PARAMUS ORTHOPEDIC
PHYSICAL THERAPY

PARAMUS ORTHOPEDIC
PHYSICAL THERAPY

BOARD CERTIFIED | PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

Dr. Jason de la Bruyere

PT, DPT, PES, CKTP

Lead Vice President, Leadership Team Senior Executive, Clinic Manager

Dr. Jason De La Bruyere adds a high level of clinical expertise and skill to our Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday Team at POPT. He started his career with us as a clinical intern in his senior year of college and has worked his way up to become a Clinic Manager, Clinical Team Leader, and a company Executive. Jason has a passion for orthopedic and sports physical therapy, as well as a special interest in hand therapy. With his top priority to continually advance athletes to higher levels, he achieved his certification as a Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES). Patients quickly discover that Jason stops at nothing, successfully eliminating the root cause of any issue.

Jason received his bachelor’s degree in Biology from James Madison University before going on to earn his DPT from Columbia University. While in school, Jason volunteered with a team of doctors, therapists, and nurses and went to Guatemala with the Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation, where he helped in rehabilitating both children and adults after hand surgery. He has also presented his research on the abdominal muscles and their effect on low-back conditions at the Combined Sections Meeting for the American Physical Therapy Association. ​

When Jason isn’t at POPT, you can usually find him down the shore no matter what the season! While there, he enjoys sketching the shoreline, relaxing, and exploring the hidden wonders of the beach. Jason loves to be active, and as a longtime soccer player and swimmer, he can really relate to our student-athletes. There is nothing more fun for him than a cold December day at Giants Stadium, even when he can’t feel his toes!

Contact Jason:

Dr. Jason de la Bruyere

Physical Therapist

melanie eskin

melanie eskin

Dr. Melanie Eskin

PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, SFMA, FMSC

Leadership Team Senior Executive,
Clinic Manager

Dr. Melanie Eskin is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with a dual focus in sports and orthopedic physical therapy, including vestibular rehabilitation with a focus on concussions. She is a firm believer in the power of movement and its contribution to healing! Patients quickly discover that Melanie passionately leads her team as Clinic Manager, ensuring that patient care is her top priority and that each patient is individually receiving expert care.

Melanie graduated Summa Cum Lauda from Ramapo College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Physical Therapy in the accelerated 6-year program. While at Ramapo, she was an outfielder for her softball team. She then went on to earn her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Rutgers University, where she was an active member of the student board for The Community Participatory Physical Therapy Clinic, a student-run clinic for the community of Newark, NJ. While at Rutgers, Dr. Eskin was part of a team who developed a systematic review, titled, “For individuals with non-contact ACL rupture, is there evidence of hip rotation range of motion limitations?” She personally presented the research at one of the largest APTA conferences, Combined Sections Meeting, in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Eskin is a current member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and its Sports Physical Therapy Section.

Dr. Eskin successfully treats patients with orthopedic, sports, and neuromuscular conditions. Her success has been built on her years of experience using an individualized approach which draws from her personal athletic background, her dedicated work ethic, and meticulous patient examinations. These components have allowed Dr. Eskin to produce significant results for her patients. Melanie is able to connect and empathize with her patients as she herself has had to persevere after sustaining a collegiate softball career-ending injury during her senior year. Her passion for sports and orthopedics has led her to become certified in Gray Cook’s Functional Movement Screen as well as pursue her specialty in vestibular rehabilitation, double board certification in sports and orthopedic physical therapy, and various manual therapy certifications. These certifications are a testament to her tireless pursuit of excellence in the field of orthopedics!

Contact Melanie:

Dr. Melanie Eskin

Physical Therapist

Dr. Joana Cardoso

PT, DPT

Assistant Clinical Manager

Dr. Joana Cardoso is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who loves working with sports and orthopedic patients of all ages. Joana is intuitive and incredibly supportive as she employs the most current evidence-based treatments to help her patients achieve and exceed their goals. Using skilled manual therapy and neuromuscular re-education, Joana restores functional movement to each person she treats. She is a firm believer that expert care in a compassionate environment provides the necessary mind-body connection to healing.

