Robert Maroon, PT
Owner and Managing Member
Oceana Clinic Director
Licensed Physical Therapist
Education:
State University of New York, Bachelor of Science, Physical Therapy, 1985
Robert Maroon is one of the founding members of The Therapy Network. Originally from Niagara Falls, New York, he came to Virginia Beach in 1987 and started at The Therapy Network’s Ghent office, then known as Ghent Physical Therapy. He quickly set up TTN’s multiple clinics using his PT expertise and created the standards TTN still follows today. Robert specializes in Spine Therapy, utilizing the McKenzie method of spine evaluation and treatment. Robert is well known in the Hampton Roads Community for his continued work with difficult spine cases and his high outcomes with those patients. Robert has done work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and remains a devout supporter of that charity. He has four children. Robert enjoys golf, basketball and live music.
Professional Memberships:
ATPA, McKenzie Institute
Laurie Johnson, PT
Owner
Janaf Clinic Director
Licensed Physical Therapist
Education:
University of Lowell, Bachelor of Science, Physical Therapy, 1984
Laurie is one of the founders of The Therapy Network. Born and raised in Massachusetts, after she earned her degree she spent 5 years working in a local hospital setting. She then relocated to the Tidewater area and spent the next few years working in an outpatient orthopedic practice. She has served as a clinical director in many different clinics of The Therapy Network as they were in their start up phases. Laurie developed specialist skills in treating both chronic and acute spinal conditions, to include headaches and soft tissue injuries. Laurie serves as a consultant to TTN staff therapists on challenging non-responsive conditions. Laurie coordinates Continuing Education for the therapists and is a key player in physical therapist recruitment. She enjoys volleyball, but after 20 years of passionate play, she spends most of her spare time with her children.
Professional Memberships:
APTA
Erik Wijtmans, PT, MTC
Owner
Kempsville Clinic Director
Licensed Physical Therapist
Education:
SUPA University in Utrecht, Bachelor of Science, Physical Therapy 1986
Certification:
Sports Therapist, Royal Dutch Soccer Association, 1985
Certified Manual Therapist, Institute of Physical Therapy (University of St. Augustine) 1989
Erik is one of the founding members of The Therapy Network. As a native from the Netherlands, In 1987 Erik moved to the United States, and worked as a staff physical therapist at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, IA. Erik’s Manual Therapy certification in 1989 was taught by world-renowned Stanley Paris, Ph.D., PT. In 1990 Erik moved to Virginia Beach, VA to become the clinical program director of an outpatient orthopedic physical therapy clinic; part of a national-based organization. In 1991 he started at The Therapy Network. (then known as Ghent Physical Therapy) He initiated and developed the sports medicine program for the first semi-pro soccer team in Hampton Roads (the Hurricanes). Erik has held a teaching position in the Doctorate Program in Physical Therapy at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA since 1995. He is giving presentations on a variety of topics and continues to see patients on a full-time basis. He devotes much time and effort to continuing education and takes several courses each year in the USA and abroad. Consequently, he is always looking for new and better ways to treat patients and is constantly at the forefront of utilizing new treatment approaches and techniques. As a promoter of the art and science of manual therapy as a specialty within physical therapy, he is active in the national and international organizations of manual therapy. Erik’s subspecialties in physical therapy are manual therapy, sports medicine, and the treatment of pain and dysfunction of myofascial origin.
Professional Memberships:
APTA
Robert Beba, BSc, PT
Executive Director of Clinical Operations
First Colonial
Licensed Physical Therapist
Education:
Nottingham School of Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Science, Graduate Diploma, Physiotherapy, 1991
Joined The Therapy Network in 1996
Rob took the position of Director of Physical Therapy in 2005. Born in Holbeach, England, he has worked in Australia, England and came to the United States of America in 1996. Rob is interested in many facets of physical therapy and has been a mainstay at the First Colonial office for the better part of his time with TTN. Rob’s interests include soccer, golf and traveling and time with his familyProfessional Memberships:
APTA
Elaine Comer, PT
Kingsborough Clinic Director
Licensed Physical Therapist
Education:
The University of Pittsburgh, Bachelor of Science, Physical Therapy, 1986
Certifications:
McKenzie Certified Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment 1999
Joined The Therapy Network in 1995Elaine was born in Pennsylvania and moved to the Tidewater area in 1987 to be close to family. Elaine has been with The Therapy Network for 10 years and has served most of that time at TTN’s Chesapeake clinic on Kingsborough Square. Elaine is married and has two children. She keeps very busy in her clinic seeing a majority of orthopedic patients and specializes in spine rehabilitation.
Professional Memberships:
American Physical Therapy Association, McKenzie Institute
Andrea Frees, PT
Licensed Physical Therapist
Kingsborough Clinic
I was born in Florida and graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science. Due to military transfer, I came to the Hampton Roads area and earned my Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Old Dominion University in 1994. I have called Hampton Roads home since 1989.
I joined The Therapy Network in 2007 and have worked in our Chesapeake office at 637 Kingsborough Square #F since 2010. I received my certification for Dry Needling in 2012 and use this in the treatment of many conditions including cervical through lumbar spinal conditions, TMJ, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff, tennis elbow & other upper extremity issues, plantar fasciitis, Achilles and peroneal tendonitis, and other lower extremity conditions. I am currently in the process of training for my certification in the McKenzie Method of Diagnosis and Treatment for the spine and extremities.
Paul Lerner, ATC
Kingsborough Office
Outreach, Staff ATC
Education:
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology
Certifications:
Certified Athletic Trainer
Joined The Therapy Network in 1999, Paul arrived in Tidewater during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. He found himself with The Therapy Network and has worked primarily from the Kingsborough office. Paul likes sports and is quite an aficionado of sports trivia. Paul works with the Outreach department of TTN at HRSC soccer games and RUSH soccer games as a certified athletic trainer.
Professional Memberships:
NATA
Sam Lawrence, PT, DPT
Licensed Physical Therapist
Ghent Clinic
Education:
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Science, Shenandoah University, Winchester, Virginia
Graduate: Doctor of Physical Therapy, Radford University, Redford, Virginia
Professional Development/ Certifications
Graston Technique
Professional Interests
Sports Therapy
A Virginia native from Roanoke, Sam, earned his Bachelor of Science from Shenandoah University and his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Radford University in 2020. Sam spent most of his college career in high-level sports playing both basketball and baseball at Shenandoah University. He experienced first-hand what it takes to return to the level of competition after an injury. In pursuing physical therapy, Sam has dedicated an extensive amount of time to focus on sports rehabilitation, to utilize his own experience as an athlete, and best identify issues and solutions with his patients. Additionally, many of the principles Sam utilizes in sports therapy can also be applied to other populations, such as geriatric patients, and aid in improving their pain and overall quality of life. Sam is a Graston Technique provider (M1) as of 2019 and is eager to expand his skill set to include other instrument-assisted and myofascial techniques to aid in both sport and general populations.