Scott Hoffinger, MD

Dr. Scott Hoffinger has been the director of the Pediatric Orthopaedics Department at Children’s Hospital Oakland since 1993. Dr. Hoffinger attended a six-year medical program at the University of Michigan. He completed a general surgery internship and orthopaedic residency at Yale University, and completed a fellowship in Pediatric Orthopaedics at UC Davis Medical Center.

He spent four years as an Assistant Professor at Children’s Hospital in Seattle, Washington, where he was also the medical director of the Gait Analysis Laboratory. His areas of interest include cerebral palsy, limb reconstruction and lengthening, trauma reconstruction and hip dysplasia.

Dr. Hoffinger is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, as well as the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is currently serving on the board of the Northern California Skeletal Dysplasia Clinic.

Dr. Hoffinger’s skill as a clinician and teacher has been recognized by the residents at The University of California, San Francisco, who presented him with the Resident Teaching Award in 1995. He is also an associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco and is frequently invited to give lectures at conferences and meetings throughout the Bay Area. Dr. Hoffinger was the medical staff vice at Children’s Hospital in 2003.

Jim Policy, MD

Dr. Policy received his MD from the College of Medicine at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He completed his Orthopaedic Surgery residency at Stanford University and a Pediatric Orthopaedic fellowship at Shriners Hospital in Portland, Oregon where he received specialized training in scoliosis surgery as well as Pediatric Orthopaedics.

Since joining the Children's Hospital Oakland Orthopaedic group in 1999, he has taken the Scoliosis program to a new level by applying the most current surgical techniques. He has changed the care of scoliosis at Children’s by performing some surgeries endoscopically, and now performs a scoliosis correction with multiple pedicle screw fixation, which provides excellent results with a single approach. Dr. Policy has also allowed the Children's group to offer more sports medicine surgery by using a voice activated computer in the operating room while he performs arthroscopy. Jim has also helped grow and improve the Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Program at Children’s Hospital in Oakland.

Stephen Skinner, MD

Dr. Skinner received his MD at the University of Pittsburgh. He then did a surgery internship at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh and an orthopedics residency at The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, affiliated with Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Skinner completed a fellowship in Pathokinesiology at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, Calif.

He returned to Pennsylvania to take a position as assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at Penn State. He also did clinical work at the Hershey medical center and the Elizabethtown Hospital for Children and Youth, where he also held positions as director of the Kinesiology Laboratory, and chief of the Spina Bifida Service and Pediatric Head Trauma Team.

In 1984, Dr. Skinner joined the University of California, San Francisco, as an associate professor of Orthopaedics and Pediatrics; he spent 6 years building up their Orthopaedics service. He also began doing research at San Francisco’s Shriners Hospital for Children, where he became chief of the Orthopedics department, a position he held for 16 years before joining Children’s Hospital Oakland in 2007.

Dr. Skinner is one of the oral examiners for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He belongs to many professional societies. He serves on the Council on Ethical Affairs for the California Medical Association. He is a member of the advisory board of Operation Rainbow and has served on many volunteer medical missions to Central and South America. He is Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at UCSF and at UC Davis. He has authored many scientific papers and medical textbook chapters.

Dr. Skinner’s clinical expertise has been primarily in the care of children with neuromuscular diseases, such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and muscular dystrophy.  He has extensive experience in the management of pediatric spinal deformity.

Rebecca A. Demorest, MD

Dr. Rebecca A. Demorest obtained her medical degree from The University of Pittsburgh where she graduated with AOA honors. She completed her pediatrics residency at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and her sports medicine fellowship at The University of Wisconsin-Madison.

She comes to the Bay Area from Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City where she was an assistant attending physician and an assistant professor of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University. Prior to that, Dr. Demorest was the medical director of Sports Medicine at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC and an assistant professor of orthopaedics and pediatrics at The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Dr. Demorest specializes in non-operative management of musculoskeletal and medical conditions affecting pediatric and young adult athletes. She is board certified in Pediatrics and fellowship trained in Sports Medicine. She is currently one of less than 150 nationwide pediatricians trained in sports medicine. She is an elected member of the Executive Committee of The American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness.

