Meet Our Therapists
Linda Rice, OTR/L
Fountains Rehab Manager, & Occupational Therapist
Linda received her Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, and has been at the Fountains since May 2003. Her areas of expertise include departmental development, mentoring new therapists, and wheelchair positioning. Linda’s recent continuing education seminars include LiteGait training, leadership training, and caseload building for therapists in the long term care setting. The most rewarding parts of her job are equipping therapists to provide excellent care and being able to see patients achieve their goals and return home. Linda enjoys reading, taking long walks in nature, and spending time with her family. Her goal is to be an effective manager, thereby developing the Fountains Rehab into a state of the art department. Linda also strives to enhance the therapists’ skills with the ultimate goal of providing excellent patient care and satisfaction.
Cherry Alegre, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Cherry received her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from Emilio Aguinaldo College in Manila, Philippines and completed her transitional Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Montana. Cherry is a Certified Kinesiotaping Practitioner as well as certified in Vestibular Rehabilitation. She has been with the Fountains since July 2015. The most rewarding part of her job is witnessing how patients recover and being able to take part in that recovery process. Outside of work, Cherry enjoys travelling with family, singing and cooking with her son. Since geriatrics is her special area of interest, she plans to pursue a Geriatric Specialization Program and become a Certified Clinical Instructor.
Maricar Ramos, PT, C/NDT
Physical Therapist
Maricar received her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. Her areas of expertise and interest are in Neuro Rehab (stroke, traumatic brain injury) and spinal cord injuries. She began her career at the Fountains in February 2015 as a traveling therapist, became a permanent therapist in December 2015, and is a Certified Clinical Instructor. She has been certified in Neurodevelopmental Techniques (NDT) since 2012. The most rewarding parts of Maricar’s job are seeing her patients go home to their family and community and seeing her students excel in the profession, where they grow to be excellent and compassionate physical therapists. Outside of work, Maricar enjoys hiking, traveling, watching the travel channel, and yoga. She strives to grow further in her profession as a physical therapist.
Jenny Grining, PT
Physical Therapist
Jenny has a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and received her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Concordia University in Wisconsin. She loves working in the skilled nursing setting with the geriatric population, and has been at the Fountains since 2000. The most rewarding part of Jenny’s job is being able to help families figure out the best discharge plan for the patient. When she is not working, Jenny enjoys playing classical and bluegrass music on her violin and camping with her family. Regarding her profession, Jenny’s goals are to perfect her wheelchair assessment skills and to encourage kids to choose a healthcare career, especially in rehabilitation.
Shawn Christensen, DPT, OCS
Physical Therapist
Shawn graduated from Loma Linda University with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2008. He has been at the Fountains since July 2017, and specializes in treating patients with orthopedic conditions and those having problems with the vestibular system that leads to dizziness and balance issues. In 2013 he became a board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and aims to get certified in vestibular rehab in 2018. Dr. Christensen places an emphasis on orthopedic manual therapy in treating his patients. He completed a year-long manual therapy course in 2009. In 2017 he was selected as a Top Healthcare Provider in Yuba City, CA by the International Association of HealthCare Professionals. He was spotlighted in the renowned publicationWorldwide Leaders in Healthcare.He was also awarded “clinical instructor of excellence” from Sacramento State University.
Brad Nelson, PTA
Physical Therapy Assistant
Brad received his Associate’s degree from Sacramento City College and has been working for the Fountains since October 2010. His special areas of interest include Cerebral Vascular Accident and knee replacements. He has recently attended a continuing education course on knee and hip arthritis and a LiteGait training course. The most rewarding aspect of Brad’s job is watching his patients walk out the door to go home, knowing that only a few weeks prior they could barely sit up in bed. When Brad is not working, he enjoys spending time with his daughter, working on his house, bowling, and playing disc golf. His goal regarding his profession is to attend Physical Therapy school in the future.
Yer Vue, PTA
Physical Therapy Assistant
Yer received her Associate’s degree from College of the Sequoia. Her special area of interest is in Orthopedics and has been at the Fountains since August 2013. Yer recently attended the continuing education courses “Getting to the Core: Stroke Rehab” and “Geriatric Fractures and Joint Replacements”. The most rewarding part of Yer’s job is seeing her patients improve and return home. When she is not working, she enjoys outdoor activities such as biking and hiking, and also likes to read and work on furniture. Her goal regarding her profession is to increase her PTA skills through experience and continuing education.
Mandy Mann, PTA
Physical Therapy Assistant
Mandy received her Associate’s degree from Sacramento City College and has been employed at the Fountains since June 2015. Her areas of expertise include geriatrics and orthopedics. The most rewarding part of Mandy’s job is helping patients meet their goals, gain strength, confidence, and return home to continue on with their lives. When she is not working, Mandy enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her family and her friends. Her goals regarding her profession include exploring other fields such as inpatient, outpatient, pediatrics, and to attend Physical Therapy school.