As an accomplished athlete and after experiencing many soccer injuries, Joana discovered her dream of becoming a Physical Therapist. Graduating Cum Laude from New Jersey City University with a Bachelor’s in Community Health Education, she then earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Kean University. Dr. Joana has been a leader of academics since mentoring first-year aspiring clinicians at Kean. During her graduate coursework, Joana further honed her expertise in Kinesio taping, muscle energy, and presented her mobility research at a leading hospital.

With a passion for staying physically active, she spends free time hiking through the mountainsides of NY and NJ. Her love of sports lives on when she volunteers as a coach for the NJ Special Olympics and youth soccer teams. And, you’ll often find her on the sidelines cheering for her favorite US Women’s National Soccer Team and the NJ Devils.

Contact Joana:

Dr. Joana Cardoso

Physical Therapist

Alexa Schaefer

Alexa Schaefer

Dr. Alexa Schaefer

PT, DPT

Dr. Alexa Schaefer is a dynamic, highly intuitive Doctor of Physical Therapy with focuses in Orthopedics, Sports Rehabilitation, and Pediatrics. Alexa customizes detail-oriented treatment plans to exceed her patient’s physical therapy goals. Profound experiences working with stroke patients at Valley Hospital and volunteering at the Muscular Dystrophy Association set a strong foundation for her devoted, patient-centered practice. Patients of all ages quickly discover that Dr. Schaefer works with steadfast determination to find the root cause of injury. She believes proper functional movement is essential for patients to return to the activities they love. Alexa compassionately and thoroughly explains each step of the recovery process utilizing the most up-to-date scientific research as she delivers expert, one-on-one care.

Growing up a competitive dancer and volleyball player, experiencing years of physical therapy, Alexa set her goals to become an accomplished Doctor of Physical Therapy. Flourishing at the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor’s in Kinesiology, she earned membership into the prestigious Delta Epsilon Mu, a highly distinguished Pre-Health Fraternity. Alexa quickly rose to the top of her class when achieving her Doctorate from Kean University. With unwavering fortitude serving as a dedicated Vice President, she organized her class’s inaugural white coat ceremony and earned recognition as Teacher’s Assistant, providing astute mentorship to first-year students.

When Alexa is not celebrating her patients’ accomplishments, she enjoys furthering her fitness journey and challenging new gym routines. She enjoys catching up with friends on beach trips, experiencing New York City, and diving into plot-twisting novels.

Contact Shannon:

Dr. Alexa Schaefer

Physical Therapist

Dr. Jason de la Bruyere

PT, DPT, PES, CKTP

Lead Vice President, Leadership Team Senior Executive, Clinic Manager

Dr. Jason De La Bruyere adds a high level of clinical expertise and skill to our Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday Team at POPT. He started his career with us as a clinical intern in his senior year of college and has worked his way up to become a Clinic Manager, Clinical Team Leader, and a company Executive. Jason has a passion for orthopedic and sports physical therapy, as well as a special interest in hand therapy. With his top priority to continually advance athletes to higher levels, he achieved his certification as a Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES). Patients quickly discover that Jason stops at nothing, successfully eliminating the root cause of any issue.

Jason received his bachelor’s degree in Biology from James Madison University before going on to earn his DPT from Columbia University. While in school, Jason volunteered with a team of doctors, therapists, and nurses and went to Guatemala with the Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation, where he helped in rehabilitating both children and adults after hand surgery. He has also presented his research on the abdominal muscles and their effect on low-back conditions at the Combined Sections Meeting for the American Physical Therapy Association. ​

When Jason isn’t at POPT, you can usually find him down the shore no matter what the season! While there, he enjoys sketching the shoreline, relaxing, and exploring the hidden wonders of the beach. Jason loves to be active, and as a longtime soccer player and swimmer, he can really relate to our student-athletes. There is nothing more fun for him than a cold December day at Giants Stadium, even when he can’t feel his toes!

