Aly grew up in York, Pennsylvania.  As a child her favorite pages in the encyclopedia were the cellophane overlays of the human body.  This fascination with the human body remained, even though her early focus in college was more geared towards psychology.  Aly left college as a young age to marry and raise a family.  The desire for more knowledge was strong. 
           

Desiring an academic challenge, Aly returned to school when her children were well established in school themselves.  The first class she enrolled in was Anatomy.  At that point, she was hooked and knew she had to major in a field in which the primary focus was the human body.  Physical Therapy was a natural fit.  

After taking as many courses as possible at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, CA, Aly eventually earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences (with a Physical Therapy option) in June 1999 and then her Master of Physical Therapy degree in June 2000 from California State University, Northridge.  Clinical affiliations and internships included acute care at St. Francis Medical Center in Santa Barbara, skilled nursing facility care at Villa Maria Care Center in Santa Maria, pediatrics in association with California Children’s Services at the Santa Maria Medical Therapy Unit, and outpatient care at Sports and Wellness Physical Therapy in Santa Maria. 

From November 2000 to 2010, Aly worked with the team of physical and occupational therapists at Sims Physical Therapy in Santa Maria, CA.  Aly’s focus in treatment was orthopedic outpatient physical therapy with special interests in gait dysfunction, neurologic care, wound care, and lymphedema management.  Aly’s outpatient caseload included simple to complex orthopedic, post-trauma, post-surgical, neurologic, and complex neurologic/orthopedic cases.  

Karen Hoeschen, PTA

            Karen was born and raised in California.  She went to school in San Diego and graduated from Mesa College where she earned her Associates of Science degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant.  She worked in a small hospital setting for several years and then in a private practice physical therapy setting for a year before eventually moving to Washington State with her husband and two little girls.  While raising her children, she worked for a year at a Group health Cooperative as a PTA.  Then for several years she worked for a Para educator in the Special Education Department with the Mukilteo School District.

            When her daughters were in High School, she took a massage therapy course at Ashmead College.  After completing the course she took the state licensing exam and worked as a licensed massage therapist in a private medical clinic.  She has since moved back to California, settling in Cambria.  She worked as a PTA for a year with San Luis Sports Therapy, in Morro Bay.  The last few years she has worked in a Chiropractic clinic in Templeton performing a variety of front office duties.  Karen found she missed working directly with patients and welcomed the opportunity to join the staff at Cornerstone Physical Therapy & Spinal Rehab Center.  Karen enjoys camping, hiking, and gardening.  She loves living near the ocean on the Central Coast.