Axis Clinical Staff
Meet our skilled & caring team of professionals
Axis PT & Rehab Staff
Patients can expect skilled, one-on-one therapy at Axis PT & Rehab. Our experienced therapists have unique backgrounds and training, with varying specialties. We pair each patient with the appropriate therapists to best assist with their needs.
Our friendly and courteous staff is committed to assisting patients to make their rehabilitation process pleasant and less stressful. You can count on seeing the same friendly faces at every appointment, and know we’re personally invested in your recovery program.
Christina Howard, PT, MPT
“At Axis, we have a patient-centered practice. Our skills, diversity, and culture of life-long learning reflects our commitment to best outcomes for our patients.”
Leigh Ann Turner, LPTA
Christina is co-founder of Axis Physical Therapy & Rehab, Inc. She graduated in 1995 with her master’s degree in Physical Therapy from the University of California at San Francisco/San Francisco State University. Christina has a broad range of clinical experience, including outpatient orthopedics, chronic pain management, geriatric and neurological rehabilitation, and post-operative care. She integrates manual therapy, functional mobility assessments, and movement reeducation in restoring and recovering function. In addition to her work at the clinic, Christina is the faculty Program Coordinator for Lane Community College’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program. Christina enjoys teaching, learning and sharing, and best practices with her current and future PT and PTA colleagues.
Christina was awarded the Excellence in Interprofessional Collaboration Award by the University of St. Augustine for the Health Sciences (USAHS) in 2020.
Leigh Ann is co-founder of Axis Physical Therapy and Rehab, Inc. She has over 30 years of experience in physical therapy and has practiced for over 20 years in the Eugene-Springfield area. She earned her PTA from Mount Hood Community College and has a B.S. in leadership management from Northwest Christian College.
Leigh Ann worked for six years in a multidisciplinary setting at the Oregon Pain Center and is a long-time member of the Pain Society of Oregon. She combines manual therapy, self-care, patient education, home program, exercise, and community outreach to support the healing process.
Patricia Brattain, PT, DPT
“I love being a PT because I am able to teach people about their body, how it works and how to work with their body to do what they need and enjoy to do.”
Ellen Maloney, DPT
Ellen is motivated to empower individuals to put pain relief back into their own hands.
Patricia Brattain graduated from Western University of Health Sciences with honors as a Doctor of Physical Therapy and has been a Physical Therapist with Axis PT & Rehab since 2011. She also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise and Sport Science from Oregon State University, Go Beavers! Patricia emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to her treatments, ensuring her client’s physicians and other care providers are engaged in their PT treatment as necessary. She enjoys opportunities to use the in-house warm water pool for aquatic therapy and providing excellent, patient-centered education.
Practice interest areas are:
• Aquatic therapy
• Manual therapy, including mobilization with movement
• Therapeutic exercises
Patricia enjoys spending time with her husband, young son, daughter, and Goldendoodle. You will find them on the slopes skiing or on the lake wakeboarding when they aren’t traveling.
Ellen graduated from the University of Puget Sound Physical Therapy program after earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon. She brings a background in working in several settings with people from various life experiences and ages, including clinical experience in skilled nursing and outpatient clinics.
Ellen is particularly interested in empowering individuals with persistent pain and other chronic health conditions and creating personalized plans for improving health and movement using manual therapy, exercise, self-care activities, and education.
Ellen has specialized skills and training from the APTA’s Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy in assessing and treating pelvic floor muscle dysfunction related to urinary incontinence, under-active and over-active pelvic floor muscles, pelvic organ prolapse, and pelvic pain.
Stacy Ward, BA, PTA
“My favorite way to stay active is running. I started running for fitness in 2010 and fell in love with running and the local running community.”
Elizabeth Treeheart, MS, PT
Lizzy tailors individualized exercises to meet your body where your body is. “I feel it’s important to listen to a person and their body.”
Stacy is a 2017 graduate of Lane Community College’s Physical Therapist Assistant program in Eugene, Oregon. She was selected as Oregon Physical Therapy Association’s Emerging Student Leader as a student in 2016. Stacy combines exercise, movement-based activities, manual therapy, and patient education to help patients reach their goals and improve their quality of life. Stacy also serves as the Site Coordinator of Clinical Education (SCCE) at Axis and is an APTA-credentialed clinical instructor.
Stacy has been a Physical Therapist Assistant at Axis PT for 5+ years. Her first love is basketball. She was born and raised in Eugene and played basketball for Willamette High School and Northwest Christian College (Bushnell University). Now that her playing days are over, she loves cheering on the Oregon Ducks and the Portland Trailblazers. She also enjoys hiking the local trails and family walks in her neighborhood.
Elizabeth “Lizzy” graduated from Purdue University in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in athletic training and a master’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Indianapolis in 1994. Lizzy moved to Eugene in 2017 with her wife and dogs.
Lizzy has worked in various settings, including outpatient, hospitals, nursing homes, home health, and industrial rehab. She enjoys treating patients across the rehab continuum, from acute injuries to post-op recovery, chronic pain, and anything in between. Lizzy treats a person’s whole body from the inside out.