Currently a team physician for USA Rowing and she has also been a team physician for the Wisconsin Badgers, George Washington Colonials and numerous high schools. Dr. Demorest provided medical care at the 2008 US Tennis Association Federation Cup in Moscow, the 2007 World Rowing Championships in Munich, Germany, the WNBA Combine, San Francisco Giants road games in Washington D.C., the Madison Marathon and Ironman. She was medical director of the Fairfax County Virginia Public School System and was co-medical director of the annual Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run.

Dr. Demorest has done research in the field of sports medicine medical education. Her other interests include concussion management, the female athlete, gymnastic and rowing injuries, and Little League shoulder and elbow. She has published numerous articles and chapters on various sports medicine topics and speaks regularly on sports medicine topics at the local and regional level.

Michelle Cappello, MSPT
Management Coordinator/Physical Therapist

Michelle Cappello received her MS in physical therapy from Boston University. She is certified in PNF, a manual training method for stretching and strengthening. Michelle has worked with local young athletes in a variety of sports, including rowing, soccer, baseball, swimming, basketball, track, skiing, gymnastics and volleyball. Her rehabilitation programs are based on function and performance tailored to each individual athlete. Michelle is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association in both the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine sections. She is also an avid soccer player.

Bruce Valentine, PTA/ATC
Program Manager for Athletic Training Services
    
Bruce received his BS from California State University at Hayward in 1993. He majored in Kinesiology with an emphasis in athletic training. He has been a board-certified member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) since 1993. Bruce became licensed as a physical therapy assistant with a degree from Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado in 2003.
   
Bruce served for 13 years as an athletic trainer and later as program director of the Sequoia Hospital Center for Sports Health. Bruce was a head athletic trainer at the high school and collegiate levels during that period of time. He has extensive experience working with football, soccer, basketball, baseball and softball teams as well as cross-country, track and field, and swimming. Bruce joined the Children's Hospital Sports Medicine Center for Young Athletes in 2005. His particularly enjoys his teenage son’s soccer and baseball participation and the many outdoor activities that his family does together.

Robin Bousquet, MPT
Senior Physical Therapist

Robin received her BA in physical education from California State University, Chico, in 1992 and her MPT in physical therapy from Western University of Health Sciences in 1997.        

While at Chico, Robin taught swimming, played for the Chico State Women’s LaCrosse team, and was director of aerobics at Chico State University. At Western University, she presented her thesis on "Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Land versus Aquatic Therapy." After completing her education, Robin practiced throughout Southern California, working in outpatient and inpatient clinics at Shriner's Hospital, UCLA, St. Joseph's Hospital, and USC University Hospital

Robin was an avid ice skater with several courses in ballet and jazz. Other interests include running, rollerblading and hiking in the local foothills. She is very happy to return to the Bay Area and continues to pursue her interests in the rehabilitation and training of young athletes.

David Arakawa, MPT, CSCS, YFS II
Senior Physical Therapist, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, Youth Fitness Specialist II
    
David earned his master’s degree in physical therapy from Western University of Health Sciences in 2000. He has been a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) since 2002. David has worked with young athletes in a variety of sports, including baseball, swimming, basketball, volleyball, football and wrestling. His extensive knowledge of functional anatomy, biomechanics and rehabilitation/training principles enables him to provide optimal interventions for young athletes. 

Lang Ngov, MSPT, CSCS
Physical Therapist, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
    
Lang Ngov is a graduate of the University of Connecticut.  She previously worked in sports medicine, outpatient orthopedics and pediatric sports medicine in Los Angeles.
   
Lang has taken continuing education courses on the pelvic girdle, functional manual therapy, spine assessment and treatment, Pilates, running/gait assessment and the functional relationships of the lower half of the body. She was certified as a kinesiotaping practitioner in 2004.
     