Contact Jason:

melanie eskin

Dr. Melanie Eskin

PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, SFMA, FMSC

Leadership Team Senior Executive,
Clinic Manager

Dr. Melanie Eskin is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with a dual focus in sports and orthopedic physical therapy, including vestibular rehabilitation with a focus on concussions. She is a firm believer in the power of movement and its contribution to healing! Patients quickly discover that Melanie passionately leads her team as Clinic Manager, ensuring that patient care is her top priority and that each patient is individually receiving expert care.

Melanie graduated Summa Cum Lauda from Ramapo College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Physical Therapy in the accelerated 6-year program. While at Ramapo, she was an outfielder for her softball team. She then went on to earn her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Rutgers University, where she was an active member of the student board for The Community Participatory Physical Therapy Clinic, a student-run clinic for the community of Newark, NJ. While at Rutgers, Dr. Eskin was part of a team who developed a systematic review, titled, “For individuals with non-contact ACL rupture, is there evidence of hip rotation range of motion limitations?” She personally presented the research at one of the largest APTA conferences, Combined Sections Meeting, in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Eskin is a current member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and its Sports Physical Therapy Section.

Dr. Eskin successfully treats patients with orthopedic, sports, and neuromuscular conditions. Her success has been built on her years of experience using an individualized approach which draws from her personal athletic background, her dedicated work ethic, and meticulous patient examinations. These components have allowed Dr. Eskin to produce significant results for her patients. Melanie is able to connect and empathize with her patients as she herself has had to persevere after sustaining a collegiate softball career-ending injury during her senior year. Her passion for sports and orthopedics has led her to become certified in Gray Cook’s Functional Movement Screen as well as pursue her specialty in vestibular rehabilitation, double board certification in sports and orthopedic physical therapy, and various manual therapy certifications. These certifications are a testament to her tireless pursuit of excellence in the field of orthopedics!

Contact Melanie:

Dr. Joana Cardoso

PT, DPT

Assistant Clinical Manager

Dr. Joana Cardoso is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who loves working with sports and orthopedic patients of all ages. Joana is intuitive and incredibly supportive as she employs the most current evidence-based treatments to help her patients achieve and exceed their goals. Using skilled manual therapy and neuromuscular re-education, Joana restores functional movement to each person she treats. She is a firm believer that expert care in a compassionate environment provides the necessary mind-body connection to healing.

As an accomplished athlete and after experiencing many soccer injuries, Joana discovered her dream of becoming a Physical Therapist. Graduating Cum Laude from New Jersey City University with a Bachelor’s in Community Health Education, she then earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Kean University. Dr. Joana has been a leader of academics since mentoring first-year aspiring clinicians at Kean. During her graduate coursework, Joana further honed her expertise in Kinesio taping, muscle energy, and presented her mobility research at a leading hospital.

With a passion for staying physically active, she spends free time hiking through the mountainsides of NY and NJ. Her love of sports lives on when she volunteers as a coach for the NJ Special Olympics and youth soccer teams. And, you’ll often find her on the sidelines cheering for her favorite US Women’s National Soccer Team and the NJ Devils.

Contact Joana:

Alexa Schaefer

Dr. Alexa Schaefer

PT, DPT

Dr. Alexa Schaefer is a dynamic, highly intuitive Doctor of Physical Therapy with focuses in Orthopedics, Sports Rehabilitation, and Pediatrics. Alexa customizes detail-oriented treatment plans to exceed her patient’s physical therapy goals. Profound experiences working with stroke patients at Valley Hospital and volunteering at the Muscular Dystrophy Association set a strong foundation for her devoted, patient-centered practice. Patients of all ages quickly discover that Dr. Schaefer works with steadfast determination to find the root cause of injury. She believes proper functional movement is essential for patients to return to the activities they love. Alexa compassionately and thoroughly explains each step of the recovery process utilizing the most up-to-date scientific research as she delivers expert, one-on-one care.