Lizzy’s treatment philosophy is grounded in Intuition Training, a body-mind connection lens. She specializes in Visceral/Neural Manipulation, Craniosacral Therapy, Other Manual Therapies, Body/Mind Connection, Outpatient Orthopedics, Chronic Pain Management, and Post-op Care.
Brittnee Johnson, PTA
Brittnee has been a Physical therapist Assistant since 2015. She has experience in outpatient and skilled nursing settings, with a particular interest in chronic pain management and aquatic therapy.
Brittnee combines movement-based activities, exercise, and manual therapy while enhancing self-awareness through education in both body mechanics and posture to help patients recover a higher level of function.
Christina Howard, PT, MPT
“At Axis, we have a patient-centered practice. Our skills, diversity, and culture of life-long learning reflects our commitment to best outcomes for our patients.”
Christina is co-founder of Axis Physical Therapy & Rehab, Inc. She graduated in 1995 with her master’s degree in Physical Therapy from the University of California at San Francisco/San Francisco State University. Christina has a broad range of clinical experience, including outpatient orthopedics, chronic pain management, geriatric and neurological rehabilitation, and post-operative care. She integrates manual therapy, functional mobility assessments, and movement reeducation in restoring and recovering function. In addition to her work at the clinic, Christina is the faculty Program Coordinator for Lane Community College’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program. Christina enjoys teaching, learning and sharing, and best practices with her current and future PT and PTA colleagues.
Christina was awarded the Excellence in Interprofessional Collaboration Award by the University of St. Augustine for the Health Sciences (USAHS) in 2020.
Leigh Ann Turner, LPTA
Leigh Ann is co-founder of Axis Physical Therapy and Rehab, Inc. She has over 30 years of experience in physical therapy and has practiced over 20 years in the Eugene-Springfield area. She earned her PTA from Mount Hood Community College and has a B.S. in leadership management from Northwest Christian College.
Leigh Ann worked for six years in a multidisciplinary setting at the Oregon Pain Center and is a long-time member of the Pain Society of Oregon. She combines manual therapy, self-care, patient education, home program, exercise, and community outreach to support the healing process.
Patricia Brattain, PT, DPT
“I love being a PT because I am able to teach people about their body, how it works and how to work with their body to do what they need and enjoy to do.”
Patricia Brattain graduated from Western University of Health Sciences with honors as a Doctor of Physical Therapy and has been a Physical Therapist with Axis PT & Rehab since 2011. She also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise and Sport Science from Oregon State University, Go Beavers!
Patricia emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to her treatments, ensuring her client’s physicians and other care providers are engaged in their PT treatment as necessary. Her treatment approaches include pain science, aquatic therapy in Axis’ in house warm water pool, manual therapy including mobilization with movement, exercise prescription, and patient education. She believes in treating every patient as an individual and tailoring each treatment with the most care and concern for the patient as a whole.
Patricia enjoys spending time with her husband, her young son, daughter and goldendoodle. When they aren’t traveling you will find them on the slopes skiing or on the lake wakeboarding.
Ellen Maloney, DPT
Ellen is motivated to empower individuals to put pain relief back into their own hands.
Ellen graduated from the University of Puget Sound Physical Therapy program after earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon. She brings a background in working in several settings with people from a variety of life experiences and ages, including clinical experience in skilled nursing and outpatient clinics.
Ellen has a particular interest in empowering individuals living with persistent pain as well as other chronic health conditions, and creating personalized plans for improving health and movement using manual therapy, exercise, self-care activities, and education.
She has participated in multiple levels of training by the APTA (Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy) to assess and treat pelvic floor muscle dysfunction related to urinary incontinence, under-active and over-active pelvic floor muscles, pelvic organ prolapse, and pelvic pain.
Stacy Ward, BA, PTA
“My favorite way to stay active is running. I started running for fitness in 2010 and fell in love with running and the local running community.”
Stacy is a 2017 graduate of Lane Community College’s Physical Therapist Assistant program in Eugene, Oregon. As a student, she was selected as Oregon Physical Therapy Association’s Emerging Student Leader in 2016. Stacy combines exercise, movement based activities, manual therapy, and patient education to help patients reach their goals and improve their quality of life. Stacy also serves as the Site Coordinator of Clinical Education (SCCE) at Axis and is an APTA credentialed clinical instructor.
Stacy has been a Physical Therapist Assistant at Axis PT for 5+ years. Her first love is basketball. She was born and raised in Eugene, and played basketball for Willamette High School and Northwest Christian College (Bushnell University). Now that her playing days are over, she loves cheering on the Oregon Ducks and the Portland Trailblazers. She also enjoys hiking the local trails and family walks in her neighborhood.
Brittnee Johnson, PTA
“Work harder to play smarter.”
Brittnee has been a Physical therapist Assistant since 2015. She has experience in both the outpatient and skilled nursing settings with a special interest in chronic pain management and aquatic therapy.
Brittnee combines movement based activities, exercise, and manual therapy while enhancing self-awareness through education in both body mechanics and posture to best help patients in recovering a higher level of function.