Our Team

Cara Alders OTR/L, CHT

Cara attended Seton Hall University for her undergraduate degree and graduate degree with a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy. She achieved her Certified Hand Therapist certification in 2021 to gain knowledge and further her career as an occupational therapist.

She loves to treat post-operative patients and finds it very rewarding to see the first steps of return to function and engagement in meaningful hobbies. As a specialist in the upper extremity, Cara is able to provide her patients with opportunities to perform important occupations based on her client’s ability to reach their full functional potential. She enjoys helping other clinicians learn and explore different treatment approaches and gain confidence in their skilled care.

Kimberly Allen PT

• Certified in Performing Running Assessments
• Certified in Blood Flow Restriction Training
• Biofeedback
• Kinesiotaping
• Concussion Management

Anna Travers

Sherri Auker

Sherri has been an integral member of the Cardin and Miller Physical Therapy for over 10 years. She earned an associates degree in Medical Billing and Coding from Miller-Motte College. Sherri entered the field of healthcare with a passion to help others.

As the Front Desk Manager she is a valuable member of the Cardin and Miller Physical Therapy team. She is most likely the first person you’ll see when you come into the clinic and is usually the voice you talk to on the phone. Sherri loves to see people get back to their best!

In her free time, Sherri enjoys hiking with her dogs and spending time with her grandchildren!!

Rachael Baker

Rachael graduated from a local high school in 2016. After working in assisted living and dementia facilities, Rachael joined the ACCESS PT team in February of 2024 as a patient coordinator.

Rachael loves to travel in her free time. She can be found outside fishing and hanging out with her friends or inside watching her favorite TV shows while cuddled up with her cat. She understands the value of being able to go out or stay in and continue living life the way you’d like … and how important physical therapy can be.

Rachael loves getting to connect with and watch her patients get back to their goals.

Stacey Baker PTA

Kristin Banse PT

Kristin Banse is a 1991 graduate of Ithaca College with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy. With almost 23 years of overall experience, she has been concentrating on orthopedic/sports medicine Physical Therapy for the last 15 years. She has a certification as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is an LSVT BIG® Certified Clinician. She is a certified APTA Clinical Instructor. She has a duel license in New York and Pennsylvania. Also, she has completed coursework and is certified in Job Function Matching and administering Functional Capacity Assessments through DSI Work Solutions. This will enable Access to be more active locally in Industrial Medicine and injury prevention on the job. In her free time, she enjoys training for marathons and triathalons, as well as being very involved with the various activities and sports in which her 3 sons participate.

• LSVT BIG® Certified Clinician
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

Emmanuel Barracoso PT, DPT

Dr. Emmanuel Barracoso attended Wheaton College for his undergraduate work, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and Theology. He then earned a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Dominican College. In April of 2021, he became certified in Selective Functional Movement Assessment – Level 1.

Dr. Barracoso has extensive experience with patients who have undergone orthopedic surgeries such as total knee replacements, total hip replacements, and rotator cuff repairs as well as those with non-specific low back pain. As a physical therapist, he particularly enjoys getting to know his patients’ specific goals, and formulating a plan of care to get them where they want to be. He loves seeing patients turn the corner with their rehab and finally be able to see how they are getting better.

When he is not working, he enjoys cooking delicious meals for his family, hiking, camping, fishing, and gardening.

• Selective Functional Movement Assessment – Level 1 (SFMA)
• When the Feet Hit the Ground

Gregory Bassell PT, DPT

Gregory Bassell, PT, DPT completed his undergraduate work at Middlebury College, and then went on to Dominican College of Blauvelt where he earned a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. He has clinical expertise in treating geriatric conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, CVA, and balance deficits. He finds his job rewarding because he can see his patients’ improvement in real time, and at the end of the day, he knows he made a difference.

“I love giving people their lives back. When someone gets back to doing the things they love, it shows me that my hard work matters. There’s nothing better than the look on a patient’s face when they do something they never thought they’d be able to accomplish.”