Growing up a competitive dancer and volleyball player, experiencing years of physical therapy, Alexa set her goals to become an accomplished Doctor of Physical Therapy. Flourishing at the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor’s in Kinesiology, she earned membership into the prestigious Delta Epsilon Mu, a highly distinguished Pre-Health Fraternity. Alexa quickly rose to the top of her class when achieving her Doctorate from Kean University. With unwavering fortitude serving as a dedicated Vice President, she organized her class’s inaugural white coat ceremony and earned recognition as Teacher’s Assistant, providing astute mentorship to first-year students.

When Alexa is not celebrating her patients’ accomplishments, she enjoys furthering her fitness journey and challenging new gym routines. She enjoys catching up with friends on beach trips, experiencing New York City, and diving into plot-twisting novels.

Contact Shannon:

SUPPORT TEAM

Destiny McClain

Lead Clinic Coordinator

Destiny is our enthusiastic Lead Clinic Coordinator, instantly brightening any room with her smiling personality and meticulous support to our Doctors of Physical Therapy. Full of charisma and empathy, Destiny connects easily with patients of all ages, creating a supportive atmosphere while ensuring our Doctors have everything they need to bring patients to full recovery. Her ultimate goal is for each person to feel at home during personalized care and celebrate every breakthrough moment in the rehabilitation process.

Working with steadfast determination, Destiny attended Marywood University, earning her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a minor in Chemistry. During her studies, she accomplished large capstone projects that included Sustainability, Water Treatment, and Restoration. Additionally, as a member of the Zeta Phi Delta Sorority, Destiny learned strong communication skills, which she applies to our clinic daily; with an unwavering commitment to lead a harmonious team, patients always feel comfortable and at ease.

On Destiny’s off days, you can find her spending quality time with friends and family. Whether listening to music, reading, or going on walks, Destiny always strives to be the best version of herself and live life to the fullest.

Contact Shannon:

Destiny McClain

Lead Clinic Coordinator

NJCPT Steph

NJCPT Steph

Stephanie Valladares

Lead Clinic Coordinator

As our dynamic clinic coordinator, Steph’s precise attention to detail ensures that our clinic functions seamlessly, allowing our Doctors of Physical Therapy to entirely focus on achieving long-lasting results for our patients. From the moment a patient steps through our doors, Steph’s genuine warmth radiates, and she often says her most fulfilling days are listening to the unique stories of our patients.

Steph graduated from Kean University with a degree in Liberal Arts, complemented by a minor in Biology. Her academic foundation and empathetic personality enhance her interactions with everyone around her. Throughout her educational journey, Steph stood out by channeling her energy into philanthropic causes, notably running a 5K in supporting breast cancer awareness. Patients quickly discover that Steph genuinely desires to uplift others, easily connecting with patients of all ages and celebrating the milestone victories throughout their treatment.

In her free time, Steph loves reading, building workout routines, and spending time at the beach. Whether she is creating lasting memories with loved ones or enjoying playful moments with her dog, Chico, every moment is cherished.

Contact Shannon:

Stephanie Valladares

Lead Clinic Coordinator

Dana Edmund

Client Care Specialist

Dana Edmund is a dedicated Client Care Specialist with a passion for exceeding our patient’s expectations, ensuring they can focus solely on their rehabilitation journey. Her best day is advocating for our patients with insurance companies and taking care of scheduling, always with a bright smile. Her proactive approach and deep understanding of patient needs make her an integral part of their health and recovery process.

