Physical Therapists & Clinicians
Curtis Gelineau, PT, DPT, COMT
My name is Curtis Gelineau. I grew up in North Pole and currently reside here. I pursued my Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Husson University in Maine, where I also met my wife Jordyn. I enjoy being outdoors and spending time with my animals, Winston and Cotton.
Jim Pasek, MPT
Jim Pasek is a 1998 graduate of the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. He has worked in Fairbanks as an outpatient orthopedic and chronic pain physical therapist since 1999. Jim has received his manual therapy certifications with IAOM- US. Jim specializes in disorders of the cervical and lumbar spine. He is also interested in injury prevention in sport and recreational athletes. Jim’s interests outside the clinic include biathlon, downhill skiing, snow machining, biking, hunting, camping, photography, and working on his old car.
Molly Vaughan, PT, DPT
Molly graduated from U.S. Army-Baylor as a Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2012. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatric Rehabilitation at the U.S. Army-Baylor DPT Program. Molly holds advanced certifications in Pediatric Practice and is currently a DSc Scholar in Pediatric Rehabilitation at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center. Molly has been in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves for 14 years and continues to serve. She has a passion for leadership and education and hopes to empower patients and their families with the tools needed to maximize participation in all environments.
Samantha Taliaferro, PT, DPT
Samantha grew up in Texas and earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in 2016. Prior to this, she graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s in psycology. She has practiced physical therapy around the country in various settings before coming to Alaska in 2023. She exhibits a passion for educating patients and empowering them to achieve their desired fitness level. Outside of work, she is an avid archery hunter, motorcycle enthusiast, and enjoys any kind of outdoor recreation with her dogs.
Kassidy Pehrson, PTA
Kassidy graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage Physical Therapist Assistant Program in 2023. She got involved with the American Physical Therapy Association as a student and has loved taking on new roles within the association since then. She grew up in Fairbanks and is very glad to be back home. Outside of work, Kassidy enjoys painting, snowboarding, spending time at the gym, and fishing.
Briana “Bri” Augustine, PTA
Briana, Bri for short, was born in Anchorage to military parents and ended up in the South when her father retired. Her husband, 2 kids, and 2 dogs just moved up from the sunny beaches of Alabama to North Pole! Bri graduated from South University in Montgomery, Alabama in 2021 and has been working in hospital settings since. Her passion for physical therapy stems from helping people achieve a good quality of life. Bri’s life long goal is to run/hike a half marathon in every state- 12 down, 38 to go!
Natalie Evans, PT, DPT
Natalie graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2018. As a military spouse frequently on the move, she has worked around the country in a variety of settings including hospitals, inpatient rehab facilities, assisted living communities, and outpatient clinics. Her passion for patient care started in a sports setting when she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Brigham Young University in 2014 and continued with becoming a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist in 2020. She loves connecting with patients to help them return to their sports, hobbies, and daily life activities in a meaningful way. On the weekends you can find her exploring all the local playgrounds with her kids, hiking on trails, cooking a new recipe, or curling up with a good book.
Covering Physical Therapists
Juliana Ament PT, DPT, MOMT, OCS
Julie Ament has been practicing physical therapy in North Pole since 1995. She earned her Master of Science Degree in Physical Therapy from Arcadia University in Philadelphia in 1990. She completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy with Regis University in 2012. Additionally she earned an Advanced Masters in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy from the Ola Grimsby Institute in 1999 and completed Residency and Fellowship training in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy. Julie is Board Certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist in Physical Therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, and is certified in Dry Needling. In her spare time Julie likes to garden, fish, camp, bike, ski and enjoy the Alaskan outdoors. She is a supporter of Nanook Sports, and is a fan of the Seattle Seahawks, the North Pole Patriots, and the Eielson Ravens.
Alec Kay, PT, DMT, OCS, ATC, FAAOMPT
Alec initially began his career working in sports medicine at the University of California, Davis as an undergraduate where he was Certified as an Athletic Trainer in 1988. Alec completed a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of the Pacific in 1990. He attended a 6 month full time residency in Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) in Vallejo, CA, after working for several years in acute care and neurological rehabilitation. His additional post-graduate studies included completion of a Master of Orthopedic Manual Therapy in 1997 and a Doctor of Manual Therapy degree in 2000, with a dissertation on the lumbar spine.
Alec was appointed to the faculty of the Ola Grimsby Institute Post- Professional Consortium and is currently teaching advanced techniques in manual orthopedic physical therapy locally and in other states, as well as presenting as an invited speaker. He is board certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, a Fellow of the
American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT), and certified in dry needling.
Alec sees patients in Anchorage at United Physical Therapy and is the current president of North Pole PT where he consults on clinical cases and does fill in patient care. He is loving getting acquainted with North Pole and Fairbanks.
Outside the clinic he spends a lot of time traveling to teach and explore and is passionate about running in the mountains and working with runners. He enjoys teaching ChiRunning workshops…. check out www.chirunning.com for more information.
Front Office
Brenda Karella
Brenda Karella was born and raised in North Carolina but Alaska has been home most of her life. She has worked in administration for more than 20 years with 12 years as an office manager for a pediatric therapy facility. She lives in North Pole and joined North Pole Physical Therapy as our Office Manager in the summer of 2017. She loves the outdoors, traveling, and most of all, family.
North Pole Physical Therapy