Meet Our Physical Therapy Team
Lisa Johnson, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, WCS, 
Dr. Johnson received her Baccalaureate degree in Physical Therapy from Stony Brook University in 1993, and began practicing in the areas of outpatient orthopedic and school-based pediatric therapy. Finding herself drawn to orthopedic and sports rehabilitation she enrolled in Touro College, earning a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy with emphasis on osteopathic-based manual therapy in 1998. In 2004, she earned her Post-Professional Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Stony Brook University. Lisa is certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as a Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy, certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and is also a certified Pilates instructor.
Dr. Johnson has served on the faculty of Stony Brook University for the past 12 years, and currently teaches in the Entry-Level and Post-Professional Doctorate in Physical Therapy Programs in the areas of manual therapy techniques of the spine and pelvis, strength training and program designed for athletes, sport specific training, speed and agility, Pilates, Yoga and complimentary therapies in rehabilitation. She has also been on the faculty at Touro College and served as a part of the teaching staff of Integrative Manual Therapy Solutions, a national continuing education lecture series including Lumbo-Pelvic Integration (LPI) and Cervical-Thoracic Integration (CTI). Dr. Johnson also educates the general public and other healthcare providers on low back, pelvic pain and pelvic floor dysfunction; her most recent lectures include “The Comprehensive Treatment of the Pelvic Floor” Grand Rounds, Urology Department at Stony Brook University and “The Role of Exercise for Cancer Survivors”, held at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her current research interests include women’s health related issues with a focus on pelvic floor dysfunction and the role of wellness for survivors of cancer. She has served as a co-investigator and clinical team leader of Play Fit-Stay Fit, a comprehensive wellness program for childhood survivors of cancer and their families offered at Body In Balance. Made possible by a three-year Lance Armstrong Foundation Evolution Grant, Play Fit-Stay Fit is intended to serve as a model program that will be disseminated for implementation in other locales.
In August of 2000, Dr. Johnson founded Body In Balance Physical Therapy, a private practice specializing in the comprehensive treatment of Orthopedic, Sports, Neurological and Pelvic Floor/ Women’s Health related conditions in Hauppauge, New York. In the fall of 2009, she opened a satellite office in East Setauket, and is currently practicing at both locations. Throughout her career, Lisa has maintained a philosophy of treating the whole patient in order to achieve and maintain a healthy, balanced body. With over 17 years of clinical experience, she is uniquely qualified to integrate multiple facets of manual therapy, fitness and exercise in her treatment plans. Dr. Johnson has completed all courses offered by the Institute of Physical Arts on functional manual therapy and mobilization techniques, and has attended more than 60 continuing education courses and seminars in many topics including advanced manual therapy, manipulation, neck and low back dysfunction, sports injuries and fitness, pilates, yoga therapy, women’s/men’s health issues, breast cancer rehab/fitness, pre/post partum issues, and visceral manipulation. In 2003, she was honored by Stony Brook University with the Distinguished Alumni Award, and was recently selected as a Fortune 52 Honoree, by the Long Island Press. Above all, Dr. Johnson is dedicated to providing her patients with the utmost in comprehensive manual therapy care.
email: Lisa
Melissa Ommundsen, PT, DPT, 
Assistant Clinical Director of Body In Balance Physical Therapy, completed a Bachelor’s of Arts in Biology from Lafayette College in 2001 and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Stony Brook University in 2006. Her orthopedic and sports rehabilitation training began at Body In Balance Physical Therapy in 2002. Upon graduation, she became a full-time staff physical therapist and continues to pursue her education with manual therapy-based orthopedic services including the evaluation and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction for women and men. She is currently an adjunct faculty member of the physical therapy program and also a competitive athlete, having played volleyball at Lafayette College and coached for 2 years for the Northport Heat travel volleyball team.
email: Melissa
Cindy Byrne, PT, graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from SUNY at Buffalo in 1988. She has experience with acute care, rehabilitation, and orthopedics. She spent the first two years at St. John’s Hospital in Smithtown, and then became a locum tenens therapist. She traveled around the country for a year working in various settings and gained experience with manual therapy techniques with state of the art technology. She then settled in Long Island where she began to specialize in orthopedics. Cindy worked at a local clinic for 14 years where she was the Director of Rehabilitation for 4 years. She has also taken many continuing education courses over the years to advance her manual therapy skills. She presently works part time at Body In Balance Physical Therapy and does home care so that she can spend more time at home with her 2 young children.
email: Cindy
Jillian DeMarco, PT, DPT, is a staff Physical Therapist at Body In Balance since June 2009. Jillian graduated from Stony Brook University in 2009 with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Cornell University. Jillian has a variety of interests within the physical therapy profession, working in both the pediatric and orthopedic fields. Her clinical internships have successfully prepared her to treat both adults and children. Women’s health and pelvic floor dysfunction are among Jillian’s primary interests within manual therapy and orthopedics and she continues to expand those skills through continuing education. With a background in competitive sports such as volleyball and swimming, Jillian is also drawn to sport-specific therapy.
email: Jillian
Jason Eliowitz, PT, DPT, CSCS, Staff Physical Therapist, graduated from Boston University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Exercise Science with a focus in cardiac rehabilitation. He then went on to receive a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Stony Brook University, graduating in 2010. During his time at Stony Brook, Jason completed 40 weeks of interning in a variety of settings, including acute care, neurological rehabilitation, and orthopedics. As a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and an active individual himself, Jason’s orthopedic interests focus on sports medicine, sport-specific rehabilitation, and return to sport programs.
email: Jason
Alexandra Totino, PT, DPT, graduated from Bloomsburg University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Exercise Science. She continued her education at Stony Brook University and graduated in 2010 with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Throughout her doctoral training, she completed four clinical internships in the areas of acute care, skilled nursing home facility, pediatrics and orthopedics to prepare her to treat a wide variety of patients. Her interests are primarily in the areas of orthopedics and pediatrics, as well as women’s health and pelvic floor dysfunction. Alexandra continues to expand her educational background and enhance her manual therapy skills with continuing education courses.
email: Alexandra
Now until 01/31/12
Lisa Johnson, Owner of Body In Balance, has earned the distinction of Board Certified Specialist in Women’s Health by the 