Diana Schwahn, PT, ATC, MA, CFC

Diana has been a physical therapist for 32 years and has been in private practice for 25 years. She received her degree in physical therapy from the University of New Mexico and her Athletic Trainers Certification from Weber State University. Diana received her master’s degree in Health Education from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She also has a certification in Dry Needling from the Spinal Manipulation Institute and uses this treatment regularly to treat a lot of different injuries. She has a Cranial Facial Certification through the University of St. Augustine.

Diana is one of the few people in Omaha and the United States who specialize in the treatment of jaw pain, headaches and neck pain. She has a Certification in treating Cranio-Facial pain through the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. This CFC is only held by a select few people in the country. She has also taken education through the Cranial Facial Academy. She is passionate about treating people with facial pain, jaw pain, headaches and neck pain. If you have struggled with jaw pain that is acute or chronic you have come to the right place.

She is also a Certified Medical Professional through the Titleist Performance Institute and works regularly with golfers to improve their physical abilities and consequently improve their golf game. She also has expertise in treating golf-related injuries, which go hand in hand with the TPI golf screen. The TPI Golf Screen is an hour-long screen that evaluates golf-related movements, which can identify physical imbalances that may impact the golf swing. Diana also has a golf fitness specialization through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Diana works with golfers of all ages to improve their swing through improving their physical potential. She has become one of the few experts in Omaha for treating golf-related injuries and setting up strengthening programs specifically for golfers.

She also has a Graston Technique Certification, which is a great hands-on technique to treat muscle-related injuries. Her knowledge and understanding include a holistic approach which treats the whole person, addressing the source of injury versus just treating the symptoms. She has taken over 200 continuing education courses specializing in TMJ, foot injuries, plantar fasciitis, and back pain. Diana is an avid runner and enjoys hiking and outdoor activities in her spare time. Diana is the founder of Rehab Guru Physical Therapy, and we pride ourselves on treating our clients like our family and providing one-on-one, hands-on care.

Dr. Gabriela Vogel, PT, DPT, CEAS, CFCE

Gabriela Vogel, who is the Rehab Guru Clinic Director, is a doctor of physical therapy who has been practicing for more 15 years. She received her doctoral degree from Creighton University. She is certified in ergonomic assessments and functional capacity evaluations through OccuPro.  She also has specillized trained in using the Graston Technique, dry needling, kinesiotaping, and blood flow restriction manual therapy and treating TMJ. She has also  taken specialized training on back pain and manual techniques through the University of Saint Augustine. Gabriela believes in a hand on approach and gets wonderful results with her clients.

Gabriela has acquired different sets of skills while working in different environments, including outpatient, home health, skilled rehab, and industrial therapy; however, she specializes in TMJ, worker’s compensation, orthopedic injuries, pelvic floor dysfunction, incontinence, pelvic pain, and vestibular dysfunction. She received her pelvic floor dysfunction and vestibular training through Creighton University.

Gabriela has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 2007, and she is part of the Iowa and Nebraska chapters. She is also an executive board member of the Centro Latino in Council Bluffs, where she advocates for its clients and their needs.

Gabriela is a native of Durango, Mexico. She moved to the United States in 2001 to attend Dordt University for undergraduate school and then Creighton University for graduate school. She is married to her high school sweetheart. In her free time, she enjoys exercising and staying fit, reading history and fiction, and spending time with her family.

Gabriela likes being a physical therapist because it provides her with the opportunity to help people improve function while addressing their needs as a whole and not just the symptoms. She is bilingual (Spanish and English), and she wants to continue to be able to provide services to the community to help each individual reach their goals. Gabriela loves her dogs and being outdoors.  

Jessica Metzger PT, DPT, CMTPT

Jessica Metzger is a Doctor of Physical Therapy that has been practicing since 2017. She graduated from Kansas State University with a Degree in Athletic Training with a minor in Kinesiology and went on to get her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.  After advanced training to become a Certified Manual Trigger Point Therapist for Dry Needling through Myopain Seminars she has become an expert in this area.   She also received training in Kinesio taping and Spinal Mobilization techniques.

Jessica specializes in treating Orthopedic injuries, chronic pain, chronic muscle tightness (using her specialized dry needling skills), and temporomandibular joint dysfunction. She has taken advanced training in all of her specialties. She has been a member of the American Physical therapy Association since 2014 and the subsequent chapters of Nebraska and Kansas. She stays up to date on current research and best practices through the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy. She enjoys learning about and building relationships with her patients while improving their function and addressing their individual goals.

