Maria enjoys the outpatient setting and has experience working with the general orthopedic population, athletes, and sports-related injuries. Maria is especially passionate about training and treating the core; including, but not limited to, teaching proper core management after hernias, core training for those with low back pain, and treating diastasis recti abdominis.  She has a special interest in women’s health, treating pelvic floor dysfunction -such as urge incontinence (leaking), and has undergone additional training working with prenatal and postpartum athletes. 

Maria’s goal as a PT is to help people live their most functional and healthy life without pain or injury. She believes everyone has the tools they need to get better if they are willing to take the time to invest in themselves. Maria likes to use a whole-body approach to treatment by not only assessing and treating the physical injury, but also bringing awareness to other lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and stress management.

Maria received a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Tennessee before completing her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at East Tennessee State University in 2020. Since graduating, Maria has furthered her education by acquiring the following; Dry Needling Level 1 Certification through Master Dry Needling, and Clinical Management of the Fitness Athlete: Pregnancy & Postpartum Certification from The Institute of Clinical Excellence. Maria has additional education in an in-depth Pain Science course and a Multidisciplinary Concussion Workshop.

Maria has conducted vestibular oculomotor screens on athletes both at the collegiate and high school level to assess return to sport after concussions and assisted in the research for updating the clinical practice guidelines for the field of vestibular rehabilitation. Additionally, Maria participated in pediatric research that looked at the impact of fitness programs on motor skills and development.

Maria is originally from Nashville, Tennessee, and she and her husband, Paul, are excited to make Birmingham their home with their dog, Oakley. Maria’s hidden talent is her ability to eat hot/spicy foods. She has left many competitors crying while running water through their mouths over the sink. Maria’s hobbies include cooking, traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with her friends and family.