Lang enjoys traveling and the outdoors, especially running, rock climbing, hiking and beach activities. She has run two marathons and hopes to one day qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Tuan Mai, DPT, ATC, CSCS
Physical Therapist, Certified Athletic Trainer, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
    
Tuan Mai received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from Samuel Merritt College and his BA from Pitzer College. He is also a certified athletic trainer (ATC) through the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.     
    
Tuan has worked with athletes in a variety of sports, including football, basketball, baseball, water polo, track and gymnastics. The Sports Medicine Center has helped combine his interest in sports medicine and pediatrics. His hobbies include playing basketball, lifting weights, and learning about business and finance.

Kristen Welsh, DPT
Physical Therapist
    
Kristen graduated with her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Samuel Merritt College in 2007. Kristen earned her B.S. degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology and a certificate in Kinesiotherapy, from California State University at Long Beach in 2002. Kristen was born and raised in Southern California before moving to the East Bay to pursue graduate school. 
    
Kristen is an all-around athlete with active interests in everything from surfing to rock-climbing. Kristen’s passion is basketball. She has been playing for over 17 years; her honors include being a Kodak All-American. Kristen is currently competing on a North American Chinese National Basketball team from Los Angeles that travels across the country to play teams from the United States and Canada. She has coached kids at multiple basketball camps in southern and northern California. Kristen’s other interests include snowboarding, skateboarding, running, mountain biking and baseball.
    
Kristen’s love of children and sports has kept her in northern California where she is currently working at the Sports Medicine Centers for Young Athletes in Walnut Creek and at Children’s Hospital Oakland. Kristen is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Orthopedic and Sports sections. She lectures to local sports clubs, YMCAs, coaches and parents about injury prevention programs, as well as assisting in running injury prevention classes for young athletes.

Jessica Martin, DPT
Physical Therapist     

Jessica obtained her BS in Biology with emphasis in Human Physiology from San Francisco State University in 2003 and her Masters and Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of California San Francisco in 2006. Jessica was raised in San Diego and moved to the Bay Area to pursue her graduate studies.

At UCSF, Jessica researched the effective interventions for adolescents with low back pain. She also performed her Doctoral research on effectiveness of Physical Therapy interventions in infants with congenital muscular torticollis. She has taken extensive continuing education on the biomechanics of the lower quarter, movement impairment syndromes, examination and treatment of ankle and foot injuries and neurodevelopmental techniques. She has worked with pediatric and adolescent patients with a variety of diagnoses including sports related orthopedic injuries, rheumatological, neuromuscular, and developmental conditions in a medical setting.

Jessica enjoys snowboarding, surfing, tennis, hiking, traveling and cycling. Jessica enjoys the unique challenges that come with working with this unique patient population and enjoys maximizing potentials in athletes at any level.

Timothy Fernandes, DPT
Physical Therapist
    
Tim Fernandes received his doctorate in physical therapy (DPT) from the University of the Pacific in 2006. He received his B.S. from California State University Stanislaus. He has worked as a physical therapist in a variety of outpatient settings with both adult and adolescent populations. He is an active member of the APTA’s sports physical therapy section. He has been involved in coaching the sport of gymnastics for the past 13 years. In his spare time he enjoys indoor rock climbing and running.

Stacy Wong, DPT
Physical Therapist
    
Stacy was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. She attended UCLA and earned her BS in physiological science in 2000. Stacy received her doctorate in physical therapy at USC in 2007. Stacy played both, varsity basketball and volleyball, in high school and participated in a variety of club sports while in college. Despite undergoing multiple knee surgeries, she maintains an active lifestyle by playing with a club basketball team, surfing, rock climbing, and kickboxing. Stacy has also coached a variety of youth basketball teams and clinics throughout the years.

In addition to her physical therapy experience Stacy has also worked with Loyola Marymount University's athletic teams. Stacy's love for sport and passion to help people has brought her to northern California to work at the Sports Medicine Center for Young Athletes. Stacy draws on her different experiences, as a patient and a clinician, to relate to her patients and to return them to function in a safe and effective manner.

Shannon Liu
Physical Therapy Aide

Maricela Guzman
Office Manager