In her free time, Jessica likes to attend sporting events for her alma maters, read and maintain her own fitness through various exercise programs and outdoor activities. She enjoys spending time with her family and pets.

Dr. Heather Urzendowski, PT, DPT

Erin Schott PT, DPT

Erin, a Denver native, received her Physical Therapy Doctorate from Creighton University with a special focus in Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation, her expertise encompassing all genders and ages. Over her lifetime, Erin has had the great misfortune and profound gift of being a PT patient herself in a variety of areas, including GI and orthopedic conditions, which allows for deeper empathy and compassion in her practice. Erin’s rehab philosophy is multi-faceted with a holistic healing approach, including research-based physical therapy skills and modalities, while incorporating mindbody practice with somatic and trauma healing for a more effective and comprehensive recovery experience. Utilizing techniques like dry needling and myofascial release in conjunction with traditional physical therapy practice allows her patients to have more impactful outcomes. Anyone who wants to decrease their pain, keep their body strong, flexible, and healthy throughout their lives will benefit from working with Erin’s customized therapy approach. Expect to incorporate proper breathing mechanics, posture realignment, and functional biomechanics, not just to heal injuries and relieve pain, but also to improve your overall quality of life, sleep, and mental well-being. Outside of the clinic, Erin enjoys adventures with her two amazing kids and dogs. They love walking & bike riding, baking & cooking, working on house projects & digging in the dirt, watching soccer, paddle boarding, and traveling. Erin has coached gymnastics for over 30 years and enjoys working with athletes of all ages. She has also been a yoga practitioner for over 25 years.

Pelvic populations:

• Pregnancy and the postpartum- for a more comfortable and healthy gestation period and an optimal delivery and recovery experience
• Men’s health – testicular and pelvic pain, pre- and post-prostatectomy
• Transgender reaffirmation surgery- pre- and post-rehabilitation
• Pediatric constipation, bedwetting, and delayed potty training
• Urinary urgency, frequency, and incontinence
• GI dysfunction, including Crohn’s, Colitis, constipation, and other digestive challenges that impact quality of life

Specialty Orthopedic populations:

• Gymnasts and dancers with 30+ years of teaching experience
• Runners and cyclists – marathon and triathlon experience
• Yogi and pilates practitioners
• Scar manipulation and release – surgical, c-section, breast reconstruction, etc.

American Physical Therapy Association member since 2020

Valerie W. Downs, MPT

Valerie has more than 30 years of experience practicing physical therapy. Her professional training began treating collegiate athletes and studying athletic training at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she also earned her Bachelor’s degree. After becoming certified in athletic training, she received her Master’s in Physical Therapy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Valerie has over 300 hours of continuing education, is certified in dry needling through Master Dry Needling, and has extensive training in myofascial release through the John Barnes Myofascial Release Center. She has specialized training in other manual techniques, including kinesiotaping, cupping, and soft tissue mobilization, and has a passion for functional exercise. Valerie has worked in a variety of environments, including outpatient orthopedic clinics, acute hospital/trauma care, nursing homes, home health, and university and high school training rooms. She has treated patients with a wide scope of orthopedic and musculoskeletal injuries, chronic pain, cranio-facial pain, weakness, and balance issues. Valerie provided clinical education for the physical therapy programs at the University of Colorado Health Sciences and Creighton University, and she also served as an adjunct professor with the UNMC Physical Therapy program. Valerie believes movement is medicine. She has a background in dance and has been evaluating the body in motion for most of her life. She is currently in the process of becoming a certified Pilates instructor and likes to incorporate Pilates’ principles into her patients’ rehabilitation. Valerie is married with three adult children. Outside of the clinic, Valerie serves on non-profit boards, likes to travel, enjoys live music, follows Husker sports, and cares for the many animals on an acreage outside of Omaha. 

Meagan Fitch, Physical Therapy Assistant

Meagan joined Rehab Guru in January 2019. She graduated summa cum laude from Clarkson College in August 2018 with an Associate of Science Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant. Meagan offers a variety of manual techniques to address pain and tissue restriction, including myofascial release, cupping, and Craniosacral Therapy. Craniosacral therapy is a gentle rebalancing of the body intended to relieve pain and tension by gentle contact anywhere on the body, which calms the central nervous system. She has taken advanced training through the Upledger Institute for Craniosacral Therapy. She also specializes in treating temporomandibular joint dysfunction, chronic pain, and headaches. Meagan is grateful to be working in a field where she can help others improve mobility, restore function, decrease pain, and promote overall well-being. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, reading, drawing, and painting.

