There are special days for the Science of Massage Institute and for all of us who are here. These days are when new massage therapists graduate from SOMI’s Medical Massage Certification Program and are ready to help patients in very complex clinical situations. For many patients, their 10 magic fingers are the last treatment option, and they indeed deliver stable clinical results. We are happy to introduce five new Certified Medical Massage Practitioners:
Susan E. Peterson, LMT, BCTMB, CMMP. California
I was a former medical writer for several notable daily newspapers. Came to my senses in 1995 and switched to holistic/medical massage. I usually work with doctors (not for) – OB/GYNs, DOs, Acupuncturists, etc. I thought I was a medical massage therapist until I took Dr. Ross Turchaninov and Boris Prilutsky’s classes, starting around 1998. Now I understand the difference, and I’m happy to complete my Medical Massage Certification!
Contact: Susan E Peterson LMT, LMT, BCTMB, CMMP, Orange County, CA. (5-star Google/Yelp) call or text (714) 435-0865 or Loosenupmassagecenter@gmail.com
Ben Keyes, LMT, CMMP. Florida
Ben Keyes is the owner of Rx Massage Therapy in Winter Park, Florida (next to Downtown Orlando). Licensed since 2002, he specializes in assessment-based massage therapy and collaborates closely with other healthcare providers for pain management, injury intervention, and prevention of unnecessary surgeries.
Ben’s clinical journey began when his own wrist pain was misdiagnosed as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome when he was a massage student. Through orthopedic assessment and manual therapy, he discovered the true cause, found relief, and committed himself to helping others find the right answers for their pain. That moment shaped his practice philosophy: thorough evaluation before treatment.
He provides medical massage for patients referred by physicians and others seeking help that is not provided through medications, physical therapy, or surgery. Ben also runs a large sports massage team that works at events for almost every sport. He has been blessed to see the world thanks to sports massage. Massage has enabled him to work with athletes who are among the best to have ever competed in their sport.
Whether treating post-surgical patients, addressing recent concussion symptoms, or helping athletes recover quickly and avoid injury, Ben’s goal is simple: restore function, resolve pain, and get people back to doing what they love.
SOMI’s education and clinical training have catapulted his successful outcomes for increasingly complex cases. Cases that would have been troublesome in the past are now easily solvable with clinically predictable outcomes.
Contact: Rx Massage Therapy. RxMassageTherapy.com
My journey into massage therapy began with a personal search for healing. I was in pain, with no clear answers. I started asking questions, researching, and exploring every avenue to support my body’s recovery.
Eventually, I enrolled in massage therapy school with the goal of opening a practice that could help others live healthier, pain-free lives.
Now, as an LMT, still searching for a deeper understanding, I discovered Dr. Ross Turchaninov’s program. That led me to the SOMI’s website, where I read several of the articles and joined the Students
Of Science of Massage Institute’s Facebook page to learn even more. After several weeks, I decided to enroll in the Medical Massage Certification Program.
There and in the classes I took, I found a solid foundation to build upon—one that
emphasized testing to identify the root cause of pain, techniques to address each layer of
tissue, and a supportive community when I needed guidance.
Through SOMI, I’ve gained knowledge, sharpened my skills, and built the confidence to
make a real difference in people’s lives. I’m grateful for the incredible people I’ve met
along the way—and honored to walk this healing path with every client I serve.
Contact: vitalitybt@proton.me, (402) 257-0576 Red Cloud, NE
Dean Tidwell, LMT, CMMP. Arizona
Dean Tidwell is a recent graduate of the Arizona School of Medical Massage and Wellness. Upon graduating, he immediately began classes with the Science of Massage Institute, completing the program just 10 months later in September 2025.
Dean began his career in physical medicine as a chiropractic assistant, working directly in conjunction with Chiropractors, Physical Therapists, and Nurse Practitioners, where he learned how immensely beneficial stretching could be for his own body, making it easy to run the rehab bay every day and teach patients the joy of moving and relieving stress.
Dean lives in a small town in southern Arizona, but he shares a Medical Massage business with his wife in Mesa, AZ, where they work together to meet the pain management needs of patients and local physicians and physical therapists who regularly refer new patients to the clinic.
Contact: (520) 858-6722, Coolidge, AZ
Stretchcoach520@outlook.com
Category: News
Tags: 2025 Issue #2