Geriatric physical therapy residency program | veterans affairs

PT RESIDENCY PROGRAM DIRECTOR JEFFREY YOUNGBERG, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT Dr. Youngberg received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University at Buffalo in 2004. He achieved his

Orthopaedic Specialization from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties in 2007 and recertified in 2017. Dr. Youngberg’s clinical experiences lie primarily in outpatient

orthopaedics in a hospital system and in occupational health before coming on board to VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System in 2008. He graduated from the Manual Therapy Institutes Manual

Therapy Certification and Fellowship program in 2011 and achieved Fellowship status from The American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapist later that year. Dr. Youngberg

developed The VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System Orthopaedic Residency Program in 2013 and serves as physical therapy residency program director, clinical faculty and mentor of the

program. He is also residency program director of our Neurologic and Geriatric Residency Programs, which were both developed in 2018. He currently serves as adjunct faculty for the Doctor of

Physical Therapy Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and is actively involved in physical therapy research through the University of Colorado.. PT RESIDENCY

PROGRAM COORDINATOR SPRING WRIGHT, PT, DPT, GCS Dr. Mayer received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Creighton University, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions in 2007.

Since graduation, her clinical practice has focused on geriatric populations. She initially worked in a Skilled Nursing Facility, before accepting a position at the VA Eastern Colorado

Healthcare System in 2008. Her time at VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System has been spent working in the acute care setting, with a focus on early mobility in the ICU. She has also worked

extensively with patients with amputations. Dr. Mayer achieved her Geriatric Specialization from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties in 2018. She serves as the Geriatric

Residency program coordinator, clinical faculty and mentor of the residency program. She currently serves as an associated faculty for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. CLINICAL FACULTY ERICA DISCIPIO, PT, DPT Dr. DiScipio received her Transition Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from The University of

Montana in 2015 and Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Colorado in 2003. Prior to working as a physical therapist in the Inpatient Rehabilitation Department at the

VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System since 2003, she gained experience working in various practice settings including inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, long-term care, and home

health. Dr. DiScipio was employed as a certified nurse’s aide at Craig Hospital and in a home health care setting for 10 years prior to becoming a physical therapist. Dr. DiScipio is the

lead PT for the inpatient rehab unit at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center primarily specializing in neurologic conditions including cerebral vascular accident, spinal cord

injury, brain injury, Parkinson Disease, multiple sclerosis, less common neurological diseases, as well as amputee rehabilitation. She is a member of the APTA and the Academy of Neurologic

PT. Dr. DiScipio is a certified clinical instructor, mentoring students from the University of Colorado and Regis University. SARAH LANGE, PT, DPT, NCS Dr. Lange received her Doctorate of

Physical Therapy Degree from The Northwestern University Physical Therapy and Human Movement Science Program in 2013. Following graduation, she practiced in an inpatient rehab facility prior

to beginning a neurological residency program at The James A. Haley VA in Tampa, Florida. Following completion of the program in 2015, Dr. Lange accepted an outpatient neurological position

within the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System. She achieved her Neurological Specialization from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists in 2016. More recently, she has

developed neurologic programs at VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System including advancements in vestibular rehab for veterans, LSVT BIG opportunities for individuals with Parkinson’s in

addition to a newly developed PD Multidiscipline team. Dr. Lange is a clinical instructor and serves as clinical faculty for the University of Colorado. ANGELA PORTO, PT, DPT, OCS Dr. Porto

received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center in 2012. She worked in private practice orthopaedics prior to starting as the first

VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System Orthopaedic Resident in 2013. She completed the program in 2014 and transitioned to a full-time staff physical therapist. Porto achieved her Orthopaedic

Specialization from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties in 2015. She transitioned into a role as a mentor and faculty member of the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System

later that year and continues to serve as mentor and faculty within the program. She currently serves as adjunct faculty for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of

Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and is actively involved in physical therapy research through the University of Colorado. BENJAMIN KOTTMEYER, PT, DPT, OCS Dr. Kottmeyer completed his

Doctorate of Physical Therapy from The University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2014. Following graduation, Dr. Kottmeyer worked across the country as a traveling physical therapist,

primarily in outpatient orthopedic settings. In 2017, he graduated from the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System Orthopedic Residency Program. He then accepted a full-time staff physical

therapist position with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Denver.  Dr. Kottmeyer achieved his Orthopedic Specialization from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties in 2018.

Dr. Kottmeyer  currently serves as a faculty member and mentor for the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System Orthopedic Residency, adjunct faculty for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and participates in research through the University of Colorado. DONAVAN TARABA, PT, DPT Dr. Taraba received his Doctorate of Physical

Therapy from The Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions, at Regis University in 2016. Following graduation, he was offered a position at Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in

the acute care setting. Much of his clinical practice is spent in the ICU where his principle focus involves working with patients with cardiopulmonary diagnoses. He is an active member of

the Academy of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Physical Therapy and achieved his Cardiopulmonary Certified Specialty from the ABPTS in 2023. Prior to his career in Physical Therapy, Dr.

Taraba earned his Masters in Education at the University of Denver. He designed curriculum and lesson plans and taught locally in the field of Social Sciences and Mathematics for nearly ten

years. He continues to apply his experience in education as a Certified APTA Clinical Instructor and as a mentor of the Geriatric Residency Program. TAYLOR THURSTON, PT, DPT, GCS Dr.

Thurston received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Wayne State University in 2018. Following graduation, she moved to Denver where she worked in private practice outpatient

orthopedics. She accepted a position at the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System in 2019. Her time at the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System has been spent in outpatient orthopedics,

with an emphasis on the geriatric population. She currently treats both orthopedic and neurological conditions. Dr. Thurston achieved her Geriatric Specialization from the American Board of

Physical Therapy Specialties in 2021. She currently serves as a mentor for the Geriatric Residency, is a certified clinical instructor, and is actively involved in research through the

University of Colorado.