Each month M3 Physical Therapy will feature a new Patient or Pilates Client to share their story of how they have inspired us and overcome setbacks with the help from the team at M3 Physical Therapy.
Dr. Raul Lona earned his Bachelor of Science degree and Certification as an Athletic Trainer from California State University, Fullerton in 1998. Raul received his Clinical Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2001. He recently re-certified his Orthopedic Clinical Specialty in 2015 and is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Dr. Lona has been published in subjects related to Lower Back Pain. As such, he specializes in treatment and differentiation of lumbar and hip disorders. In addition, Dr. Lona enjoys treating patients with ankle and foot disorders. Dr. Lona recently completed clinical training in Pain Science as it relates to rehabilitation and has become passionate about helping patients understand and manage their pain.
Most recently Dr. Lona earned his level 1 certification with Titleist Performance Institute (TPI). Improper alignment and movements predispose many patients and golfers to injury. Raul will use this certification to better help golfers avoid and more quickly recover from injury.
When not treating patients, Raul values his time with his wife and 3 kids. Raul is involved in coaching his kids' sports teams, including soccer and baseball. Raul regularly practices yoga and is passionate about fitness and health.
Mariko Edwards received her Master's degree in Physical Therapy from Mount Saint Mary's College in 2000. Also in that year, she started working for Rebecca Schraven (the founder of M3 Physical Therapy) where she flourished in the orthopedic rehabilitation setting. In her time with WLPT, she has developed collaborative relationships with referring physicians and other healthcare providers in order to ensure optimal patient care.
Mariko is a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist, a certified Pilates instructor and a certified Kinesio Taping practitioner. Her expertise in these various methods has contributed to her ability to provide successful patient outcomes for a variety of conditions. With knowledge, compassion, skill and a sense of humor, Mariko continues to guide her patients on the road to recovery.
Mariko participated in and enjoyed sports and athletics throughout her life, from team sports such as softball to individual training in Pilates. Since becoming certified in Pilates in 2005 she has utilized this method is not only rehabilitating her patients but also as a student herself. She believes Pilates is the perfect form of exercise for patients of all abilities and fitness levels. She particularly enjoys training and conditioning prenatal and postnatal women.
Mariko is a wife and a mother of two amazing daughters who contribute to her ability to teach with patience and understanding. Her hobbies include supporting her favorite teams, the Lakers, Dodgers and Chargers and nurturing her knowledge of all things pop culture.
Chris Hisamune graduated from California State University, Northridge in 1983. He has 30 years of experience helping people achieve their goal of feeling and moving better, with 10 of those years dedicated at M3 Physical Therapy. He accomplishes those goals primarily through manual orthopedic skills. He specializes in alignment and postural dysfunctions. Chris's clinical interests include training for better body use through movement training and prevention of disorders associated with Osteoporosis.
Munesha obtained her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2001. Her passion for treating pediatric patients extends across a multitude of treatment settings, including inpatient, rehab, and medical units within a school setting. She earned her Pediatric clinical specialty in 2007. Munesha enjoys exercising, traveling, and spending time with her husband and three kids.
Kristina Bond earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from California Baptist University in 2014. She then went on to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2017. During her time in Alabama, Kristina completed clinical rotations in a variety of settings including inpatient, outpatient orthopedics, and pediatrics. She also worked with the research department at Lakeshore Foundation, a paralympic training center. Kristina has been published in subjects related to telehealth for patients with Parkinson Disease, and involved in the research of adaptive fitness for people with disabilities.
In her spare time Kristina enjoys spending time with her husband and son, hiking, playing sports on the beach, ice skating, and traveling. She is passionate about promoting health and fitness in the community, and helping people of all ages to reach their goals.
Dr. Courtney Trueblood earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology with a pre-Physical Therapy emphasis from San Diego State in 2017. She went on to earn her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Western University of Health Sciences in July, 2023. In her gap years between undergrad and graduate school, she worked as a Director and Head Team Coach for Byers Gymnastics in Northern California, working with kids of all ages in a recreational and competitive platform.
