Your one-on-one therapy partners
Meet our Team
Learn more about the expert physical therapists and team members that you’ll work with at our clinic. Every physical therapy session will be one-on-one with a Licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy.
“Dr. Shulman and staff are a cut above everyone else. They will customize a treatment plan for the individual instead of approaching therapy with a cookie cutter plan. I’ve had excellent results with my back pain and appreciate the care I received here. I highly recommend them.”
Dr. Mark Shulman
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), FAAOMPT, COMT, CSCS
Founder
Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists.
Dr. Mark Shulman, DPT, FAAOMPT, COMT, CSCS has worked in Physical Therapy since 2005 when he started as a Physical Therapy Aide in an Outpatient clinic. Since then he has continued to progress his practice and gain experiences in multiple treatment settings. Dr. Shulman started “The Physical Therapy Effect” to continue his goal of providing quality one on one care to the patients he works with.
Mark studied Physical Therapy at Northeastern University in Boston Massachusetts where he graduated Magna Cum laude with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2010. While completing his degree in Physical Therapy, Dr. Shulman also earned his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Credentials from the NSCA. He has taken multiple advanced training courses to become a Certified Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapist through North American Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy. Dr. Shulman is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy. He is also currently a Credentialed Clinical Instructor through the America Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Mark maintains an active membership in the American Physical Therapy Association, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists and National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Within the San Diego community Mark has set up multiple injury prevention clinics for high schools around the county. Mark is the Physical Therapist for Cali Coast Elite All Star Cheer Gym as well as the head of their sports medicine team. He provides volunteer Physical Therapy services to events such as Bike MS: Bay to Bay, Padres Pedal and SDBC Grande Prix.
When not in the clinic Mark enjoys outdoors activities including sports like flag football, cycling, skiing and golf. He also can be found at dog beach with his dog “Matilda.”
“This place and the people that work there are the best! Very friendly and great at what they do. It’s an awesome environment and I would highly suggest.”
Dr. Allison McKay
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), PRPC
Co-Founder
Dr. Allison McKay has been working as a physical therapist since 2009. Initially working outside of Boston she moved to San Diego after two years of working as a traveling Physical Therapist. Once she settled in San Diego Allison returned to working in an outpatient setting at The Physical Therapy Effect in 2014.
Allison studied Physical Therapy at Northeastern University in Boston Massachusetts where she graduated with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2009. In the time since graduation, Allison has pursued new learning opportunities for orthopedic manual Physical Therapy as well as advanced training classes in Women’s Health and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation. She has her Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification through the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, which she puts to use as the lead Physical Therapist for The Physical Therapy Effect’s Pelvic Health Rehabilitation Program.
When not in the clinic Allison enjoys spending her free time traveling or outdoors either running, hiking, playing soccer or skiing. She enjoys volunteering for local road races and events as well as working with local charities such as the Challenged Athlete’s Foundation. She can also be found walking her French Bulldog “Jax.”
Dr. Hannah Willms
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Dr. Hannah Willms, DPT, joined The PT Effect team in 2021 after relocating from Arizona. Hannah received her doctorate from A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona in 2019. Prior to coming out west, Hannah grew up in Iowa, where she attended Iowa State University. Hannah has participated her whole life in a variety of athletics and competed at the collegiate level in both volleyball and track/field.
Hannah enjoys treating a variety of orthopedic conditions and has a strong passion for women’s health and pre/postnatal fitness/rehab. Hannah has completed postgraduate pelvic floor training through Herman-Wallace, and received her certification in pre/postnatal fitness coaching through Girls Gone Strong. She utilizes a variety of manual therapy techniques and is trained in the Graston Technique. She enjoys athletes of all ages and has experience progressing them in their return to sport/activity.
When Hannah is not working she enjoys spending time with friends/family, exploring San Diego, staying active, and traveling. She also stays active with her community on instagram, you can follow her @girltalk_PT 
Dr. Jana Tokunaga
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Dr. Jana Tokunaga, DPT, joined The PT Effect in 2022. She received her doctorate from San Diego State University in 2016, which is also where she attended for her undergraduate degree. She is originally from Sacramento, CA where she grew up playing basketball and cycled with her dad.