In his spare time, Greg enjoys skiing, Tae Kwon Do, frisbee, tabletop gaming, and poetry.

• LSVT BIG
• Graston Level 1
• PESI Falls Prevention Specialist

Hillary Bastone PT

Hillary Bastone, PT attended Daemen College, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Physical Therapy. She has over 15 years of experience in treating all phases of orthopedics, as well as over 10 years of experience with neurological and medical rehabilitation. Hillary has completed trainings on the McKenzie Method of treatment for the spine, as well as Paris Mobilization Technique. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and children.

• McKenzie Method
• Paris Mobilization Technique

Katherine Batista PT, DPT

Katherine Batista PT, DPT completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology at Hunter College. She then continued her education at Russell Sage College, where she earned a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She has extensive experience in treating orthopedic conditions of the shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle as well as pathologies of the cervical and lumbar spine. Katherine is passionate about helping patients achieve their goals and loves that her job gives her the opportunity to make a lasting impact on people’s lives by improving their quality of life.

Phillip Bautista PTA

Michelle Becker O’Connell PTA, CLT

Michelle’s passion for helping others move better and with less pain began shortly after she began observing the Port Jervis ACCESS PT team over 17 years ago as a high school student. She learned how this group of therapists worked as a team to help patients of all ages meet their therapy goals, and wanted in! After graduation, she attended SUNY Orange and became a PTA so she could join this group of people who have a passion for helping others. While going to school, she continued working with ACCESS as an aide and at the front desk and then was hired on the clinical team!

Port Jervis is her hometown so she really enjoys meeting patients and helping ACCESS PT become their family physical therapy office. Over the years, Michelle learned that the community was in need of a lymphedema specialist, so she became certified.

In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out and hiking with her husband Colin, and their daughter Makayla.

• Certified Lymphedema Therapist
• Oncology Care Certified

Miranda Bednar PT, DPT

Miranda L. Bednar, DPT, earned her Masters of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and shortly after that earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Temple University.

Miranda has spent her career in outpatient orthopedics. Her professional experiences have led her to focus on manual therapy, gait, and movement re-training. Miranda has always been personally and professionally involved in sports and the athletic population. She enjoys working with athletes on injury prevention and rehabilitation, as well as sports performance, and has had the privilege to work with multiple local sports organizations. She also has a special interest in the foot and ankle joints. She has trained with certified pedorthists and physical therapists in the prescription and fabrication of custom functional and accommodative orthotics.

Miranda has had collaborative research projects both published in professional journals and presented at national conferences. She is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Associations.

When not at work, Miranda spends as much time outside as possible on her bike, on a mountain, or on a lake. Despite PA being her home now, the Vermonter is still inside her!

Julie Benzenberg PT, DPT

Julie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Health Science from Castleton University and a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from Sage Graduate School. She is a certified Mulligan Practitioner (CMP), LSVT BIG® Certified Clinician, and an APTA Certified Clinical Instructor.

Julie has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 2011. She is a dedicated life-long learner who believes in implementing evidence-based practice with individualized care plans so that each patient is able to reach their goals. Julie has a passion for athletics, having played Division III Softball for Castleton University. She also enjoys biking, hiking, and trying new recipes.

• Certified Mulligan Practitioner
• LSVT BIG® Certified Clinician
• SFMA Level I
• SFMA Level II
• APTA Certified Clinical Instructor

Julie Benzenberg PT, DPT

Julie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Health Science from Castleton University and a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from Sage Graduate School. She is a certified Mulligan Practitioner (CMP), LSVT BIG® Certified Clinician, and an APTA Certified Clinical Instructor.

Julie has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 2011. She is a dedicated life-long learner who believes in implementing evidence-based practice with individualized care plans so that each patient is able to reach their goals. Julie has a passion for athletics, having played Division III Softball for Castleton University. She also enjoys biking, hiking, and trying new recipes.

• Certified Mulligan Practitioner
• LSVT BIG® Certified Clinician
• SFMA Level I
• SFMA Level II
• APTA Certified Clinical Instructor