Our Team
Level PT’s team is comprised of licensed physical therapists (PT, DPT, MPT), certified lymphedema therapists (CLT), licensed massage therapists (LMT), a certified yoga and Pilates instructor.
We practice specializing in common pelvic health and orthopedic disorders, craniosacral and lymphedema therapy as well as Pilates-based prenatal & postnatal preparation and recovery exercises and classes. Our team provides skilled, hands-on, individualized manual therapy, focused treatments and care dedicated to providing patients with personalized and comprehensive treatment to help each individual reach their optimal level of health.
Licensed Physical Therapists (PT / DPT / MPT)
Cassand Palmer, MPT, and Founder & CEO of Level PT
Cassand has been in practice for more than 20 years in a wide variety of clinical settings including sports rehab, acute care, subacute rehab and outpatient therapy with a focus in orthopedics and women’s health. After treating numerous women with pelvic floor issues for several years, she continued to further her education in women’s health physical therapy through continuing education courses and hands-on treatment of patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. She is fully committed to empowering her patients in taking an active role in their own wellness and recovery, and strongly believes a healthy pelvic floor is an essential part of taking charge of your well-being.
Floris Baynes-Nedd, PT, MHS, CLT-LANA
Floris Baynes-Nedd is a licensed physical therapist (PT) and certified lymphedema therapist (CLT) in the Washington, DC metropolitan area with over 30 years of experience in inpatient/outpatient settings, adult day care, rehabilitation (rehab) facilities, academia, and home care therapy.
Vikki Cantone, MPT, LMT
Vikki Cantone is a licensed physical therapist (MPT), licensed massage therapist (LMT), and an APTA-credentialed clinical instructor who has mentored and trained PT students both in the clinic and in the classroom.
Lora S. John PT, DPT, CLT
Dr. Lora S. John is a licensed physical therapist (PT) and certified lymphedema therapist (CLT) in the Washington, DC metropolitan area providing care at inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation (rehab) facilities.
Fitness & Pilates Instructor
Kristine (Kris) Mazalewski, Pilates Instructor/Fitness Consultant
Kris Mazalewski, a certified yoga instructor and Pilates instructor, is an accomplished fitness and wellness professional with over 25 years of diversified experience in business and practical applications of health, wellness, fitness management and instruction. While her career has included developing and delivering wellness programs in the corporate setting, her passion has always been in teaching group fitness classes and training individual clients, primarily in Pilates – both apparatus and mat.
Level PT’s Medical Professional Affiliates
Carolyn Johnson, Licensed Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) and Instructor
Carolyn Johnson is a licensed occupational therapist and the Founder of Postpartum Living LLC, which provides therapeutic services, techniques and care solutions for new moms gently ease back into functional movements and exercises as well as programs to prepare expecting mothers for delivery and beyond.
Dr. Mary C. DuPont, MD, FPMRS, FACS – board certified urologist and
Dr. Mary C. DuPont is board certified in urology and urogynecology by the American Board of Urology and practices at the DuPont Institute, a state-of-the-art diagnostic, medical, and surgical practice providing treatments to men and women. In addition, she is former director of the Center for Pelvic Floor Disorders at Sibley Memorial Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins medicine, and is also affiliated with Suburban Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins medicine. Her expertise and experience enable her to effectively treat challenging medical issues, including interstitial cystitis, dyspareunia, and vulvodynia.
Level PT’s Business Operations Team
Chad Palmer, Chief Operating Officer
Chad Palmer serves as Level PT’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) and oversees operational and administrative business operations, including, but not limited to, activities pertaining to financial management performance, communications, human resources, recruiting and hiring, business development. He provides strategic leadership, assesses productivity, finds innovative solutions, and identifies strategies for enhanced performance among staff all of which to achieve the goal of delivering high-value care (cost, quality, and patient experience).
Corinne Palmer, Bookkeeper
Corinne Palmer is Level PT’s part-time bookkeeper where she is responsible for recording and maintaining financial transactions, including accurate books on accounts payable and receivable, payroll, invoices, preparing monthly financial reporting, and interpreting and applying accounting policies, rules, and regulations to all work in order to ensure compliance with applicable standards.