Courtney has a passion for helping individuals with injury prevention, return to sport, and all-around health and wellness. Her knowledge and expertise in gymnastics and other recreational/competitive sports assists with her patient care and being able to address the entire individual, not just physical impairments. She aims to improve each patient’s quality of life through movement enhancement, education, fitness and health management.
Outside of the clinic, Courtney enjoys spending time with her two dogs and fiancé, spending as much time as possible outdoors, especially at the beach. She is an avid cross fitter, competes in local competitions, and coaches cross fit classes in her free time.
Leilani Okihara earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from California State University of Northridge. She then went on to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California. During her time at USC she completed clinical rotations focused on a variety of orthopedic and neurological conditions. Following one of her clinical experiences, she found an interesting on furthering her knowledge on balance, vestibular, and concussion rehabilitation.
Growing up she participated in sports to where she found her love for physical activity and saw how movement is a key component of a healthy lifestyle. In her free time, she loves to do anything involving the outdoors and can mostly be found at the beach. Her hobbies include running, playing basketball, rock climbing, hiking, and of course cheering on the Lakers.
Cathy Soliva received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in California State University Northridge in 2018. She completed her one-year orthopedic residency at Kaiser Permanente in 2021 and is a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist. She is active in the physical therapy community and has served in both the House of Delegates for the American Physical Therapy Association and in the Assembly of Representatives for the California Physical Therapy Association. While she was in physical therapy school, she had the opportunity to do research with stroke patients in Malawi and work for a short time in an orthopedic hospital in Vietnam. During and after physical therapy school, she has given several presentations on cultural competency for the care of LGBTQ patients.
Cathy became a physical therapist because she wanted to help people, in a real and tangible way. One of the most rewarding things for her is to see her patients improve, to see them achieve their goals, whether that is riding their bike for six hours or go for a walk without pain. She uses manual therapy to assist with pain and range of motion as needed, then emphasizes exercise, education, and movement training to help her patients achieve their goals.
In her free time, Cathy enjoys reading and video games and watching movies with her wife.
Chad Sticher has earned his Bachelor's in science in Kinesiology - exercise science at California State University of Northridge in 2015. During his time there he was able to participate in research projects and got experience working with and providing adaptive exercise for individuals with various neurological deficits in the Brown Center of Achievement. Chad attended the University of the Pacific for physical therapy school and graduated with his Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2019. Following PT school Chad completed a yearlong orthopedic residency with Kaiser Permanente where he was able to further his knowledge and skills. After completing his residency, he got certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist in 2021.
Chad grew up playing a variety of sports including volleyball, basketball, and football. His experience with sports is what lead him to pursue a career related to physical activity. During his early experiences in the field volunteering and working as a PT aide, he learned to fall in love with the rehab process and helping people in their path to recovery. In his free time, he likes to play volleyball and basketball as well as spending time with his friends and girlfriend. He loves to root on his LA Dodgers and is a die-hard Lakers fan."
I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from National Taiwan University in 2013. After finishing alternative civilian service in The Affiliated Hearing Impaired School of National University of Tainan to assist campus PT in treating students with disabilities. Then I worked as a research assistant in Performance Analysis Laboratory in National Taiwan University to conduct studies investigating relationship factors and sensorimotor control problems for shoulder dyskinesis. After 2 years, I came to the US to pursue Doctor of Physical Therapy in Loma Linda University to advance my knowledge and techniques.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife, playing Pokemon GO, searching and trying gourmet restaurant and traveling.
I am willing to spend time to explain and answer all the questions patients might have and would like to see them feel better and live better.
Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Therese received her B.S. in Kinesiology and Doctorate in Physical Therapy at California State University, Northridge. She grew up playing Dance Dance Revolution and participating in hip-hop dance competitions. Throughout college, she tutored kids and college students in mathematics. She combined her passion for movement and love of teaching to help people meet their goals through physical therapy. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family and dachshunds, trying new foods, attending art and entertainment events, taking Afro-Carribean Zumba classes, painting, traveling, and hiking.
Dr. Rika Jitosho earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T) and Master of Business Administration (M.B.A) degrees from Emory University. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of California Los Angeles, where she gained valuable experience in managing sports-related injuries while working with Division I UCLA athletes through the Sports Medicine Internship Program.
