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Where the FUTURE is in your hands
a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization
Meet Our Faculty and Staff
The mission of the staff at PMTI is to provide a strong and efficient organizational foundation embodying integrity, harmony and compassion, while initiating and supporting the growth, diversity and changing needs of the PMTI community. Our staff is fully committed to helping provide the tools necessary for students, faculty, and alumni to have the most positive educational experience possible. They are deeply committed and dedicated people!
Our instructors exemplify PMTI's core values and continually strive to create and maintain a positive and supportive learning environment for all of our students. They bring a vast array of experience along with a knowledge of and passion for massage to the classroom.
The long-standing and continued success of our students is due in no small part to the tireless efforts of both our administrative staff and our faculty. It is an immense joy, honor and privilege for all of us to be part of your journey!
All PMTI faculty are licensed in the field of massage therapy, often in multiple jurisdictions, and meet all of the licensure requirements of the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
Olivia Walker
Editor in Chief
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Tess Anderson
Art Director
Olivia Walker
Editor in Chief
Dan Mitchell
Assistant Manager
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Noah Patterson
Programming Editor
Ethan Ableman | Intern Segment Three | Bio Pending | |
Joyce Adams | Lead Instructor Segment Three Nutrition | Bio Pending | |
Damien Baker, DC | Teaching Assistant Segment One | Bio Pending | |
Saya Barkdoll, RMP | Lead Instructor Segment Three | Bio Pending | |
Linda Baron, LMT | Dean of Students/Alumni Services Coordinator | Teaching Assistant Segment Three Myofascial | |
Rachel Barth, LMT | Teaching Assistant Segment Two | Bio Pending | |
Gaia Baytop, LMT | Lead Instructor Segment Two | Bio Pending | |
Clio Berney, LMT | Clinic Manager/Clinic Instructor | Lead Instructor Segments One/CPR & 1st Aid | |
Jean Briggs, LMT | Lead Instructor Segment Three SPA/Integrative Healthcare | Bio Pending | |
Angilique Campbell | Teaching Assistant Segment One | Bio Pending | |
Russell Carollo | Intern Segment Three | Bio Pending | |
Shannon Cannedy, RMP | Workshops & Continuing Education/Clinic Instructor/ Reception | After graduating from PMTI in 2005, Shannon stayed on by working as a practitioner in the PMTI Graduate Clinic until 2008. When she started her own private practice in 2011, she began working in conjunction with an acupuncture clinic, taking on clients with sensitive health issues, which lead her to add Oncology Massage and Manual Lymph Drainage. She continued her education by studying Pregnancy Massage, Ayurveda, and Shiatsu techniques. Most recently, she has become a Reiki practitioner. Shannon loves to stay involved at PMTI, currently as a Student Clinic Instructor. | |
Stephen Conti, LMT | Lead Instructor Segment Three Business Practices | Bio Pending | |
Stephanie Desmond, LMT | Teaching Assistant Segment One | Bio Pending | |
Molly Farwell, LMT | Lead Instructor Segment Three Business Practices | Molly is a licensed massage therapist (LMT), certified practitioner of Integrative Reflexology®, and 2017 graduate of PMTI. Prior to beginning her studies in massage, she came from a background in immigration legal work and advocacy. Molly is fluent in English and Spanish. Her training includes over 100 hours of study and practice in trauma-informed client services within and beyond the bodywork field. She is also a Yoga-alliance registered teacher. | |
Jen Float, LMT | Lead Instructor Segment One | A PMTI graduate in 2013, Jen holds a B.S. in psychology and a Master's degree in special education from the University of Maryland, College Park. She taught special education for 6 years. Jen maintains a private massage practice in Laurel, Maryland. She is also certified in pregnancy and postpartum massage, fertility and hot stone massage. Jen currently teaches the segment one practical class. | |
Tamera Gelman | Executive Director/ Admissions Coordinator | Tam attended Middle Tennessee State University and enjoyed a long-term career as a commercial mortgage banker and broker prior to becoming a massage therapist. Since graduating from PMTI in 2002, Tam has been an instructor and administrator for the school. Tam first volunteered as PMTI�s real estate consultant in 2002 to help orchestrate the school�s relocation to Wisconsin Avenue in DC, and she has served in this same role in relocating PMTI to Silver Spring. Joining the Board of Directors in 2003, Tam has twice served as Board Treasurer and as the Board�s Co-Chair. Tam served as the school�s Acting Co-Director on two occasions before assuming her current position in 2011. | |
Lorie Gumbs-Tyler, ND, CNS | Lead Instructor Segment One/Segment Three Case Report | Bio Pending | |
Laura Henshel, MT | Teaching Assistant Segment Two | Bio Pending | |
Ellen Jarvis | Teaching Assistant Segments One and Two | Bio Pending | |
Diane Kendall | Front Desk Management, Reception | Diane is PMTI s Senior Receptionist. She spent 35 years at the Jewish Community Center in Rockville, working in several different departments. She retired in 2012 to focus on family for a while, and then embarked on a new career in working with animals. Diane joined the Roos 2 U family in 2016 and enjoyed caring for kangaroos, wallabies, emus and other exotic animals. In 2017, she was encouraged to come to PMTI where she enjoys interacting with students, staff and faculty. | |
