, injuries, and palpation skills. Dania danced for many years as well as studied and practiced in performing arts physical therapy.

Dania is a member of the International Pelvic Pain Society (IPPS), the National Vulvodynia Association (NVA), the Interstitial Cystitis Network (ICN), the Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA), the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA), the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the women's health, and orthopedic special interest groups within the APTA.

Miryl Friedman, DPT
Physical Therapist

Miri Friedman, DPT received her B.S., Masters and Doctoral degrees from SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Miri has extensive training in Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Women’s and Men’s health issues. She has a solid background in orthopedic and manual therapy with an emphasis on postural stability and awareness. Miri is a STOTT® Pilates trained instructor in both Reformer and Mat repertoires. Prior to joining the Beyond Basics team, Miri worked with patients from orthopedic, neurologic and pediatric populations. Miri enjoys traveling, swimming, dance and especially spending time with her husband and children.

Dustienne Miller, MSPT
Physical Therapist

Dustienne Miller, MSPT

Dustienne Miller graduated with her Masters in Physical Therapy from Russell Sage College. She began specializing in women's health in 2007 by studying with the Herman and Wallace Institute. She has also studied Craniosacral Therapy and Visceral Mobilization with the Upledger Institute. To sharpen her orthopedic skills, she also continues her education by taking courses through the Institute of Physical Art.

Dustienne had the pleasure of becoming a certified yoga teacher through the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in 2004. Also a professional dancer, her musical theatre credits include the national tour of Fosse and regional productions of Chicago (Roxie), and A Chorus Line (Kristine, Val, Bebe, Judy).

Dustienne passionately believes in the role of physical therapy in a holistic model of care. Helping women navigate through pelvic pain and incontinence is an extraordinary experience and she is grateful to be a part of the knowledgeable and caring staff at Beyond Basics.

Michele McGurk B. Sc
Physical Therapist

Michele McGurk B. Sc

Michele McGurk, a native of Ireland, graduated with a B. Sc in Physical Therapy at the University College of Dublin, Ireland in 2001. She has had a special interest in the evaluation and treatment of pelvic pain for the past 10 years. Michele moved to the U.S in 2003 and has gained extensive experience and training in orthopedics, sports medicine, manual therapy, women’s and men’s health. She received her pelvic floor education though the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. Since 2007, Michele has also integrated an osteopathic approach to her manual therapy techniques using Craniosacral Therapy (Upledger Institute) and Visceral Manipulation (Barral Institute). She has found that these techniques have been helpful for treating many disorders including neurological conditions, musculoskeletal problems, chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, fibroids and cysts, bladder issues, post-operative scar tissue, fibromyalgia and IBS. Michele strongly believes in combining all of her skills to promote awareness, wellbeing and healing of her patients.

Denise Vidal
Pilates Instructor

denise

Denise was certified in Pilates in 2005 and Standing Pilates in 2007 with the Physical Mind Institute. In 2008 she transitioned to a certification with Balanced Body University. Denise has studied closely with Doris Pasteleur Hall and Lesley Powell, both certified in Movement Analysis through the Laban Institute, while continuing her movement education with Irene Dowd, Eric Franklin, and Tom Myers. Denise has danced professionally with the Pennsylvania Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, and the New Chamber Ballet. Currently, Denise is earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at the City University of New York with a focus on her prerequisites for physical therapy school. Denise hopes to combine her knowledge of dance, Pilates and movement therapy with a degree in Physical therapy to create a holistic approach to healing.

Riva Preil, MS, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist

Riva Preil, MS, PT, DPT

Riva Preil, MS, PT, DPT received her B.A. from Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women, her Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from Hunter College, and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from A.T. Still University. Before joining Beyond Basics, Riva worked at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) in Paterson, New Jersey, where she treated patients with a variety of musculoskeletal orthopedic and neurologic disorders. Furthermore, she created the Pelvic Floor Program at SJRMC where she worked with both women and men who have a variety of pelvic floor dysfunction, including chronic pelvic pain, incontinence, and constipation. She has significant experience with biofeedback in the treatment of pelvic floor conditions, and she is in the process of completing her BCIA-PMDB certification. In addition, she has been trained in the treatment of pre- and post-partum women as well as pediatric pelvic floor muscle weakness. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Section on Women’s Health special interest group.

Office Administration:

Karen Medina Office Manager	Alison Izaguirre Ana Beltré Yarisa Rivas Front Desk Administrators
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