Donald Sanchez, PT
Donald graduated from UNM’s Division of Physical Therapy in 1983. He has worked in several clinics throughout the Southwest but returned to his hometown of Los Lunas in 1996 to fulfill the dream of owning his own practice. He has dedicated his life to physical therapy and the application of a comprehensive, all-inclusive approach to patient care. He believes that physical therapy is a perfect venue to be able to help people and touch lives. Donald is committed to the advancement of the profession of PT and the ongoing conversation of the healing capacity of the human body. Donald lives in Los Lunas with his wife Loraine and their son Estevan. He enjoys gardening, classic cars, exercise, and the outdoors.
Nicole Rejda
Nicole is the heart and soul of Paradigm. She helps to bridge the gap between clinical staff and administrative staff and has more responsibilities than can be listed. She has been with Paradigm since 2010 and in her time has effected very positive change. She is married with 2 children and lives in Valencia County.
Los Lunas Staff
Jacob Covell, DPT
Staff Physical Therapist / Clinic Manager · Los Lunas
Jacob grew up in the East Mountains of Albuquerque where he learned a love for all things New Mexico. He comes from a PT family with both his mother and aunt having practiced in Albuquerque. Jacob obtained his bachelor’s in Exercise Science from UNM and then was directed to Southwest Baptist University in Missouri where he completed his long time dream of becoming a PT! He’s exceedingly happy to be back in the much drier southwest and closer to mountains where he can resume hiking, camping and snowboarding as well as kayaking our beautiful New Mexico rivers and lakes. He loves being in a clinical setting where he can build relationships with patients to give them the highest level of one-on-one care targeted to their specific needs. Jacob is very excited to be able to pour in to this community on the “other” side of the mountains.
Betsy Atchinson, MPT, OCS, IOC, Cert. DN
Staff Physical Therapist · Los Lunas
Betsy comes to us from Charlottesville, Virginia, originally. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Virginia in 1990, then obtained her Master of Physical Therapy degree from the University of St Augustine Institute for Physical Therapy in 1998. She worked for Taos Physical Therapy in Taos, NM, from 1998-2004, then moved down to Albuquerque in 2004, where she worked for Health South/Select Physical Therapy for 18 years. She is board certified in orthopaedics through the American Physical Therapy Association, and she received an Integrated Orthopaedics Certification, which is a combined orthopaedic/manual therapy certification offered through the University of St Augustine in Florida and The Insitute of Physical Art in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She is a certified dry needling practitioner, as well. She lives in Albuquerque with her husband, Rick, their dog, and their horses. She enjoys foxhunting on the weekends.
Antonio Valdez – DPT
Staff Physical Therapist · Los Lunas
Antonio grew up in Artesia, NM before moving to Albuquerque in 2010 to attend the University of New Mexico. He graduated in 2015 from UNM with his Bachelors in Liberal Arts with a focus in Exercise Science and Health Education. He took time off to work in the PT field as a tech, spend time with family, and married his wife in 2018. He applied to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the UNM School of Medicine in 2018 and graduated in 2022. Antonio enjoys working in the outpatient setting due to the variety of age groups and diagnosis he gets to work with. He is especially interested in orthopedic, sport, geriatric, and neurological rehabilitation to maximize functional outcomes to help patients meet their goals. When not in the clinic Antonio loves to spend time with his wife, little girl, newborn son, and his crazy dog and cat. He loves being outdoors with his family and catching up on his favorite movies and TV shows during his down time.
Mason Franco, PTA
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant · Los Lunas
Mason grew up in Carlsbad, NM before moving to Albuquerque to start school at CNM to become a PTA. He graduated in December of 2021 and after completing the PTA Licensure exam he started at Paradigm in February of 2022. Since starting at Paradigm he has enjoyed working with patients to help reach their goals as well as working and learning from the other PT’s and PTA’s. Mason plans on continuing his education and getting a bachelor’s degree to apply to a DPT program. In his free time Mason enjoys exercise, watching movies, and being outdoors.
Maggie Covell, DPT
Staff Physical Therapist · Los Lunas / SV Alb.
Maggie was born and raised in Albuquerque and, even though she has lived in several other places across the southwest, New Mexico has always been her true home. She decided she wanted to be a physical therapist when she was in the 9th grade after writing a paper about the job for an English assignment. Maggie was a dual-sport athlete in college where she played soccer and ran track, both of which have contributed to her current dedication to health and fitness. She graduated from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology before attending Hardin-Simmons University to earn her Doctorate in physical therapy. Maggie enjoys working with a wide variety of patients, but her specialty is in pelvic floor physical therapy. She enjoys running, hiking, and talking all things PT with her husband, Jacob.