Susan Landau, LMT, NCTMB | Fieldwork Manager | Susan has a B.S. from the University of Maryland, College Park, MBA studies at Florida Atlantic University, and is a PMTI Graduate, where she is now the Fieldwork Manager. She brings with her a background in Recreational Programming for Community Centers and Forensic Institutes. Susan is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor and has advanced training in Seated Massage. She also runs SEL & ASSOCIATES, her seated massage business in the Tri-State area, while maintaining a private practice in Frederick, MD. | |
Peter Langsdorf, LMT | Lead Instructor Medical Terminology/Case Report | Peter is an LMT specializing in Swedish, Deep Tissue, and Neuromuscular Therapy techniques. He was a teaching assistant in Segments One and Three following graduation from PMTI and prior to becoming a Lead Instructor in Basic Anatomy and Physiology, Pathology for Massage Therapists, and the Medical Terminology and SOAP Charting. Peter shifted his focus to massage therapy after a career spent in litigation support (as a paralegal) and Federal recordkeeping. | |
Mary Maruca, LMT | Lead Instructor Segment Three Myofascial/ | Intro to Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy | |
Michael Oliwa | Marketing Director/IT Coordinator | Michael started as an assistant in his father's Madison Avenue studio. From there he worked and freelanced at ad agencies and publications in NJ and NYC, specializing in graphic design, illustration, and corporate communications. In 1999 he launched District Line Productions, a boutique graphic design agency, first in Bethesda and later in Downtown Silver Spring. Michael also serves as PMTI's IT Coordinator. | |
Jonathan Osmundsen | Intern Segment Three | Bio Pending | |
Meredith Osterman, LMT | Teaching Assistant Segment Three | From an art background at Drew University to PMTI graduation in 2012, Meredith has been a teaching assistant and lead instructor in Segment 1 practical. She is certified in Myofascial Release Technique and is currently studying Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. Some of her amazing art graces the Clinics of PMTI. | |
Ross Pastel, LMT | Lead Instructor Segment One Research Literacy | Ross has a B.A. from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in Neural and Endocrine Regulation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After 26 years in the U.S. Army as an officer and research scientist, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He graduated from PMTI in 2016 and stayed on to intern, then teach Basic Anatomy and Physiology, and Body Systems Pathology for Massage. He also co-leads Case Report (with Tam Gelman) and teaches the Research Literacy workshop. He is currently pursuing certification in the Trager Approach, Zero Balancing, and Upledger CranioSacral Therapy. Other continuing education pursuits include Feldenkrais, Neuromuscular Therapy, Bowen Technique, and FlexAware. | |
Gabrielle Perri | Clinic Manager/Clinic Instructor | Lead Instructor Segment Three | |
Jackie Prince | Registrar/ Lead Instructor Segment One | Jackie's background includes a BS in Social Work from the State University of New York (Brockport), with masters coursework toward Leadership in Teaching at Notre Dame of MD University. Jackie also has numerous trainings and certifications in database design, business writing, commercial investment management, yoga teacher training, energy healing, massage therapy, and integrative nutritional health coach. | |
Betsy Pursell, LMT | Lead Instructor Exercise Physiology | Bio Pending | |
Sage Raindancer, MT | Lead Instructor Segment Two | Bio Pending | |
Brenda Rayner, LMT | Director of Education, Lead Instructor Segment Two | Brenda joined our staff as Office Manager in October 2017, with a career background in entrepreneurship, human resources and accounting. A 2002 graduate of PMTI, Brenda has been a longstanding member of the Segment Two faculty, serving as both an academic and practical instructor. She has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2010, and currently serves as Assistant Treasurer. During the last several years, Brenda has continued to develop experience in massage therapy education through involvement with ABMP, AMTA, and AFMTE, participating in the development of two major projects in our field, ELAP/The CORE Blueprint for Entry-level Therapists, and more recently the Core Competencies for Massage Therapy Instructors. | |
Bob Schleichert, RMP | Lead Instructor Segment One | Bob graduated from PMTI in 2004 and has additional training in Reiki, Compassionate Touch, Couples Massage, Massage for Low Back Pain and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. He has taught in multiple segments of the Professional Training Program. Bob is currently a lead instructor in Segment 1 practical, as well as the Fieldwork program and PMTI�s community workshops. Bob maintains a private practice in Maryland. | |
Lloyd Shockley, LMT | Lead Instructor Segment One | Bio Pending | |
Stella Sutkiewicz, RMP | Lead Instructor Segment Two | Bio Pending | |
Brenda Tracy, RMP | Teaching Assistant Segment Two/Clinic Instructor | Bio Pending |
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