Cindy Lee, PTA
Physical Therapy Assistant
Cindy received her Associate’s degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant from Loma Linda University, and her Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology with a minor in German from Cal State University Sacramento. Her areas of special interest and expertise include soft tissue mobilization, joint mobilization, and making people laugh. Two continuing education courses that Cindy recently attended are “Soft Tissue Massage for Total Knee Replacement” and “Soft Tissue Massage for the Neck”. The most rewarding part of her job is seeing her patients smile. When Cindy is not working, she enjoys photography, hiking, traveling, fishing, kayaking, and spending time with her family. Her goal for her profession is to help her patients reach their full potential of rehabilitation while at the Fountains.
Cha Yang, PTA
Physical Therapy Assistant
Cha received his Associate’s degree from Sacramento City College. His area of interest in his discipline is working with his hands, performing manual therapy as in joint mobilization and soft tissue mobilization. Cha began his career at the Fountains in October of 2016. As a student at his outpatient assignment, he received a compliment that he should pursue further education as a Physical Therapist due to his recognized work. Cha finds patients’ smiles and happy faces to be the most rewarding part of his job. He truly enjoys building a rapport with each patient. Outside of work, Cha enjoys being in the sun, and having a barbecue or a picnic with his wife and two-year old daughter. In his profession, Cha hopes to specialize in neuromuscular training and do some training in the acute setting to broaden his experience.
Aimee Palma, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Aimee attended the University of the Philippines, Manila and received her Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy. She began her career in pediatrics, early intervention and school-age kids, and has enjoyed working with patients on writing, social, and community skills. In the skilled nursing setting, she enjoys doing functional tasks with the patients such as cooking and basic self-care. She has been working at the Fountains since December 2014. Aimee loves to see her patients return to their lives in the community. Recently, Aimee has attended continuing education courses including “Functional Cognitive Activities for Adults with Stroke or Brain Injury”, “Kinesiology Taping using Myofascial Strategies”, and “Fall Prevention”. She has a toddler who keeps her busy after work, and she enjoys taking trips, biking, and hosting parties with her family. Regarding her profession, her goal is to continue to improve her skills in activities of daily living re-training with the geriatric population. Aimee would also like to get certified as a Hand Therapist someday, which is a newly-discovered area of interest.
David Chung, M.S., OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
David received his Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University. His area of expertise is in the geriatric population. He began his career specializing in rehabilitation in Skilled Nursing Facilities and Home Health in various locations in California. David started at the Fountains as a traveling therapist in May 2015, and decided to work here permanently in February 2016. David has attended continuing education courses including “Stroke Help: Preventing Shoulder Pain” and “Stroke Help: Bed Positioning and Mobility”. The most rewarding part of his job is seeing his patients improve during their stay at the Fountains, so they can continue enjoying their lives with family and friends with improved quality of life, safety and functioning. When David is not at work, he enjoys being in nature, hiking, paddle boarding, outdoor range shooting, off-roading, and photography. His goal is to continue to work at the Fountains and develop additional clinical and therapeutic skills through ongoing training and acquisition of knowledge to assist his patients in giving them the best rehabilitation experience possible.
Jennifer Kim, OT/L
Occupational Therapist
Jennifer received her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from McMaster University, as well as her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Queen’s University in Canada. She has a special interest in stroke rehab and amputee care, and has been working at the Fountains since November 2012. She has recently taken continuing education courses in cognitive therapy, stroke rehab, and elbow, wrist, and hand injuries. The most rewarding aspect of Jennifer’s job is being an intimate part of the patients’ recovery. She loves to see people successfully return to their meaningful activities, and she also enjoys helping her patients achieve their goals. When Jennifer is not working, she enjoys outdoor activities including hiking, kayaking, and boating. She also enjoys going to the gym and cooking. In the future, Jennifer hopes to specialize in neuro rehab and possibly in teaching.
Gloria Ammermann, OT/L
Occupational Therapist
Gloria attended University of San Francisco where she received her Bachelor’s in Organizational Behavior, and Samuel Merritt University where she received her Master’s in Occupational Therapy. She started at the Fountains as a traveling therapist in 2012 and became a permanent employee in 2014. She has attended continuing education courses including “Understanding Diabetes for Health Practitioners”, “Understanding Dementia”, and courses in “Stroke Rehab”. The most rewarding part of Gloria’s job is helping patients understand that recovery and regaining independence is a real possibility. She also finds patients who keep a positive outlook on life very inspiring and a good energy to be around. When she is not working, Gloria enjoys visiting her family, spending time with her grandchildren, and enjoying quiet and relaxation time. Her professional goal is to continue to pursue her love of occupational therapy for as long as she can.
Fe G. Abonal, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Fe received her Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of the Philippines. She has been at the Fountains since July 2013. Her special areas of interest include school settings, stroke rehab, and geriatrics. The most rewarding part of her job is enabling people to be more independent and safe in their daily tasks. When Fe is not working, she enjoys playing her guitar. Her professional goal is to continue to impact the lives of the people she meets.