Idaly Landeros, PTA
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant · Los Lunas
Idaly was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM. She is a first generation college graduate. Idaly graduated from CNM in 2022 and started her career at Paradigm shortly after receiving her license as a Physical Therapist Assistant. Idaly enjoys working with all age groups and being able to help translate for the Hispanic community. Idaly enjoys being physically active and playing sand volleyball in her free time.
Kameron Aragon, PTA
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant · Los Lunas
Recent graduate from Pima Medical Institute. Kameron is born and raised in Peralta New Mexico. As a local he enjoys giving back to the community and giving the best quality of care to his patients. In his free time he enjoys hiking, traveling and reading. He takes a functional approach to therapy and enjoys helping people reach their goals!
Geovany Castillo
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant – Los Lunas
I grew up in Albuquerque and joined the military at 19 years old as a medic. I decided to return to school full-time when I was accepted to the CNM PTA program in the summer of 2022. I went on to graduate from CNM in December of 2023. I look forward to learning from the other PT’s and PTA’s and working with a variety of demographics. I plan on continuing my education and getting a bachelor’s degree from UNM. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, hiking, and weight training.
Celeste Peters
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant · Los Lunas
Bio Coming Soon!
Adrian Avitia
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant · Los Lunas
Adrian graduated in 2018 from Central New Mexico Community College and became a licensed physical therapist assistant. He later attended Northern Arizona University and earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Physical Therapist Assistant in 2020. He was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM. He is committed to growing as a healthcare professional with Paradigm and furthering his education. Adrian believes in delivering compassionate care and tailoring therapeutic interventions to patient’s goals. Outside of work he enjoys mountain biking, backpacking, fishing, and playing volleyball.
Chris Wechsler
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant · Los Lunas
Bio Coming Soon!
Belen Staff
Donald Sanchez, PT
Owner – Physical Therapist · Belen
Donald graduated from UNM’s Division of Physical Therapy in 1983. He has worked in several clinics throughout the Southwest but returned to his hometown of Los Lunas in 1996 to fulfill the dream of owning his own practice. He has dedicated his life to physical therapy and the application of a comprehensive, all-inclusive approach to patient care. He believes that physical therapy is a perfect venue to be able to help people and touch lives. Donald is committed to the advancement of the profession of PT and the ongoing conversation of the healing capacity of the human body. Donald lives in Los Lunas with his wife Loraine and their son Estevan. He enjoys gardening, classic cars, exercise, and the outdoors.
Kameron Aragon, PTA
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant · Los Lunas
Recent graduate from Pima Medical Institute. Kameron is born and raised in Peralta New Mexico. As a local he enjoys giving back to the community and giving the best quality of care to his patients. In his free time he enjoys hiking, traveling and reading. He takes a functional approach to therapy and enjoys helping people reach their goals!
Alex King, PTA
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant · Belen
Alex was born in St. Louis, MI before moving around quite a bit before landing in Albuquerque, NM in 2006, where he went to graduate from the CNM PTA program in 2022. His journey started from needing Physical Therapy as a child and wanting to chase that career path since then. He enjoys providing a high quality of care for his patients and seeing them progress to continue their therapy by themselves outside of the clinic. He enjoys skiing, primarily at Taos Ski Valley, and playing his guitar in his free time.
Isaac Aragon, DPT
Staff Physical Therapist / Clinic Manager · Belen
Born and raised in Northern New Mexico, Isaac pursued a college basketball career in the state of New York prior to finishing his undergraduate degree at the University of New Mexico. He then earned his Doctorate degree from Denver’s Regis University in 2016. He returned home to his native New Mexico to begin a career in Physical Therapy at Paradigm PT & Wellness in Los Lunas under long-time mentor Donald Sanchez
After a few years, he relocated to the islands of Hawai’i, where he continued to hone his craft and treatment philosophy, which aim to identify disharmony and inefficiencies within the physical body, and restore its natural balance and optimal function. Just as comfortable treating orthopedic and sports-related injuries as he is with neurological, pediatric and geriatric patients, Isaac regularly implements a holistic approach to regaining functional mobility.
In 2023, Isaac returned to his beginnings at Paradigm, where he now serves as clinic manager of the Belen location.
Isaac is a family man who enjoys spending his time outdoors camping, fly-fishing, mountain biking, and skiing. He also enjoys a successful career as a recording musical artist.
