Stony Brook Physical Therapy Program

12/22/2025

Wishing our extended SBU physical therapy family a season full of good health, cheer and joyful moments with loved ones. 🎄✨

Thank you for being part of our community & looking forward to
moving into a bright and healthy new year together!

12/19/2025

Yesterday our PT & OT students performed balance screens on approximately 30 older adults at the Patchogue YMCA yesterday. We had representation from all 3 PT classes, with the 2nd and 3rd year students mentoring the 1st year students!

A big thank you to: Emily Vargas Ulloa, Emma Granucci, Manjot Singh, Carolyn Coffill, Kayla Grosso, Katelyn Felsberg, Nicole Coccia, Thomas Syron, Nicholas Fiscina, Victoria Guzzi, Barry Mickle, Erin Ward, Kia Smith, Jess Lazis, Rob Kreush, Tom Stritzl and to Brittany Gambini for organizing the event!

12/18/2025

Congratulations to the Class of 2027 on completing their 1st clinical experience!

We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated clinical partners who continue to provide exceptional learning experiences for our students.

And a special thank you to our many SB PT alumni who now serve as clinical instructors & give back to our program by mentoring the next generation of therapists. Some of these CI's include: Kathryn Aviles, Parker Bachisin, Vincent Bonura, Mike Greico, Deanna Viola, Ben Baskin, Laura Leon, Shawn Byrnes, Graceann Lopez, Jared Caspe, Gary Weisberg, Leigh-Ann Edison, Walter Chomicki and Marn Sheinblum to name a few.

12/15/2025

Leaps and Bounds PT & OT PLLC Pediatric sensory gym located in Astoria Queens is currently seeking FULL TIME PT!
Please fax resumes to (718) 559-4726, call us at (718) 545-0958 or email us at leapsandboundz@yahoo.com

Please visit our website at www.Leapsandboundspeds.com

12/12/2025

UCP of Long Island is hiring:

Calling all Fabulous Pediatric Physical Therapists! Full time and Contract/per diem opportunities!
Incredible collaboration, great kids, support from experienced PTs and a competitive and comprehensive package.

Contact: jmartin@ucp-li.org

12/12/2025

Congratulations to the 2025 Kines Fair Winners:

South Hampton:
1st Place - Daminska Estime, Emily Vargas
2nd Place - James Ecock, Chris Damphouse, Dom Neeson, Jacob Roth, Peter Pannullo
3rd Place - Matt Lucyk, Angelina Catania, Heather Gambino

Stonybrook:
1st Place - Josh Starzee, James Martinez, Marco Ancona, Barry Mickle
2nd Plqce - Matt Carone, Will Pitt, Rob Hammond, Mark Nomerotski
3rd Place - Carolyn Coffill, Jess Schmidt, Emma Granucci, Makayla Smith, Victoria Goldrick

12/09/2025

Dear PT students, alumni and friends
I am not sure if you are aware of what is happening to our PT profession and federal loans for our students. Here is information from the APTA on how we can easily reach out to our State Senators. Please take the time to do this!

"Right now, the U.S. Department of Education is rewriting federal student loan regulations — and their latest proposal could cause serious, long-term harm to the health care workforce.

At the most recent meeting of the Department’s RISE Committee, a new definition of “professional degree programs” was adopted. If enacted, it would exclude dozens of licensed health care professions — including physical therapy — from the category long recognized by Congress. This change would make education less accessible and weaken the pipeline of future providers.

This is not what Congress intended. Now we need your help to ensure the Department of Education follows the law and preserves access for the full range of health care professions that have always been considered professional degrees.

Your voice matters. It’s vital that members of Congress hear from you today.

Please contact your members of Congress if you haven’t already — and make a PTPAC donation to support our advocacy efforts. Face to face interaction at fundraisers with members of Congress from both parties is making a difference but the cost to attend is $1,000 for each fundraiser. If 1,000 APTA members contribute $50 or more to PTPAC it would make a big difference.

Together, we can protect the future of the physical therapy profession. Thank you."

Here is the link to contact your state senator:

APTA's Patient Action Center contains letters focused on the patient impact of certain federal issues and bills.

12/05/2025

Congratulations to the BPA Kahoot Champions for 2025! Robyn Reynes, Marissa Hochman and Jen Mui!

12/04/2025

Professional Physical Therapy is actively hiring both NEW Graduates and Experienced Therapists!

If you’re looking for a fresh opportunity, now is the perfect time to connect.

Reach out today to set up a meeting and learn about our new hire incentives and the great career paths we offer. Connect today to learn more, kciprian@professionalpt.com

We wish you and your Family a HAPPY and HEALTHY Holiday Season!

12/04/2025

Congratulations to Amy Guo from the Class of 2026 for being chosen as a student intern for the Degenerative Disease Special Interest Group of the ANPT!

11/25/2025

✨Celebrating Dr. Cheri Gostic’s Remarkable Career & Retirement ✨

This past summer, without fanfare and in true “Irish Goodbye” style, Dr. Cheri Gostic quietly retired from the Stony Brook University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program after more than 20 years of dedicated, impactful service — and we simply cannot let her go without celebrating all she has given to our program, our profession, and most importantly, our students.

Dr. Gostic’s connection to Stony Brook spans decades. She earned her Baccalaureate in Physical Therapy here in 1984, followed by a Master’s in Health Sciences with a focus in administration and education in 1991, and a post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2005. She continued to expand her expertise with the Long Island Geriatric Education Center Associate Program (2003), Board Certification as a Geriatric Clinical Specialist (2015), and certification as a New York State Citizen Public Health Leader through Cornell University and the NYS Department of Health (2021).

Before joining the faculty, Dr. Gostic served Stony Brook University Hospital for 14 years as a Senior PT in cardiopulmonary services and in outpatient care. She brought this deep clinical experience to her teaching, all while continuing per-diem clinical work in acute care for more than two decades.

In the DPT program, Dr. Gostic taught Clinical Medicine and Pharmacology I & II at both the Stony Brook and Southampton campuses. She served as an Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education, represented us on the NY–NJ Clinical Education Consortium (2000–2010), and earned the APTA Advanced Clinical Instructor credential.

In 2012, Dr. Gostic was appointed Director of Communications for the DPT Program, where she produced the annual SBU PT Newsletter and oversaw our social media. Whether at events, awards ceremonies, or service activities, she was always there — usually with a camera in hand — supporting our students. It’s no surprise she became known affectionately as "the faculty mom.”

Cheri has now moved to the West Coast to be closer to her daughters, and while she slipped away quietly, her absence is deeply felt. Her dedication, kindness, and tireless efforts helped shape the School of Health Professions, the DPT program, and generations of physical therapists.

Please join us in honoring Dr. Gostic! 💙
Leave a comment below to share a memory, a thank-you, or warm wishes as she begins this next chapter.

Thank you, Cheri, for everything. You will always be part of the SBU DPT family. ❤️🩺✨

11/22/2025

It takes a Village!
Yesterday close to 180 prospective students were interviewed for a possible seat in the upcoming SBU DPT class.

This event would not have been possible without the support of the entire fabulous PT faculty and staff, the enthusiastic students from the Class of 2026 and 2028, dedicated adjunct faculty, the return of beloved alumni and of course at the helm our own Queen Margaret Sheryll!

Proud day to be a DPT Seawolf!