Meet The Staff at BCS Physical Therapy & Wellness

Brent Stuart, MSPT

Brent Stuart, MSPT, owner and lead physical therapist, graduated cum laude with a Bachelor and Master’s Degree in PT from the Bouve’ College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University, Boston, MA.

His PT clinical and field work allowed him to experience a myriad of healthcare settings including Los Angeles, New Orleans and Philadelphia. For the past 10 years he's called South Florida his home and worked exclusively in Palm Beach County with Medicare patients.

Brent takes great pride in providing his patients the highest quality care on the road to recovery. His mission and treatment focuses on restoring Balance, Core and Stability to his valued patient’s life.

Gina Pfingsten, MPT

Gina was born and raised in Minnesota. She earned her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy in 2000. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings but is passionate about outpatient care, where she can apply her extensive skills to help patients recover and improve their quality of life.

Gina treats conditions including Bell’s Palsy, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and vertigo, and has advanced training in manual therapy techniques, including Postural Restoration Institute (PRI), Mark Buchhart methods, and Muscle Energy Techniques. She is also skilled in Pilates-based rehabilitation, Graston Technique, cupping, kinesiotaping, and McConnell taping.

With over 12 years of experience leading Pilates and core strengthening classes, Gina combines hands-on care with evidence-based practice to help patients achieve optimal outcomes.

Outside the clinic, she enjoys attending sporting events, spending time outdoors, and raising her five children and two dogs.

Elyse Canas, OTR/L

Elyse Canas, OTR/L, brings over 38 years of professional experience into BCS Physical Therapy and Wellness. She graduated from Temple University Health Sciences Center, cum laude in 1979. She has practiced in acute hospital, hand surgeon offices, skilled nursing, pediatric, out patient, and home care settings.

Elyse is fluent in Spanish and is certified to teach mat Pilates. She and her family have made South Florida their home for 35 years.

Jeremy D. Chan, PTA

Completed PTA program in 2007.

Practiced outpatient setting since acquiring license shortly after graduation.

Certified in LSVT, FL institute Orthopedic Manual PTA, Aquatic Therapy, ASTYM.

She gives individualized treatment for every patient as she finds each of them unique from others. Her therapy approach is centered on whole body functional mobility through manual techniques, strengthening, balance, and coordination. She takes care of patients like family.

She enjoys spending time at home cooking, practicing yoga, movie nights, and playing games with her 3 daughters and husband.

Maria Florencia, PTA

Meet Maria Florencia (Flo), our dedicated and compassionate Physical Therapist Assistant. Flo is originally from Argentina, but has lived in South Florida for over 25 years. She holds an Associate of Science degree in Physical Therapy Assistant Honors from Broward College where she gained a solid foundation in anatomy, physiology, and therapeutic exercise. Flo is known for her exceptional communication skills and ability to connect with patients, making them feel comfortable and motivated throughout their recovery journey. During her experience as a PTA student, Flo had the opportunity to work in outpatient and inpatient settings specializing in manual therapy, orthopedics, sports rehabilitation, vestibular disorders, and neurological rehabilitation. She takes pride in being an integral part of the healthcare team, collaborating closely with therapists, physicians, and other professionals to deliver comprehensive care. Outside of physical therapy, Flo enjoys playing the drums at different venues across South Florida, traveling with her wife, and spending time with her family.

Bryan Koudim, PTA

Bryan Koudim is a FL native who graduated with honors and has his bachelors from FAU. He later studied physical therapy, graduating from BC with honors and has been working in outpatient since 2015. Bryan has a very solid fitness and therapeutic exercise background and has experience working with patients of all levels.

Meredith Saxon-Kowalsky, MSPT

Meredith Saxon-Kowalsky, MSPT, is a practicing, certified PHYSICAL THERAPY specialist. She attended and graduated from Simmons College in 1992 with a BS in Science and graduated from Simmons College Graduate School for Health Studies in 1994 with Master’s in Science in Physical Therapy. She has worked in Outpatient Orthopedics/Sports Physical Therapy for the past 31 years. Meredith owned Center Sports Physical Therapy, a successful private Physical Therapy practice in West Hartford, Connecticut which she developed and ran for over 14 years with a special goal in mind- to provide a more personal approach to care and excellence in customer service. Meredith was raised in West Hartford and had maintained strong community ties and strove to be the community “Go-to PT”. Meredith recently moved to Boca Raton, Florida where she is looking to establish roots and make new connections while her two boys are succeeding in college. Her specialty lies in Orthopedic cases requiring hands on treatment. Her many years of experience has made her an excellent and trusted diagnostician with treatments that are personalized and your time is optimized. Meredith also specializes in Vestibular therapy and postpartum diastasis recti treatment and is a Certified Lymphedema Specialist.

Janis Battat, PTA

Janis Battat began her lifelong passion for movement through dance, starting ballet at age five and later studying various styles including jazz, modern, ballroom, and Latin. She earned a B.A. in Dance and Psychology from Rutgers University and attended the Dance/Movement Therapy graduate program at Hunter College.