Her involvement in the Sports Medicine Internship Program sparked Rika's passion for Physical Therapy, enabling her to leverage her own understanding of movement as a dancer to help others. Rika has over 15 years of experience in various dance styles, and she has received training from renowned dance companies including American Ballet Theatre and San Francisco Ballet.
Rika's clinical interests include treating dancers and active patients with a range of orthopedic conditions. By integrating her skills in movement training, she aims to enhance movement quality in order to optimize overall function and quality of life for her patients.
Outside of the clinic, Rika enjoys maintaining an active lifestyle through dance, yoga, pilates, and hiking. She also values spending quality time with friends and family.
Dr. Brooke Perrett is a dedicated physical therapist with a strong passion for helping individuals achieve optimal physical health. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Brigham Young University in 2019. Brooke returned to Utah to pursue her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Rocky Mountain University, graduating in 2023 with experience in pelvic health, sports rehab, TMJ dysfunction, and chronic pain management.
Brooke’s journey to becoming a physical therapist was profoundly shaped by her own experiences as a young athlete. Throughout her youth, she was actively involved in cheerleading, gymnastics, dance, and soccer, which gave her a firsthand understanding of the physical demands and challenges athletes face. These experiences ignited her passion for physical therapy and inspire her to help others navigate their own athletic and rehabilitation journeys.
She treats individuals of all ages, from young athletes to older adults, and addresses diverse concerns such as chronic pain, postoperative rehabilitation, and overall health and wellness. Whether helping someone regain their strength after surgery, manage long-term pain, or achieve their fitness goals, Brooke uses a holistic approach that ensures each patient receives comprehensive treatment tailored to their unique circumstances, facilitating improved mobility, function, and quality of life.
Gigi is a San Fernando Valley girl at heart and is so excited to be treating her home community. With a dance and personal training background, she obtained her Bachelors of Science at California State University for Kinesiology and completed her Doctorate in physical therapy at West Coast University. She developed a heavy interest in sports/orthopedics, pediatrics and women’s health/the pelvic floor during graduate school.
Gigi underwent a pelvic floor internship where she treated women experiencing: diastasis recti, prolapse, incontinence and chronic pelvic pain. She realized how common pelvic dysfunction is that there was a lack of options for women to eliminate symptoms. She has undergone training from the prestigious Herman and Wallace and enjoys continuing her education in all things women’s health. Currently, she has over a year of pelvic floor experience and has helped numerous women live pain and symptom free.
She enjoys helping patients from all walks of life make a game plan to return to the activities that bring them joy. When she is not at the clinic, you can find her soaking up the sun with her friends and family, traveling, reading fiction and spending time with her fiancé and their two cats.
Dr. Aileen Tran earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration with a minor in Kinesiology from San Jose State University in 2016 and went on to complete her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Western University of Health Sciences in 2024.
Aileen’s passion for physical therapy was ignited by a deeply personal experience when her grandmother sustained a fall that required both a hip replacement and lumbar fusion surgery. She played an active role in her grandmother’s recovery, assisting with her home exercise program and witnessing firsthand the transformative impact rehabilitation can have on an individual’s quality of life. This formative experience inspired Aileen’s dedication to helping others regain their mobility, independence, and confidence through compassionate care.
As a lifelong athlete and competitive beach volleyball player herself, Aileen possesses a unique understanding of the physical and mental demands of sports. She leverages her knowledge of biomechanics and movement patterns to assist athletes at all levels in recovering from injuries, preventing re-injury, and optimizing their performance.
Aileen’s clinical experience extends to acute and polytrauma rehabilitation, stroke recovery, chronic pain management, orthopedic care, and sports injury treatment. She combines evidence-based practices with a patient-centered approach to design individualized treatment plans tailored to each person’s unique needs and goals - whether they are returning to competition, recovering from surgery, or improving everyday mobility.
Outside the clinic, Aileen leads an active lifestyle and enjoys playing doubles beach volleyball, swimming, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. Her enthusiasm for movement and creativity reflects her holistic approach to promoting a balanced and fulfilling life for both herself and her patients.