Jana specializes in orthopedics and particularly enjoys working with the spine, hips and knees. She is a certified yoga teacher and likes to implement yoga and functional exercise into her treatments. She also is certified in cupping and instrumented assisted soft tissue mobilization, which she uses often as part of her manual therapy treatment.
In her free time, Jana enjoys doing yoga, walking/hiking with her dog and listening to music/DJing.
Dr. Sarah Mendenhall
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Dr. Sarah Mendenhall, DPT, started at The Physical Therapy Effect as a clinical student before joining the team as a physical therapist in 2023. Sarah received her Bachelors in Rehabilitation Science and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Northeastern University.
Throughout her experiences with physical therapy as a patient, an aide, a student, and a PT, Sarah understands the necessity of providing personalized, quality care. She has a passion for orthopedic physical therapy and helping her patients get back to doing what they love most in a safe manner.
Outside the clinic, Sarah enjoys running, trying new foods, spending time with her friends, and interacting with her roommate’s turtle, “Kevin”.
“Since meeting Julissa, I have not been able to find a massage so enjoyable or catered to me anywhere else. Julissa takes incredible attention to detail, cares deeply about her clients, and truly has a set of magic hands. I will be Julissa’s client for as long as she works in massage.”
Julissa Amina
Certified Massage Therapist (CMT)
A personal healing journey, Hawaiian heritage and culture led Julissa to a path of massage therapy. She has been a massage therapist since 2006. She has worked in many spas and clinics, instructed anatomy and massage, worked with doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists.
Her intuition is incorporated with Aromatherapy and essential oil applications, Deep Tissue, Lomilomi, Lymphatic Drainage, Myofascial Release, Reiki, Sports, Swedish, Trigger Point Therapy and more to focus on specific needs, therapeutic injury care, and relaxation. Trained in the home of the Ironman World Championship, she has worked with numerous athletes. She is also educated in Pohaku Wela (Hot Stone), Prenatal to relax, relieve and/or to encourage labor, and spa treatments. She continues to expand and grow with experience and continuing education.
In her play time, you’ll find her laughing, skipping, stretching, or climbing, hanging, and diving from silks. She is an aerial student, mainly aerial silks but occasionally dabbles in other aerial apparatuses.
“I work from the heart and believe in blending skillful techniques and intuition to assist with restoring wellness, harmony, and tranquility in the mind, body, and soul.”
“You couldn’t go to a better PT place to heal and feel better again. Friendly and welcoming place. Clean and on time. Everyone here aims to make sure their patients get the best quality of care possible.”
Jil Harris
Certified Physical Therapist (CPT)
Personal Trainer
Jil is an American Council on Exercise (ACE) certified personal trainer with over 12 years of experience in the fitness industry, and has worked at The Physical Therapy Effect since its inception in 2013.
She specializes in functional, full body strength and endurance exercise programs designed to meet ones specific health and fitness goals. Whether your goal is to lose a few pounds, strengthen, tone, improve functional movement, increase flexibility, or all of the above, Jil can work with you one-on-one to achieve these goals.
Jil has a unique ability to work with a diverse clientele at any fitness level, including special populations, older adults, and clients recovering from injury or surgery. She earned her Professional Certificate in Fitness and Exercise Science from UCSD Extension in 2005, and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sports and Recreation Management from Ashford University in 2013. Jil continues to educate herself annually through ACE’s Continuing Education Programs to help keep her clients up to date on the newest health and fitness information and trends.
“So relieved of any pain and awesome staff”
Rachel Berger
Office Manager
Rachel Berger is our Office Manager here at The Physical Therapy Effect and she is usually the first patient interaction you will have with us. She handles everything from your first phone call, insurance verification, billing and more. With over 13 years of experience working in finance she has worked specifically in healthcare for over 6 years and can help answer any questions you may have. Her goal is to help keep your experience tailored to you so that each session can be smooth, welcoming and worry free. Rachel is Certified in Medical Billing and Coding as well as Bookkeeping.
Rachel is a born and raised Southern Californian but often loves vacationing with her family down in Rosarito. If she’s not here in the office you can usually find her with her husband and kids at the beach, a Padres baseball game or roller skating.
