Sean Simonds

Clinic Director - PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS

Dr. Sean Simonds earned his BS in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from James Madison University in 2007, with honors. During his undergraduate years, he spent time volunteering in an outpatient physical therapy clinic and in-patient facility with occupational therapy, served as a teaching assistant, and ran an exercise physiology lab. Sean earned a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy at St. Francis University in 2010, with honors. During his Doctorate education, he enjoyed the exceptional opportunity of completing a Clinical Rotation in Tuscany, Italy. In 2010, Sean passed his physical therapy national board examination for full certification as a practicing physical therapist.

In 2014, Sean participated in a sub-specialty residency in Orthopedic Physical Therapy through a combined program between Movement for Life and the University of Southern California. He went on to pass the boards in the discipline and is now one of only a select few physical therapists who hold a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialists (OCS).

In addition to the above degrees and certifications, Sean is a certified Kinesio-Tape Practitioner (CKTP), a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and a Certified Rock Steady Boxing Instructor (therapeutic boxing for patients with Parkinson’s Disease). Sean possesses expertise in multiple fields of Physical Therapy. His specialty interests include sports performance enhancement, sports injury avoidance, and Orthopedics. He recently published a book on the prevention of cruciate ligaments in athletes. Sean married his wife, Katherine, after proposing at St. Giles Cathedral in Scotland. His wife is an Art History PhD candidate at the University of Arizona. Sean is an avid sports enthusiast (soccer above all else!), and loves traveling. He spends his free time playing with his Labrador, studying Italian, exercising, biking, hiking, and boating. His hobbies also include Scottish history, photography, and playing stringed instruments (guitar, mandolin, and ukulele).

Isak Holt

PT, DPT, ATC, CF-L1

Isak was born in central Ohio, where he grew up enrolled in multiple sports throughout his childhood and teenage years. He fell in love with the professions of athletic training and physical therapy in high school after working with both when rehabilitating from a shoulder injury. Isak was able to experience first-hand the positive impact these individuals had on returning him to sport for his senior season. He then attended The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training. After graduation, he worked as an athletic trainer in the high school setting for three years and had the opportunity to work for the Ohio Machine, a professional lacrosse team during the 2018 season. Isak then pursued his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at South College in Knoxville, TN. While enrolled as a graduate student, Isak completed his CrossFit Level 1 certification and coached at a local CrossFit gym as a way to connect with active individuals in the community. Outside of his professional interests, Isak enjoys staying active (preferably outdoors!), including sand volleyball, skiing, hiking, and experiencing new restaurants and venues with his friends and family.

Education

South College, Knoxville, TN

Doctor of Physical Therapy, June 2020

The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training, May 2015

Mark Clarke

PT, DPT

Mark grew up on a small farm outside of Asheville, NC. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in English literature and creative writing, he worked on the family farm for several years focusing on fruit production and agritourism. He decided to pursue a career in physical therapy after his experience with the medical system following a snowboarding accident and his desire to provide great healthcare in his community. Mark attended Western Carolina University and received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2021. He dedicated much of his time in graduate school to volunteering on the student board of and treating patients in MAPHealth, a pro-bono clinic at WCU that provides medical services to low-income individuals in rural NC. He is passionate about empowering his clients and his community to achieve their movement and health goals and get back to the activities they love. In his free time, Mark loves to practice yoga, hike, mountain bike, and play any/every sport (currently pickle ball is the game of choice!). He is also an avid reader and gardener as well as a very amateur botanist.

Montana Fain

PT, DPT, GCS

Dr. Montana Fain earned her BS in Accounting from Auburn University in 2006. Following years in the food and beverage industry and in office management, she found a calling towards healthcare. It was through her personal experiences with chronic low back pain, as well as rehabbing her dog after multiple orthopedic surgeries, she decided to pursue Physical Therapy. Montana graduated with honors from South College with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2019. She is a Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist and developed Lifting for Life, a weightlifting program for those 60 and up wanting to learn how to improve strength, endurance, and balance in a small group setting. Montana is passionate about movement and spends her free time exploring this beautiful part of the world with her partner and dogs.

Education

South College, Knoxville, TN

Doctor of Physical Therapy, June 2019

Auburn University, Auburn, AL

Bachelor of Science, Accounting, December 2006

Cassie White

PTA

Cassie was raised in the mountains of WNC, where she cultivated a love of nature and an active lifestyle. Her first exposure to the world of physical therapy occurred in high school, following knee surgery. It was unclear if she would be able to return to sport after the surgery, but she had an excellent PT who helped her recover and return to volleyball and running within a year. After completing her degree at UNC, she moved back to Asheville and worked for a women’s cancer center for 5 years. In that time at the cancer center, her interest in healing and rehabilitation grew as she learned more about the physical therapy side of the healing process for oncology patients. With sports and an active lifestyle being so important to Cassie, helping people recover from an injury seemed like the perfect career. She then went to SWCC to complete the PTA program in May 2019.

If it’s not pouring the rain, you can usually find Cassie in the woods on her mountain bike. She is an avid mountain biker who just completed a coast to coast mountain bike trip across Scotland (in the rain). Her other hobbies include running, swimming, snowboarding, horseback riding, reading, sewing, board games, and traveling.

Education

Southwestern Community College, Sylva, NC

Associate in Applied Science, Physical Therapist Assistant, May 2019

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

Bachelor of Arts, American Studies, May 2006

Lyle Mitchell

Personal Trainer & PTA

Lyle Mitchell grew up in Winston Salem and has called Asheville home for over a decade. He fell in love with helping people improve how they move while completing his yoga teacher training in 2013. This eventually led to Lyle becoming a personal trainer through NASM, as well as a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. Lyle is also a RKC Kettlebell Instructor, Original Strength Certified Professional, TRX qualified instructor, and RockTape Mobility Specialist. Lyle’s focus as a therapist and trainer is to guide you in a sustainable movement practice that enables you to better do the things you love in life. His experience ranges from training mountain athletes to run, ride, or climb to new peaks, to helping older adults stay active and age with grace. Lyle is a firm believer that it is never too late in life to build strength. In his free time, Lyle enjoys riding his bikes, trail running, rock climbing, and swinging kettlebells around. He is an avid traveler, food and coffee consumer, and devourer of audiobooks and podcasts.

Denise Davies

Front Office Manager

Denise calls Asheville her forever home after growing up in a suburb of DC. With a Bachelors in Human Movement Science, Denise started out as a tech here at Sean's clinic four years ago, and came back to be the Front Office Manager. After a stint in Physical Therapy school, she is now hoping to pursue a PhD in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness. Denise is a former triathlete, avid reader, and all around knowledge seeker. Her favorite book and Poet is The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.

Lydia Rallo

PT, DPT, C-PS

Lydia was born and raised in Southeastern Wisconsin. She went to the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where she completed her B.A. of nutrition, and went on to obtain her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. While in school, she was very active and enjoyed competing in powerlifting competitions and doing tae kwon do and mixed martial arts. Lydia has 6 years of experience working as a physical therapist. She is passionate about helping people return to doing what they love after an injury or surgery. In her free time, Lydia enjoys lifting weights, doing yoga, and spending time with her husband and dogs.

Education

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI

Doctor of Physical Therapy, May 2017

University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison. WI

B.A. science - Nutrition, May 2012