Spotsylvania Location
Ask one of our professionals for some free advice!
Michelle Etcho, LPTA
Clinic Director/Partner, Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant
Bachelor of Arts: English, Linguistics, and Communication at Mary Washington University in 2011
Associates in Health Science: Physical Therapist Assistant at Germanna Community College in 2019
Michelle is a native of Fredericksburg where her son currently attends Riverbend High School.
Fun Facts: Michelle has done 3 weightlifting competitions, teaches yoga at a local studio and started golfing when COVID began and now golfs every weekend!
“I chose to work for Fusion because of their holistic approach to healthcare and dedication to the community. As a yoga teacher in the area for the past 8 years I saw the disconnect between healthcare and wellness which motivated me to pursue a career in physical therapy. Upon graduating I knew I wanted to work for a company that shared those same values of improving patients’ quality of life”
“What I love about this company is the investment in our patients. The environment that Fusion creates is one of community and caring beyond just the treatments. We get to know our patients personally and are able to incorporate their goals into our treatment so that they can get back to doing the things that are important to them. This individual approach helps to get superior outcomes.”
“The commitment to the staff is unmatched anywhere else. We truly believe in supporting the continued learning and development of our staff so that they can achieve their goals. Whether that’s continuing education courses, mentorship, or collaboration, we want everyone to excel. As a new grad I was able to learn from the other clinicians and ask questions to give my patients the best treatment. Fusion is team oriented and values and appreciates each of our employees for what they bring to the team.”
Dr. Kristen VanderWijst PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Specializes in Orthopedic Manual Therapy, Pregnancy and Post-Partum Pain, and Cancer Rehabilitation
Kristen graduated from Shenandoah University with a Bachelor of Science in 2009 and Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2011. Kristen has worked in outpatient facilities for the past 7 years where she gained experience working with orthopedic diagnoses such as neck and back pain, pregnancy and post-partum pain, prehab and post rehabilitation for shoulder, hip, knee, and spinal surgeries, and cancer rehabilitation. She uses a combination of manual therapy techniques as well as an individualized exercise program to help patients return to their prior level of function and achieve their personal health and fitness goals. She has completed several continuing education courses focusing on manual therapy including muscle energy techniques, joint mobilization, mobilization with movement, and augmented soft tissue mobilization for scar tissue adhesions and chronic pain.
Kristen enjoys spending time with her husband Adam and their two beautiful children Haley and Brady. Her other hobbies include running, yoga, hiking, baking, cooking, and eating lots of chocolate.
Dr. Derreck Dixon PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Bachelor of Science: Health Sciences at Marymount University 2019
Doctor of Physical Therapy: Marymount University 2022
Dr. Derreck Dixon is a native of Stafford, Virginia where he currently lives. He began working for Fusion after completing two of his clinical affiliations there as a student. Dr. Dixon has experience in outpatient orthopedics and inpatient acute care.
Fun facts about Derreck: Derreck is a die hard Philadelphia Eagles fan and you can find him cheering on his team during the football season. Derreck has a vegetable garden that he tends to with his girlfriend during the summertime. Derreck also loves horror movies and enjoys going to the movie theater to watch them.
“I knew I wanted to work for Fusion after my first clinical rotation with them. They made me feel like a part of the family from the moment I joined the team as a student. They really made me feel completely supported as I found my footing as a future therapist. This was important to my development and I was very thankful to have been placed there as a student. I also respect how much they value patients at Fusion, and how each therapist genuinely wants to see their patients succeed. You can’t help but feel the positive energy that flows through this company from the moment you walk through the door.”
Derreck has shown an interest in treating both musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.
Renee Threlfall, PT, MPT
Master of Physical Therapy
Bachelor of Science: Notre Dame College, 1997
Master in Physical Therapy: Notre Dame College, 2000
Fun facts about Renee: She absolutely loves her job as a PT and has been doing it for over 20 years. She retired after 22 years as a Master Sergeant with the United States Army. She is a huge New England Patriots fan – “GO PATs!!” Renee has a horse named, Festus, and she enjoys trail riding and learning the art of dressage with him. She loves to travel and spend time with her husband, their son, and their family.
Renee and her family have traveled about since 2009 with her husband‘s work and finally settled in the Northern Virginia area in 2016. She previously was a resident of New England’s beautiful state of New Hampshire, where she grew up, and continues to visit family and friends as often as she can.
Renee specializes in orthopedic rehabilitation combined with manual therapy and has many tools in her toolbox to assist those afflicted with pain to recover their independence and quality of life back.
“I made a change to continue to be proactive with my career and changed jobs which was a critical decision in my life at the time. I am so glad that Fusion Rehab and Wellness had the perfect opportunity to join a team of individuals that not only give back to their community but also keep me learning through a variety of continuing education opportunities. All the offices welcome you in, and you can see that we are grateful for the opportunity to help individuals move forward with their health”.
Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant
Stacy Banko, LPTA
Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant
Pelvic Health Specialist
Stacy graduated from Penn State University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. Prior to becoming a physical therapist assistant, she worked in infectious disease research.