Melissa Bernard, Physical Therapy Assistant

Melissa graduated from Clarkson College August 2010 with a Associates of Science degree in Physical Therapist Assistant. Melissa has spent the last 3 years specializing in chronic pain teaching patients about pain neuroscience, pain management, postural exercises, sleep hygiene, stress management, and therapeutic exercises to help patients improve lifestyle changes to manage their pain.

Melissa has also specialized in various manual therapy techniques such as craniosacral therapy, zero balance, total body balancing, and myofascial release to incorporate in her hands on treatment to improve patients’ overall function.

Melissa is certified in yoga with specific training in spine mobility and trauma yoga to help patients restore balance, strength, and mobility. 

She enjoys being able to work with patients to help them restore their function and improve quality of life. When she is not working Melissa enjoys spending time with her family.

Julia Gallup, Physical Therapy Assistant

After completing her associates degree in Physical Therapy Assistance from Clarkson College in Omaha, NE in 2008, Julia has been dedicated to working with individuals suffering from chronic pain. Julia is deeply passionate about harnessing a wide array of innovative techniques. She is dedicated to employing a diverse range of methods to nurture the whole individual, encompassing the mind, body, and spirit. Her skill set and expertise encompasses breath work, craniosacral therapy, zero-balancing, pacing strategies, soft tissue work, stress management, and yoga. She is also a certified yoga instructor and doula, using breath and gentle movement to facilitate healing and restore muscle tissues. She offers one on one yoga sessions at Rehab Guru as well as occasional group classes focused on chronic pain.

It brings Julia great joy to form deep connections with individuals by listening to their life stories within a therapeutic setting. She sees it as a privilege to support people on their path to recovery.

Outside of work at Rehab Guru, Julia enjoys spending time with her husband of 20 years (James) and homeschooling her four children. She also attends bible study, savors coffee with close friends, and takes her dog, Odin, for a jog.

Sarah Haas, Physical Therapy Assistant

Sarah graduated from Clarkson College in 2020 with an Associate of Science degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant. She is certified in women’s pelvic floor therapy through Herman and Wallace. Sarah enjoys building personal connections with her patients. With her treatments, she focuses on helping restore function and alleviate pain in daily life and activities. Her favorite patient populations include geriatrics, athletes, orthopedics, and Women’s health. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending live music concerts, and playing disc golf. She also participates in a bowling league and is quite competitive. Sarah is dedicated to making her patients’ goals a priority to help them maintain an active lifestyle.

Finch and Paz (Shop Dogs and Greeters)

Both are highly qualified greeters and loving shop pups. Golden Doodles have low-shed hypoallergenic coats, and their affectionate and gentle nature makes them a great fit at Rehab Guru.

Finch comes with the most experience at 6 years old. Her fantastic tail-wagging skills are guaranteed to always bring a smile to your face.  Finch does have a small criminal record in that occasionally likes to steal socks, hats, shoes and anything else left on the floor. After all these years we continue to work on this behavior, but it appears to be a hard habit to break ;).  If this happens to you when you are in for treatment, kindly ask Finch to return the item, and she will be happy to do so.

Paz (pronounced like jazz with a P) is the newest and youngest member of the Rehab Guru team at 1 year old.  Paz is still a little shy but also very sweet. Her tender and mild manner will always make you feel welcome at our clinic.  She is trying her hardest to not pick up any of Finch’s mischievous behaviors, but training seems to be falling short, we are giving her some leeway because she is still a puppy ;).  We named Paz in honor of Grace, our first shop dog for 10 years who moved on to Rainbow Bridge this past fall. Paz means peace in Spanish, and we thought the name worthy of Gracie.  We feel so lucky to have Paz as part of our team as she did not come from the best of circumstances and we know Gracie would be so pleased.

Both girls are heavily motivated by small treats, and sweet talk and there is no such thing as too much petting or ear scratching!

Thank you for allowing Finch & Paz to assist us in providing you with a comfortable and healing atmosphere at Rehab Guru.