Meet Our Team
The physical therapy we provide stands above that of our competitors. Our expertise in manual therapy can help you beat your pain more quickly and get you back to your active lifestyle. We would love to work with you!
Nichole King, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Nichole King is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and currently resides in Virginia Beach, VA where she has devoted over 10 years of practice to Orthopedic and Sports Medicine. She has a specialty certification in Myofascial Trigger Point Dry Needling (MFTrPDN) and is a Certified Integrated Manual Therapist (CIMT), which support her treatment style of one-on-one expert care to help each client recover more quickly in order to return to a fulfilling and inspired lifestyle.
After 10 years of directing outpatient clinics in the corporate world, Nichole has begun a new journey as an owner with Best Life Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, where she is truly able to live out her passion of providing patient specific programs and addressing individual needs. Nichole’s mission speaks for itself….to provide community education and comprehensive whole-body treatment to meet and advance wellness/fitness goals so that she can take patients to the next level, helping them to “Live Their Best Life.” Nichole is Direct Access certified, which allows patients immediate access to physical therapy, saving time and money, and ultimately resulting in quicker recovery.
She provides in-services and educational seminars throughout Hampton Roads for various organizations to reach her community, especially those who are restricted to their access to health care.
While serving as an ambassador with GIELD INC, the Global Institute of Empowerment and Leadership Development, whose mission is to enrich educate and empower quality leaders within the church and society for today and tomorrow, she recently lead the health component to a children’s summer camp in Norfolk, VA.
Nichole practices what she preaches by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and is currently a natural bodybuilding competitor, holding a professional title with the American Natural Bodybuilding Federation, as well as representing various organizations as a sponsored athlete.
When Nichole is not working toward establishing her legacy in the health field, she is active in her local church and enjoys traveling, listening to live music, being outdoors and spending time with her family and friends.
Gina Meyer, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Gina has been a leader in the field of outpatient physical therapy and sports medicine, providing the highest quality, patient-focused care since 2003. In her
early career, Dr. Meyer practiced across many states, becoming an experienced manual therapist with multiple orthopedic specializations. She is a published researcher in outpatient rehabilitation.
She founded Best Life Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine on the East Coast in 2012 and Rise Pacific Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine on the West Coast in 2016.
Dr. Meyer has a true passion for helping her patients get back to doing the things they love. This pursuit led to her role as founder and host of the Rise
Resolute Podcast, a podcast designed to connect women through female athletes’ stories of grit and perseverance. Dr. Meyer believes that being active is a privilege that enhances our lives in so
many ways. She is an avid runner and advocate for movement and running, which has countless physical and mental benefits, including improved stress management and decreased anxiety/depression, which
is more important than ever at this time.
Gina founded the non-profit ARC (Active Resolute Connected) based on her passion for breaking barriers and empowering women by improving their mental/physical
health and overall well-being through movement/running.
Outside of the clinic Gina loves music, hiking, golfing, skiing, being outdoors at the beach and in the mountains, cooking, and spending time with her four children, her husband, and her dog.
Frank de Angelis PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Following graduation, Frank joined CHKD’s Sports Physical Therapy Resident Program, where he completed an intensive curriculum focused on advanced sports rehabilitation, injury prevention, and return-to-play decision-making criteria. His training included extensive on-field/event medical coverage andworking closely with high school, club, and semi-professional athletic teams, providing rehabilitation services.
Frank’s interests lie with individualized care for athletes, especially soccer players, post-operative rehabilitation, and tendinopathy-related injuries. As a former athlete, he understands that physical and mental demands of athletics firsthand, which allows him to connect with athletes of all ages and competition levels while guiding them through recovery and performance optimization. He understands the importance ofpatient education and has led multiple discussions, performed interprofessional seminars, lead journal clubs, and injury mitigation lectures with local teams.
Outside of work, he enjoys weight training, running, hiking, recreational sports, and exploring the outdoors with friends and family. His personal commitment to health and fitness reinforces his goal of helping every patient move better and confidently return to activities that matter most to them.
Stormy Zyzyk PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Stormy continued her softball career at the illustrious Morgan State University, where she played both outfield and first base. Her experiences as a student-athlete strengthened her passion for sports and inspired her commitment to empowering youth through athletics.
After graduating as Salutatorian in 2019, Stormy pursued her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She relocated to Virginia Beach in 2022, where she has gained experience treating patients in orthopedics, chronic pain management, injury prevention, sports rehabilitation, and the care of medically complex and critically ill patients.
Although her professional career has evolved, Stormy has never lost her love for softball or coaching. In the fall of 2025, she joined Alpha Performance as a coach, where she enjoys helping athletes develop their skills, build confidence, and reach their full potential both on and off the field.
Outside of work, Stormy enjoys paddle boarding, spending time at the beach, trying new restaurants, and making memories with her husband and their beloved fur babies.
David Mendoza, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
David earned his Doctor of Physical of Therapy in 2021 at Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to this, David earned his Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Science with minors in Psychology, Biology, and Chemistry in 2016 at VCU. As a dedicated physical therapist with a passion for sports medicine, David has spent years helping athletes of all levels recover from injuries, improve their performance, and return to the activities they love.
Throughout his career, David has worked in multiple outpatient and sports medicine physical therapy clinics specializing in injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement. By combining hands-on treatment techniques, evidence-based practice, and personalized care plans, David focuses on treating the root causes of injuries while improving movement patterns to prevent future issues. By focusing on patient education, David strives to empower clients with the knowledge and tools they need to take control of their recovery. David is dedicated to helping individuals get back to doing what they love—safely and effectively.