Jean Elliott, PTA
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant · Belen
Jean grew up in the Belen, NM area but moved away to Farmington, NM for many years before returning to the area in 2020. Jean attended school at SJC and became a PTA in 2012. Jean loves NM and the variety that NM offers. In her free time, Jean loves everything about the outdoors from skiing to hiking to boating and everything in between. She even heads over to Santa Rosa for NM style scuba diving. Jean is happy to be back in the area and to care for the members of the community she grew up in.
Ben (Trey) Porcher
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant · Belen
Bio Coming Soon!
Albuquerque South Valley Staff
Eryk Ocasio, PT, DPT
Staff Physical Therapist – South Valley
Eryk is originally from Alamogordo, NM, received his Bachelor’s in Business Administration at NMSU in Las Cruces, NM in 2009 and his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Washington University in St Louis, MO in 2015. After working in a hospital based clinic in northern Missouri doing outpatient and inpatient care for a couple years, he is happy to be back in his home state near family and friends (and with much better weather!). His treatment philosophy involves incorporating not only exercise prescription but also addressing the mechanics of functional motions one does in everyday life that can aggravate or lead to an injury (getting up from a chair with knees together, standing with slouched posture, walking with feet pointing outward). He has a lovely, wonderful wife and a cool dog and enjoys hiking, climbing, biking, playing bass, and martial arts.
Jennifer Dominique, PTA
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant / Clinic Manager · South Valley
Jenny Dominique is a recent PTA graduate from San Juan College. She is also a certified yoga instructor with over ten years experience of working with a wide variety of clients. She has a passion for empowering individuals to understand their bodies and take an active role in their healing. She has called Albuquerque home for the last ten years, and enjoys hosting potlucks, family game nights and camping trips with her husband, two awesome sons, and her goofy 95-pounds-of-love mutt, Olivia.
Maggie Covell, DPT
Staff Physical Therapist · Los Lunas / SV Alb.
Maggie was born and raised in Albuquerque and, even though she has lived in several other places across the southwest, New Mexico has always been her true home. She decided she wanted to be a physical therapist when she was in the 9th grade after writing a paper about the job for an English assignment. Maggie was a dual-sport athlete in college where she played soccer and ran track, both of which have contributed to her current dedication to health and fitness. She graduated from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology before attending Hardin-Simmons University to earn her Doctorate in physical therapy. Maggie enjoys working with a wide variety of patients, but her specialty is in pelvic floor physical therapy. She enjoys running, hiking, and talking all things PT with her husband, Jacob.
Yeisi Gainza, BSPTA
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant · South Valley
Graduated from Carrington College in 2015 as a PTA and pursued a Bachelor in the field and achieved it in 2019. She is a certified kinesiology tape practitioner, and enjoys working with a wide range of diagnosis. The best part of being a Physical Therapist Assistant is the ability of helping people and seeing the patient’s return to their previous functions and doing the things they enjoy with no pain. As a Cuban American, she loves the southwest culture and is fluent in Spanish. She enjoys outdoor activities with her dogs and spending time with her family.
Kameron Aragon, PTA
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant · Los Lunas
Recent graduate from Pima Medical Institute. Kameron is born and raised in Peralta New Mexico. As a local he enjoys giving back to the community and giving the best quality of care to his patients. In his free time he enjoys hiking, traveling and reading. He takes a functional approach to therapy and enjoys helping people reach their goals!
Eileen Kugler, PTA
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant · South Valley
Eileen is a Physical Therapist Assistant who graduated from Mid-plains community college and Pima Medical Institute. She has always wanted to work in the physical therapy field due to experiencing injuries while playing sports as a young child. She is a Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner who enjoys providing adequate care for her patients. Eileen is motivated to help restore her patient’s overall health. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys traveling to see new places.
Gianna Springer
Staff Physical Therapist Assistant – South Valley
My name is Gianna Springer and I was born and raised in Albuquerque NM. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from New Mexico Highlands University and am a recent PTA graduate from San Juan College. I was a competitive gymnastics coach for 18 years and have a high level of passion for athletics and pediatrics. Maintaining an active lifestyle, playing with my two kiddos, my energetic pup and enjoying life with my husband is what brings me joy. Providing education and tools that allow an individual to regain or increase their quality of life is why I became a PTA. I take great responsibility knowing I have the privilege to be a part of someone’s healing journey and I will always strive to meet each person with compassion, understanding and grace.
Come Work With Us
We really enjoyed meeting so many great students attending the career fair at UNM and sharing our extensive career opportunities. Come work with the most well established physical therapy provider in New Mexico. We’ve been serving the communities of Valencia County for over 24 years and most recently established a clinic in the beautiful South […]
Art Painting Night
We had a blast doing a little team bonding over an easel and a paint brush. Here’s a few photos of the awesome night we shared. We hope you enjoy them.