Amy Goldman, Business Operations and Management Consultant
Amy Goldman provides business operations & management support services for Level PT through her company, Allera Strategies. Amy’s academic and professional experiences have always been driven by her dedication and commitment to cause-oriented, environmental sustainability, social impact and women’s health issues.
Cassand Palmer, MPT, and Founder & CEO of Level PT
Cassand Palmer is a licensed physical therapist and the Founder & CEO of Level PT.
Cassand has been in practice for more than 20 years in a wide variety of clinical settings including sports rehab, acute care, subacute rehab and outpatient therapy with a focus in orthopedics and women’s health. After treating numerous women with pelvic floor issues for several years, she continued to further her education in women’s health physical therapy through continuing education courses and hands-on treatment of patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. She is fully committed to empowering her patients in taking an active role in their own wellness and recovery, and strongly believes a healthy pelvic floor is an essential part of taking charge of your well-being.
Cassand founded Level PT in 2016 because as a pelvic floor specialist, she knows the importance of understanding the sensitive and complicated nature of pelvic issues and to be able to provide hands-on, comprehensive, personalized care in a tranquil, supportive, private and safe environment while treating patients. She recognized the need for longer than the ‘standard length’ treatment sessions, especially for pelvic floor disorders, to provide the best possible care to her patients to help address their individual needs. This was a priority to her and encouraged her to build a practice that would prioritize and allow for longer sessions with patients.
Prior to founding Level PT, Cassand spent 18 years at Sibley Memorial Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine; and, in 2007, she launched their women’s health program to provide treatment to patients with a wide variety of pelvic disorders, including pelvic pain, incontinence, prolapse, Interstitial cystitis, vulvodenia, sacroiliac dysfunction, pregnant and post-partum patients.
Cassand has advanced training in muscle energy techniques, joint mobilization, and myofascial release which has proven to be transformational in the treatment of her patients. Her extensive training was conducted at both the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, and the Upledger Institute.
Cassand received a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland in College Park, MD and a master’s degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. She is board certified through the Maryland Board of Physical Therapy.
- Licenses & Certifications: licensed physical therapist (MPT)
- Expertise: women’s health; manual therapy; pelvic pain; incontinence; prolapse; interstitial cystitis; vulvodenia; sacroiliac dysfunction; diastasis rectis; additional pregnancy and post-partum issues.
Floris Baynes-Nedd, PT, MHS, CLT-LANA
Floris Baynes-Nedd is a licensed physical therapist (PT) and certified lymphedema therapist (CLT) in the Washington, DC metropolitan area with over 30 years of experience in inpatient/outpatient settings, adult day care, rehabilitation (rehab) facilities, academia, and home care therapy.
Floris worked at Sibley Memorial Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine, for 18 years in inpatient/outpatient therapy and at an off-site rehab facility. She was also one of their certified lymphedema therapists who provided treatment, education, and compassion to many women with breast cancer and lymphedema.
Her treatment goals are centered on improving patient mobility, reducing of edema (swelling), and returning patients to a functional lifestyle. In addition, she is honored to be a part of her patients’ healing and utilizes hope, craniosacral therapy (CST), laughter, exercise, and manual techniques, as tools of patient treatment. Floris strives to combine her solid manual skills and lymphatic expertise to provide highly individualized treatment and guidance for patients struggling with lymphedema.
In 2018, she completed the Advanced and Review Course in Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) & Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) certification class at the renowned Foldi Clinic in Hinterzarten, Germany.
Floris received a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Howard University and a master’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Indianapolis. She is licensed and board certified in the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland.
- Licenses & Certifications:licensed physical therapist (PT); certified lymphedema therapist (CLT-LANA)
- Expertise: Lymphedema treatments post-surgery for both cancer & orthopedic issues, including mastectomy and radiation; orthopedic and neurological issues; lymphedema s/p radiation; and, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
Vikki Cantone, MPT, LMT
Vikki Cantone is a licensed physical therapist (MPT), licensed massage therapist (LMT), and an APTA-credentialed clinical instructor who has mentored and trained PT students both in the clinic and in the classroom.
