Meet the Rehab Guru Staff
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. TheTPI Golf Screen is an hour 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 includes a holistic approach which treats the whole person addressing the source of injury vs 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 owner of Rehab Guru Physical therapy and we pride ourselves on treating our clients like our family and provide one one 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). 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
Heather Urzendowski, PT, DPT is a native of Milligan, NE and graduated from Exeter-Milligan High School. She received her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a concentration in Human Performance from Midland University in Fremont, NE where she also played collegiate volleyball. Heather went on to earn her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO. Shortly after, she and her husband moved home to Nebraska and settled in Omaha.
Since graduation, Heather has worked at an outpatient orthopedic clinic. She has experience treating a wide variety of patients, especially those recovering from surgery and sports injury. Heather also has a specialty in treating patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. She is very passionate about working with pelvic floor patients because she believes it is an underserved population and proper function of the pelvic floor muscles is imperative to a person’s ability to live their best quality of life. She helps both men and women with pelvic floor issues, including urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence, pelvic pain, painful intercourse, erectile dysfunction, preparation for and recovery from pregnancy, and recovery from prostate and testicular cancer surgery.
In her free time, Heather enjoys spending time with her husband, their daughter, and their dog. She also enjoys exercising, reading, watching movies, road trips, and camping.
Erin Schott PT, DPT
Valerie W. Downs, MPT
Valerie has been practicing physical therapy for over 25 years. She received her Masters of Physical Therapy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a Bachelors degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she studied athletic training. She has had advanced training using hands on approaches as well as many years experience with treating chronic pain. Valerie specializes in treating orthopedic injuries and sports rehabilitation. She also has extensive education in Dry Needling which she uses regularly as a treatment approach with great results.She especially enjoys incorporating hands-on myofascial release treatment techniques and guiding her patients on the path to improved function. Valerie has spent the last eight years as an adjunct professor with the UNMC Physical Therapy program. She also treats injured athletes at a small high school outside of Omaha. In her spare time, Valerie serves on several foundations, likes to travel, listen to live music and care for the many animals on the large acreage she shares with her husband and three children.
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 is an expert in Craniosacral Therapy. Cranio Sacral therapy is system of alternative medicine intended to relieve pain and tension by gentle manipulations of the skull regarded as harmonizing with a natural rhythm in the central nervous system. She is also an expert in cupping and has used this very helpful technique to treat both the athletic population as well as people who have chronic muscle tension. She also specializes in the treatment of TMJ and has taken advanced education through the University of St. Augustine. We are so happy to have such a kind, professional and thorough health care provider in our office. When you are working with Meagan you will receive compassionate and professional service every time you come in. Meagan is excited and grateful to be working in a field where she can help others improve mobility, restore function, decrease pain and promote overall fitness and health. She loves spending time with her family when she is not working.
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.
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.