Dana’s thorough understanding of administrative nuances and her communication prowess were honed through her academic achievements, including winning a speech contest at Chesapeake College, earning a TESOL certificate from the Canadian Institute of English, and achieving her associate’s degree in paralegal studies. Her empathetic and caring personality and vast experiences are instrumental in her role, where she seamlessly blends her knowledge and interpersonal skills to connect with patients.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Dana’s commitment to improving others’ quality of life shines through her volunteer work in community outreach education programs. She finds joy in participating in poetry open-mic events and exploring new cities, further fueling her desire to connect with people from different walks of life.

Dana Edmund

Client Care Specialist

Destiny McClain

Lead Clinic Coordinator

Destiny is our enthusiastic Lead Clinic Coordinator, instantly brightening any room with her smiling personality and meticulous support to our Doctors of Physical Therapy. Full of charisma and empathy, Destiny connects easily with patients of all ages, creating a supportive atmosphere while ensuring our Doctors have everything they need to bring patients to full recovery. Her ultimate goal is for each person to feel at home during personalized care and celebrate every breakthrough moment in the rehabilitation process.

Working with steadfast determination, Destiny attended Marywood University, earning her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a minor in Chemistry. During her studies, she accomplished large capstone projects that included Sustainability, Water Treatment, and Restoration. Additionally, as a member of the Zeta Phi Delta Sorority, Destiny learned strong communication skills, which she applies to our clinic daily; with an unwavering commitment to lead a harmonious team, patients always feel comfortable and at ease.

On Destiny’s off days, you can find her spending quality time with friends and family. Whether listening to music, reading, or going on walks, Destiny always strives to be the best version of herself and live life to the fullest.

Contact Shannon:

NJCPT Steph

Stephanie Valladares

Lead Clinic Coordinator

As our dynamic clinic coordinator, Steph’s precise attention to detail ensures that our clinic functions seamlessly, allowing our Doctors of Physical Therapy to entirely focus on achieving long-lasting results for our patients. From the moment a patient steps through our doors, Steph’s genuine warmth radiates, and she often says her most fulfilling days are listening to the unique stories of our patients.

Steph graduated from Kean University with a degree in Liberal Arts, complemented by a minor in Biology. Her academic foundation and empathetic personality enhance her interactions with everyone around her. Throughout her educational journey, Steph stood out by channeling her energy into philanthropic causes, notably running a 5K in supporting breast cancer awareness. Patients quickly discover that Steph genuinely desires to uplift others, easily connecting with patients of all ages and celebrating the milestone victories throughout their treatment.

In her free time, Steph loves reading, building workout routines, and spending time at the beach. Whether she is creating lasting memories with loved ones or enjoying playful moments with her dog, Chico, every moment is cherished.

Contact Shannon:

Dana Edmund

Client Care Specialist

Dana Edmund is a dedicated Client Care Specialist with a passion for exceeding our patient’s expectations, ensuring they can focus solely on their rehabilitation journey. Her best day is advocating for our patients with insurance companies and taking care of scheduling, always with a bright smile. Her proactive approach and deep understanding of patient needs make her an integral part of their health and recovery process.

Dana’s thorough understanding of administrative nuances and her communication prowess were honed through her academic achievements, including winning a speech contest at Chesapeake College, earning a TESOL certificate from the Canadian Institute of English, and achieving her associate’s degree in paralegal studies. Her empathetic and caring personality and vast experiences are instrumental in her role, where she seamlessly blends her knowledge and interpersonal skills to connect with patients.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Dana’s commitment to improving others’ quality of life shines through her volunteer work in community outreach education programs. She finds joy in participating in poetry open-mic events and exploring new cities, further fueling her desire to connect with people from different walks of life.

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Team Awards

Columbia University icon Designated Site of Clinical Excellence

Columbia University

Designated Site of Clinical Excellence

NJCPT logos for medicine

Rutgers School of Health Related Professions

Alumni Award Winner

Montclair State University award

Montclair State University

Sports Medicine Center named in our Founder's Honor

Hospital for Special Surgery

Hospital For Special Surgery

Provider Certification