She has 25 years of diverse experience working as a physical therapist and 17 years of experience working as a massage therapist. She enjoys facilitating optimal health and well-being in her patients by utilizing a comprehensive treatment approach, combining traditional and holistic techniques. Vikki has always had an interest in holistic health and wellness, and believes in looking at the person as an integrative being.
Vikki has taken advanced training in craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, myofascial release, dry needling and muscle energy technique, and has been amazed at the positive results these techniques provide. In addition, she also received specialized training in Neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) to assist individuals with traumatic brain injury and cerebrovascular incidents.
Vikki received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from State University New York (SUNY) Binghamton and a master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Arcadia University. She is licensed and board certified in the State of Maryland.
- Licenses & Certifications: licensed physical therapist (MPT) and licensed massage therapist (LMT)
- Expertise: Neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT); orthopedics; geriatrics
Lora S. John PT, DPT, CLT
Dr. Lora S. John is a licensed physical therapist (PT) and certified lymphedema therapist (CLT) in the Washington, DC metropolitan area providing care at inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation (rehab) facilities.
She previously worked for six years at Sibley Memorial Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine, rehabilitation department with her specialization in early mobilization, pelvic health, oncology, and lymphedema. She was also one of their certified lymphedema therapists who provided treatment, education, and compassion to many women with breast cancer and lymphedema.
In 2016, she received her certification as a certified lymphedema therapist from The Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy. She additionally has attended numerous courses through the American Physical Therapy Section of Oncology and Pelvic Health Academy. In addition, Lora is currently a candidate for the women’s health specialist board certification in 2022.
Her special interests include pelvic pain, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, dyssynergia, postpartum recovery, pelvic cancer rehabilitation, breast cancer rehabilitation, and lymphedema rehabilitation.
Lora received a bachelor’s degree in biological science from Illinois State University and a doctorate in physical therapy from Clarkson University and. She is licensed and board certified in the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- Licenses & Certifications: licensed physical therapist (DPT); certified lymphedema therapist (CLT)
- Expertise: women’s health; manual therapy; pelvic pain; urinary incontinence; fecal incontinence prolapse; dyssynergia; postpartum recovery; pelvic cancer rehabilitation; breast cancer rehabilitation; and lymphedema rehabilitation.
Carolyn Johnson, Licensed Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) and Instructor
Carolyn Johnson is a licensed occupational therapist and the Founder of Postpartum Living LLC, which provides therapeutic services, techniques and care solutions for new moms gently ease back into functional movements and exercises as well as programs to prepare expecting mothers for delivery and beyond.
Carolyn recognized the need for increased health services and support for new moms and decided to specialize in women’s health. She combined her clinical experiences to provide in-home treatment for prenatal and postpartum moms, especially during the acute stage of recovery. She has received specialty training in prenatal wellness and postpartum recovery from the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehab Institute, maternal mental health, and newborn/infant development to be able to address all areas of early motherhood.
Carolyn has been practicing in the Washington, DC area for the past 10 years in a variety of settings including acute care hospital and home health. She has treated patients who have been medically critical, chronically ill, post-surgical and postpartum. Carolyn sees patients both in-person and virtually, including in the privacy of the patient’s home, helping to navigate their environment and routines so they can get back to what is important to them.
Carolyn received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in occupational therapy from Boston University, with clinical internships in acute care and pediatrics. She is board certified through National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and holds active membership with American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
- Licenses & Certifications: licensed occupational therapist (OTR/L)
- Expertise: holistic postpartum recovery; breastfeeding ergonomics; post-cesarean recovery & rehab
Mary C. DuPont, MD, FPMRS, FACS
Dr. Mary C. DuPont is board certified in urology and urogynecology by the American Board of Urology and practices at the DuPont Institute, a state-of-the-art diagnostic, medical, and surgical practice providing treatments to men and women. In addition, she is former director of the Center for Pelvic Floor Disorders at Sibley Memorial Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins medicine, and is also affiliated with Suburban Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins medicine. Her expertise and experience enable her to effectively treat challenging medical issues, including interstitial cystitis, dyspareunia, and vulvodynia.
