Meet Our Therapists

Cassandra Azar, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist

Cassandra Azar graduated from Widener University. She has been an employee at Abington Hospital since 2009. Cass is working towards her Mechanical Diagnosis & Treatment certification. She is originally from upstate New York.

Andrew Azar, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist

Andrew Azar graduated from the University of the Sciences of Philadelphia and has been an employee at Abington Hospital since 2011. He has special interest in orthopaedics. Andrew loves to travel and has spent a month in Syria visiting family.

MaryCatherine Coyle, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist

MaryCate graduated from Marywood University in 2020 with her Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She completed her Clinical Fellowship at Abington – Jefferson Health and continues to work with clients of all ages and diagnoses. MaryCate is dedicated to helping you meet your goals and customizing an evaluation/treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.

Michael Fine, PT, DPT, GCS, NCS, LSVT BIG Certified
Physical Therapist

Michael Fine graduated from Temple University and has been an employee at Abington Hospital since 2011. Michael is board certified in geriatrics and neurology and has a special interest in treating patients with neurological and vestibular disorders.

Suzanne Hicklin MPT, OCS
Physical Therapist Supervisor

Suzanne graduated from University of the Sciences and has been and an AJH employee for 25 years. She is a board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. In 1993, she coauthored “The Hip” Chapter in The Manual of Physical Therapy.  Suzanne enjoys a hands-on treatment approach and providing people with the tools to meet their goals to return to their highest activity level. In her spare time, Suzanne enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, fishing and watching the Flyers and Phillies.

Teddy Kim, PT, DPT

Teddy Kim graduated from Temple University and has been an employee at Abington Hospital since 2008. He has a special interest in orthopedics and is working on achieving his Maitland Certification.

Miriam Kozak, PT
Physical Therapist

Miriam is a graduate of University of Maryland and has worked as a physical therapist since 1980. She has worked in acute inpatient, outpatient orthopedics and home care with treatment emphasis at that time on neurologic patients. Most recently, she has worked in the outpatient setting as a vestibular therapist since 2006 and was certified in 2009. Miriam regularly attends continuing education in vestibular/post-concussion as well as orthopedic topics, specifically Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy. In 2020, she became LSVT BIG certified to treat the Parkinson population more effectively. Miriam joined the physical therapy staff of Abington Hospital in 2016 and considers it a privilege to be a part of this excellent staff.

Kalie LaRosa, PT, DPT, cert MDT
Physical Therapist

Kalie LaRosa graduated from Drexel University in 2014 and has been an employee with Abington Hospital since 2015. She is certified in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy.

Debra Meltzer, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist

Debra Meltzer graduated from the Temple University and has been an employee at Abington Hospital since 2004. She has special interest in treating outpatients.

Susan Mulhern, PT

Susan Mulhern graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina and has been an employee at Abington Hospital since 1989. She is a certified vestibular therapist.

Maria Crotty Palumbo, MA, CCC-SLP/L
Senior Speech Pathologist

Maria graduated from The College of New Jersey in 1998 with an MA in Speech Pathology. She treats communication and swallowing disorders in outpatients across the lifespan.  Maria holds certifications in VitalStim, the McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program and LSVT-LOUD.  She enjoys bringing new information and technology into her sessions and welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with her patients, their families and physicians to improve their quality of life.

Elizabeth Payla, MS, CCC-SLP/L
Speech Language Pathologist

Elizabeth is a graduate of LaSalle University with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. She completed her Clinical Fellowship at Abington – Jefferson Health and has been an employee since 2015. Elizabeth works with patients across the lifespan. She is trained in neuromuscular electrical stimulation for swallowing disorders and is certified in LVST-LOUD for Parkinson's Disease. Elizabeth's goal as an SLP is to help her patients improve their quality of life and work towards achieving each patient's personal goals.

Cindy Reese MS, OTR/L, CLT
Occupational Therapist

Cindy has been working as an Occupational Therapist since 2001  and a lymphedema therapist since 2007. During that time, she has worked at Elkins Park Hospital, Moss Rehab and Lansdale Hospital, specializing in rehab medicine, hand therapy and lymphedema therapy. She is a certified lymphedema therapist and regularly attends lymphedema trainings and conferences. She has been employed at Lansdale Hospital since 2005 and enjoys the convenience and friendliness of working in a small local hospital. In her spare time, she enjoys playing percussion in several local community theaters and bands.

Nicole Catrambone Schaffer, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist

Nicole Catrambone Schaffer graduated from Drexel University and has been an employee at Abington Hospital since 2011. She is certified Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy Clinician (MDT or “McKenzie Certified Clinician). Nicole was a gymnast at Temple University.

Nicole Schultz PT, DPT, CSRS
Senior Physical Therapist, Vestibular Certified

Nicole Schultz graduated from the Widener University with a Doctor of Physical Therapy.  She has been an Abington Hospital employee since 2004.  Nicole is a Certified Stroke Rehab Specialist and a Certified Vestibular Therapist. She is currently working towards McKenzie certification. She is a life-long athlete and played field hockey while at Widener University.

Margaret “Pip” Shafer, MA, CCC-SLP/L
Speech Language Pathology Manager

Pip Shafer graduated from the Case Western Reserve University and has been an employee at Abington Hospital since 1988. She is certified in Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT-LOUD), VitalStim Therapy and Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy. Pip enjoys treating pediatric patients in the Special Care Nursery and has a special interest in diagnostics and complex cases, swallowing and neuropathology and head and neck cancer.

Robert Stracuzzi, PT
Physical Therapist

Robert Stracuzzi graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a generalist who enjoys treating orthopaedic patients and is certified in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy. He has been an employee at Abington Hospital since 1980.

Yilei Zhu, DPT, CLT

Yilei is a graduate of Kean University and Temple University. She has worked as a Physical Therapist for 18 years. She is also a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. Yilei’s goal as a physical therapist is to help her patients improve their quality of life. In her spare time, Yilei enjoys family activities and traveling.