After moving to Florida with her family, Janis returned to school and earned her Associate of Science degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant from South University in 2012. She has experience in outpatient clinics, assisted living, home health, and in-home outpatient care.

Janis specializes in working with older adults on strength, balance, gait, and fall prevention, and treats neurological conditions such as Parkinson's and MS, vestibular issues, orthopedics, and post-surgical rehab. Known for her upbeat energy, Janis brings kindness, respect, and a love of music and movement to every patient interaction.

David Phillips, PT

David graduated with a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy from Florida International University in 2001.

With over 24 years of clinical experience, David brings a deep level of expertise to orthopedic and functional rehabilitation. He specializes in both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic care, helping patients recover from joint replacements, rotator cuff repairs, sports injuries, and chronic musculoskeletal conditions. His goal in every case is to restore strength, mobility, and long-term function while reducing pain and preventing future injury.

Known for his patient-focused, functional approach, David develops individualized care plans that align with each person’s goals—whether that’s returning to sport, daily activities, or work. He collaborates closely with physicians, surgeons, and the entire healthcare team to ensure a seamless rehabilitation experience.

Over two decades into his career, David continues to be driven by a passion for functional movement, injury prevention, and helping people regain confidence in their bodies. His practice is rooted in evidence-based care and a strong belief in educating and empowering every patient throughout their recovery.

Yanet Florali Caula Dominguez, PTA

Yanet is originally from Cuba and emigrated to the United States in 2013. She spent eight years in Wisconsin, where she earned her Associate Degree in Physical Therapy Assistant. She also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Culture from Havana, Cuba. Yanet developed her passion for the field through her enthusiasm for human anatomy and kinesiology. As a clinician, she advocates for exercise and physical activity as forms of alternative medicine to achieve functional goals and safely return individuals to recreational activities. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son and teaching him Spanish. She finds fulfillment in working out and running, using these activities as a form of self-therapy to maintain her mental and physical well-being.

Kelvin Lorenzo Rivera, PT, DPT

Kelvin Lorenzo is a licensed physical therapist. He has a Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Puerto Rico-Medical Science Campus. He is Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Certified Medical Level 2, Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) Level 1 Certified, Champion Performance Specialist C-PS. As part of his continued education he has Certifications in Mobilization of Cervical, Thoracic/Lumbar Spine and Ribs from Great Lakes Seminars. He has extensive experience with acute to chronic and post-surgical Orthopedic injuries related to movement dysfunctions affecting any joint of the body. He has experience in Neurological (Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Guillain-Barre) conditions after working in Brooks Hospital Center of Inpatient Rehab before moving to Palm Beach in 2022. He was recognized and chosen as speaker by American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as part of Future of Physical Therapy Summit in 2021, after his leadership role as President of Student Assembly Board of Directors (SABoD) during 2019-2020. During his free time he enjoys preparing his coffee in the morning, listening to music and spending time with family.

Ryan Hoyt, PT, DPT — Orthopedic & Sports Recovery Specialist

As a lifelong athlete, Ryan brings the same dedication, discipline, and drive from the field into the clinic. A three-sport standout, he competed at the highest levels in wrestling, track, and soccer, earning multiple state championships and a deep understanding of what it takes to perform — and recover — at peak potential. Ryan currently is pursuing athletic titles in bodybuilding further cementing anatomical understanding and diet influence in athletic performance.

Building on that athletic foundation, Ryan pursued a Doctorate in Physical Therapy with a focus in orthopedic rehabilitation and sport-specific recovery. He specializes in helping athletes and active individuals return to — and surpass — their previous level of performance, with tailored programs designed for bodybuilders, CrossFit athletes, pickleball players, tennis competitors, and golfers.

Whether you’re recovering from injury, managing chronic pain, or fine-tuning your mechanics for optimal performance, Ryan combines evidence-based techniques with real-world athletic experience to help you move better, feel stronger, and play longer.

Arif Salla, PT, DPT

Arif Salla, PT, DPT, is a South Florida native, born and raised in Broward County. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Business from Florida International University before completing his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Wheeling University in West Virginia.

Dr. Salla began his career as a traveling physical therapist, gaining experience across multiple states including California and Oregon, working with diverse populations ranging from older adults to competitive athletes. These experiences helped shape his adaptable, well-rounded treatment style.

Clinically, Dr. Salla emphasizes applied neurology and a “single-organism” approach, understanding that the nervous system, strength, mobility, and pain are deeply interconnected. His treatment blends skilled manual therapy, movement retraining, and progressive strengthening to help patients restore function, build resilience, and return to the activities they love.

After years of practice across the country, he returned home to South Florida, where he continues to provide thoughtful, patient-centered orthopedic care.

Outside the clinic, Dr. Salla stays active by playing basketball, running, completing mud runs, traveling, and spending time with his large extended family. He also tries to travel as much as he can, always looking for new places to explore.