Dr. DuPont earned her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. She completed 2 years in general surgery, followed by a residency in urology at the University of Wisconsin Hospital. Dr. DuPont also completed a fellowship in neuro-urology at the University of Virginia and a fellowship in female urology and pelvic reconstructive surgery at the University of California Los Angeles. She is a military veteran, having served as a Major in the United States Army. She received several medals of distinction during her service, including during the Desert Storm war, as a surgeon treating casualties in the 5th MASH.
Dr. DuPont is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, as well as a member of the American Urological Association, the American Urogynecologic Society, the International Continence Society and the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction. She has been consistently nominated as a Top Doc in Washingtonian, Bethesda Magazine, Castle Connelly and US News and World Reports.
- Licenses & Certifications: board certified in urology and urogynecology
- Expertise: Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Pelvic Reconstruction, Urogynecology, Urology, interstitial cystitis, dyspareunia, urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction and vulvodynia
Kristine (Kris) Mazalewski, Pilates Instructor/Fitness Consultant
Kris Mazalewski, a certified yoga instructor and Pilates instructor, is an accomplished fitness and wellness professional with over 25 years of diversified experience in business and practical applications of health, wellness, fitness management and instruction. While her career has included developing and delivering wellness programs in the corporate setting, her passion has always been in teaching group fitness classes and training individual clients, primarily in Pilates – both apparatus and mat.
Kris believes in meeting people where they are to help them achieve their goals in restoring healthy movement and making positive, sustainable lifestyle changes. She enjoys continuing education in her field and constantly adding to her knowledge so that she can stay abreast of the latest science and technique.
She is a certified yoga instructor, certified Pilates instructor, certified personal trainer and certified in weight management counseling
Kris teachers both in-person and virtual (via Zoom) group and private classes for Level PT, Yoga and Pilates classes at Columbia Country Club as well as provides personalized training to individual clients.
Chad Palmer, Chief Operating Officer
Chad Palmer serves as Level PT’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) and oversees operational and administrative business operations, including, but not limited to, activities pertaining to financial management performance, communications, human resources, recruiting and hiring, business development. He provides strategic leadership, assesses productivity, finds innovative solutions, and identifies strategies for enhanced performance among staff all of which to achieve the goal of delivering high-value care (cost, quality, and patient experience).
Chad has worked in project management in the residential and commercial construction industry for more than 20 years. His experience in management provides Level PT with essential leadership, planning and operational strategies necessary for future growth of the practice.
Corinne Palmer – Bookkeeper
Corinne Palmer is Level PT’s part-time bookkeeper where she is responsible for recording and maintaining financial transactions, including accurate books on accounts payable and receivable, payroll, invoices, preparing monthly financial reporting, and interpreting and applying accounting policies, rules, and regulations to all work in order to ensure compliance with applicable standards.
Corinne Palmer has over 25 years of experience in office management specializing in all accounting functions; monthly bank account reconciliation, profit and loss statements, and payroll reports. She currently works at Cathy M. Vaughn, CPA, LLC where she prepares individual and corporate tax returns, as well as assists client with monthly bank reconciliations and financial statements.
Corinne received a Bachelor of Science degree from Johnson & Wales University. She enjoys time at home with her husband, teenage daughters, and the family pets.
Amy M. Goldman, Business Operations & Management Consultant
Amy Goldman provides business operations & management support services for Level PT through her company, Allera Strategies. Amy’s academic and professional experiences have always been driven by her dedication and commitment to cause-oriented, environmental sustainability, social impact and women’s health issues.
Prior to founding Allera Strategies in 2015, Amy spent more than a decade as an EVP & Environmental Sustainability Strategist to multinational corporations from various industry sectors and environmental sustainability & social impact organizations at a Washington, DC public affairs firm. She then served as the Director of the Executive Office at Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization.
Amy received a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs, Environmental Science and Management from Indiana University (Bloomington, IN).