Gwen Hamblen, COTA
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Gwen received her Associate’s degree from Sacramento City College. She has been at the Fountains since January 1990. She enjoys working with stroke patients who have limitations and figuring out ways to help them gain back their independence. She also enjoys teaching her patients how to be safe when working in the kitchen. The most rewarding part of Gwen’s job is seeing patients improve and find joy in their lives and their limitations. She also enjoys seeing her patients regain independence in the “little things”. Outside of work, Gwen loves to bake and give her baked goods to those having hard times. Her professional goal is to help as many people as she can become independent and be able to return home.
Sheila Low, COTA
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Sheila grew up in Brazil where she attended Law School, achieved a Bachelor’s degree in History and an Associate’s degree in Tourism and Recreation. After coming to the United States, Sheila earned an Associate’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Sacramento City College. She has been at the Fountains since May 2016. Sheila enjoys working in the skilled nursing setting and expresses interests in both long term care and in mental health. Recent continuing education that Sheila has participated in includes OTA peer coaching for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder through the Disability Service Program for Students (DSPS) at Sacramento City College and Car Fit Technician Training. Sheila does not think of her profession as a “job”, but rather feels that it is a gift that allows her to help people. She feels the most rewarding part of her profession is helping people to improve their lives. Outside of work, Sheila enjoys doing crafts, crocheting, riding her bike, reading, writing, and skyping with family. Her personal goals include becoming an Occupational Therapist (OTR) and continuing to help others throughout her life.
Robert Alvarado, OTA/L
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Robert received his Associate’s degree from Sacramento City College. He has been at the Fountains since 1999 and his special area of interest is the geriatric population in the Skilled Nursing Facility. Two continuing education courses he has recently attended are “Contracture Management” and “Positioning for the Geriatric Patient”. The most rewarding parts of Robert’s job are being able to send his patients home once they complete their rehab and facilitating good quality of life for long term care patients. His goal regarding his profession is to continue to provide the best care possible to all of his patients receiving rehabilitation at the Fountains.
Joy Magalong, COTA/L
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Joy received her associate’s degree in occupational therapy assistance from Stanbridge University. She has been at the fountains since February 2017, and her special areas of interest include geriatrics, outpatient pediatrics, school setting, and stroke rehabilitation. The most rewarding part of Joy’s job is being a part of the healing process and getting to see a patient gain a part of his or her live back. She enjoys spending time with her family, crocheting, meeting new people, and trying new foods. Joy’s goals within her profession are to encourage children to choose a healthcare related field, especially in rehabilitation, and to go back to school to attain a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy.
Amber Smith, M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Amber received her Master’s degree with Distinction in Communication Sciences and Disorders and her Bachelor’s degree as Magna Cum Laude in Communication Sciences and Disorders from California State University, Chico. She has been at the Fountains since April 2012, and her areas of special interest include fluent and non-fluent aphasias and dysphagia management. Amber is certified as a Clinical Fellow Supervisor and also serves as a clinical instructor for graduate students from local universities. The most rewarding part of Amber’s job is seeing a patient come in physically and cognitively dependent, working with the therapy team on individualized treatments that relate to the patient’s interests, and watching the patient improve and return to their lifestyle with confidence. She enjoys spending time with her family and pets, traveling and meeting new people, and trying new foods from the diverse community. Amber’s goals within her profession are to increase patients’ confidence and assertiveness in their communication skills, and to continue her studies to provide the community with the newest and most effective strategies for any speech pathology needs.
Erika Cruz
Rehab Aide
Erika graduated from Yuba City High School and is a licensed CNA. Her area of expertise in the Rehabilitation department is scheduling the daily appointments for patients. She has been working at the Fountains since 2004. The most rewarding part of her job is being able to work alongside all of the wonderful people in the department and being able to aide in the efficiency of making the patients’ and therapists’ daily schedule. When Erika is not working, she enjoys gardening, shopping, and spending time with friends and family. Her professional goal is to continue to increase her efficiency in scheduling and in her duties as a rehab aide.
Mary Hovland
Rehab Aide
Mary received her education to become a licensed phlebotomist from Boston Reed College in Stockton, CA and her EMT Certificate from First Responders Academy in Manteca, CA. Her area of expertise in the Rehabilitation department is in office management. She began her career at the Fountains in June 2014. When Mary is not at work, she enjoys exercising, swimming, camping, gardening, cooking, watching scary movies, and spending time with her family. The most rewarding part of her job is being able to work alongside skillful therapists and to be a part of this phenomenal Fountains Rehabilitation team.
Bob Praster
Rehab Aide
Bob received his education in Angels Camp, CA, and has been at the Fountains since 2011. His area of expertise is in gym and equipment maintenance. The most rewarding part of his job is finishing all of his tasks by the end of the day, which keeps the department running efficiently. When he is not working, Bob enjoys gardening, shopping, and visiting his family. Bob’s goal regarding his profession is to always do a good job in his duties as a Rehab Aide.
Iczayana Padilla
Rehab Aide
Iczayana is currently working toward earning her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation from California State University, Sacramento. She has been at the Fountains since July 2017. The most rewarding part of Iczayana’s job is being able to observe and gain experience working in a rehabilitative environment. She enjoys reading and walking her dogs. Iczayana’s goal is to pursue further education and earn her doctorate in Physical Therapy.