She is a 2017 graduate of Northern Virginia Community College and has experience in skilled nursing and outpatient orthopedics. She has completed training in Maitland manual therapy, and pelvic health physical therapy through Herman & Wallace. She is now one of two pelvic health therapists in our Spotsylvania clinic.
In her spare time, she enjoys watching Penn State football, hiking, playing soccer, reading, and spending time with her husband and two daughters.
Abby Amponsem, LPTA
Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant
Bachelor of Science: Strength and Conditioning, Radford University in 2018
Associates Degree: Physical Therapist Assistant, Germanna Community College in 2023
Abby was born in Accra, Ghana and raised in Woodbridge, VA. She has worked as a Physical Therapy Technician at various clinics in northern Virginia since 2018 and enjoyed her experiences.
She moved to Spotsylvania with her Husband in 2022 and purchased their first home.
When not a work, you can catch Abby either at home or church. She enjoys playing piano as a form of stress relief and loves to watch movies with her family in her free time.
“I find so much joy in seeing my patients progress. Being a part of the healing process for them and seeing the joy on their faces once they’ve met their goals is a big part of why I enjoy this line of work.”
Maggie Mazzanti, LPTA
Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant
Bachelor of Arts: Historic Preservation, University of Mary Washington in 2018
Associate of Applied Science: Physical Therapist Assistant, Germanna Community College in 2023.
Fun Facts: Maggie grew up in Reston, VA before moving to Fredericksburg to attend the University of Mary Washington. She now lives in Stafford with her husband, AJ, and two step children. She loves reading, fishing, thrifting, and crocheting. In her spare time she also loves going for walks with her English Bulldog, Shugie.
“I knew I wanted to work at Fusion after completing one of my rotations at the Spotsylvania clinic as a student. I love that Fusion values lifelong learning and always striving to achieve excellence.”
Jessica Stephens
Administrative
Growing up in a military family, Jess moved around a lot. At a young age, her family settled in Virginia, making Falmouth and other surrounding areas her home.
In 2017 she graduated with a Bachelor‘s in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. Previously a Montessori aid, Jess is currently the Office Administrator the Lee’s Hill location.
She prides herself in her ability to adapt to any social environment and her love for human interaction.
Nicholas Robey
Administrative
Bachelor of Social Work: Radford University in 2020
Nick is a native of Fredericksburg and comes from a military family. He has worked in the home healthcare field prior to joining our Spotsylvania clinic.
Fun facts about Nick: He is a Cat Dad and enjoys fishing, hiking, camping and watching documentaries.
Nick chose to accept a position at Fusion “because I enjoy helping others and can continue to do so in my community while growing both personally and professionally. Fusion is a very welcoming place!”
Kate Flowers
Physical Therapy Technician
Associates Degree: Germanna Community College Class of 2024
Kate is currently going to school at Germanna Community College and in the process of applying for their PTA program.
Zoe Gayle
Physical Therapy Technician
Zoe Gayle, was born in Woodbridge and raised in Stafford Virginia. She is a former patient of Fusion Rehab and Wellness. Zoe is a part of the class of 2023 where she was homeschooled and took classes at a local public school her senior year.
She just completed a 15-year gymnasts career which brought her to Fusion for treatment of her sports related injuries. She has dealt with many injuries but was able to finish strong in her gymnastics career as 1st place Virginia State and Regional 7 Vault Champion.
As she transitions into the next chapter of her life she will study Sports Medicine.
As a patient to a team of physical therapists here at Fusion, along with a team of physicians, she intently watched, learned and executed the method of injury prevention/treatment. This led to her inclination toward rehabilitative medicine. She has a passion for health and wellness and she wants to become a Sports Medicine Physician in her future.
Zoe is ecstatic to get the chance to get hands-on experience in this field as a technician.
“My experience with how vital the relationship between the physician and the patient is what motivated me to become a part of the Fusion experience for others.
I strive to provide optimism, hope, and to put a smile to each and every face that I come into contact with.”
Fun Facts: Zoe is a pianist and she is in the training process to become a Group Fitness Instructor. She loves to workout, encourage people, and always has a big smile on her face.
Christopher Bufalari
Physical Therapy Technician
Christopher is currently a senior at Massaponax High School. He is a Spotsylvania native and is the oldest of two children. Christopher first learned about Fusion when he was a patient for six weeks. He had the opportunity to complete an externship through his high school and was then offered a job as a physical therapy technician.
“I have always been interested in physical therapy and after I experienced the environment at Fusion, I fell in love and knew that I wanted to pursue a career in this field. During my externship all of the physical therapists were so eager and willing to help me learn about the field of physical therapy. I enjoyed getting to know the patients and physical therapists that I worked with. It is so rewarding to see the progress that the patients make and how much of a difference Fusion makes in their lives.”
Fun Facts: Chris has played several sports in high school including football, wrestling, and lacrosse. He enjoys going to the gym and being physically active. He also enjoys the outdoors and loves to go fishing in his spare time.
Chris is active in several clubs in his high school and is looking forward to attending college to earn his degree and start his career.