David is committed to optimizing patient function and improving their overall quality of life while continuing to learn and expand his skills as a clinician. David has enjoyed working with athletes from various sports but has a special passion for soccer and basketball due to his history in providing specialized care with these athletes.
Outside of his professional life, David loves spending time with his family and dog, playing video games, and exploring local restaurants. David enjoys playing and watching sports, especially soccer, basketball, and football.
Madeline Connahan, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
therapy began with a Bachelor of Science from Georgia College. She went on to pursue her
Doctor of Physical Therapy at Shenandoah University and later returned to Georgia to start
her career at Emory Sports Medicine Complex. There, she developed skills in treating sports-
related injuries and post-operative rehabilitation, working with patients ranging from
weekend warriors to professional athletes.
Madeline has a particular passion for helping patients recover from shoulder, hip, knee, and
ankle injuries, guiding them back to active lifestyles. She believes in a
holistic approach that integrates strength training, flexibility, and functional movement to
help patients regain both strength and confidence. She is dedicated to empowering
patients to return to their goals stronger than before, ensuring they have the tools and
knowledge to stay injury-free in the future.
As a military wife, Madeline is excited to have relocated to Virginia Beach with her husband,
eager to engage with the community and support patients in reaching their wellness goals.
Outside of work, she enjoys working out, playing pickleball, going to Church, exploring local
coffee shops and restaurants, and spending time with her husband and their two dogs.
Madeline looks forward to supporting you on your journey to recovery and well-being!
Catherine Hernandez, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy at South College in Knoxville, TN in 2021. Catherine began her career in
North Carolina where she treated a wide variety of patients to include active duty military,
veterans, athletes, neuro, and post-op before moving to Virginia Beach in 2026. Catherine has
taken courses to assist with treatment of runners, weightlifters, and athletes and believes in
improving her skillset by personally maintaining an active lifestyle where she can develop tools
to better treat all levels of patients.
Outside the clinic, Catherine enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, running, and
going to the beach.
Katelyn Lochner PT, DPT, OCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy
and Kinesiology from the University of South Alabama, where she was also a
collegiate volleyball athlete.
Katelyn completed her Orthopedic Residency through Evidence in Motion
(EIM) in 2023 and has since become a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical
Specialist (OCS) - a distinction held by only 6% of physical therapists
nationwide. A firm believer in lifelong learning, she has pursued advanced
training in trigger point dry needling, therapeutic pain science for chronic
pain management, return-to-sport rehabilitation, and pelvic floor therapy.
Katelyn is passionate about helping patients of all ages and activity levels
achieve their highest potential through evidence-based, individualized care.
Her dedication to education extends beyond her patients: she has experience
presenting at regional seminars, mentoring residents, and hosting doctoral
interns.
Originally from Austin, Texas, Katelyn is excited to bring her expertise to the
Hampton Roads community. Outside the clinic, she enjoys working out,
playing sports, traveling, and exploring new local spots with her two pugs,
Mochi and Nori.
Leslie Dahuya PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
She loves promoting functional strength and movement to help people realize how it carries over into everyday life activities. Leslie believes in activity modification and meeting patients where they are to make therapy a positive and empowering experience. Her favorite part of being a physical therapist is the consistent role she plays in her patients’ rehab journey and the opportunity to witness their confidence grow as they progress.
Leslie is married to her high school sweetheart and lives in Virginia Beach with their one-year-old daughter. She’s always up for a good conversation, enjoys exploring local coffee shops, loves anything pink, collects any and everything for her junk journal, and spends her free time lifting weights.
Stefanie Bean, PT,DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
In addition to her orthopedic background, Stefanie has developed a growing interest in pelvic floor therapy, particularly for women during pregnancy and the postpartum period. After the birth of her daughter in 2024, she became deeply committed to supporting women through the unique physical challenges of pregnancy, childbirth, and recovery.
Originally from Yorktown, VA, Stefanie and her family recently relocated to Virginia Beach after her husband was stationed in Kittery, Maine. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys camping, hiking, spending time at the beach, and enjoying life with family and friends.
Brittany Hall, LPTA
Physical Therapy Assistant
Brittany received her Bachelor of Science in Sports and Health Science from American Military University in 2013, while living in Guam. She has always had a passion for health, physical fitness, and helping other achieve their personal goals. Prior to starting the PTA program she worked in Florida managing a health and wellness center. This position inspired her to transition towards physical fitness and rehab, there she furthered her education by earning her Associate's degree from Gulf Coast State College where she became a Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant. She previously worked in San Diego at an outpatient clinic. In her spare time Brittany enjoys volunteering out in the community with Habitat for Humanity and volunteering at local shelters. She likes to keep active by going to the gym, hiking, taking her dogs to the beach, and really anything outdoors.
Whitney Churchill, LPTA
Physical Therapy Assistant
Katherine Heard "Katie," LPTA
Physical Therapy Assistant
her empathetic approach and depth of understanding that healing is hard, it’s not linear, and it takes
time.
Katie’s adaptive approach with continued exercise progression combined with hands-on approach
and an emphasis on patient education, help patients see their strength and achieve their goals to get
them back to living life and doing what they love.
Outside of the clinic, Katie enjoys spending time gardening, soaking up the sunshine, and cuddling
with her husband and two cats on the couch to catch up on a good show. She is an artist and crafter
at heart, often working on a project at home, but her true passion is pottery. Katie is looking forward
to exploring Virginia, the east coast, and making new memories with her husband.
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