Meet Our CMMPs

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Click the name to read about their journey of dedication and success.

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These therapists have undergone intense training and dedicated much time to self-study to become Certified Medical Massage Practitioners (CMMPs). Personally knowing and working with each of them, the Science of Massage Institute stands behind their expertise and ability to deliver stable clinical results. These practitioners are our colleagues who educate others and spread science among the massage community and other health practitioners.

— Dr. Ross Turchaninov

Angela Bitting, LMT, CMMP
angelabitting@tampabay.rr.com
813-732-8554
Dover, Florida

Susanne A. Crawford, LMT, CMMP
susi.crawford@yahoo.com
727-744-6976
Dunedin, Florida

Dr. Jeff Cullers
drjeffcullersdc@gmail.com
386-679-7246
Daytona Beach, Florida

Curt Lezanic, LMT, CMMP
clezanic@hotmail.com
210-274-6989
San Antonio, Texas

Kara Mirarchi, CMT, CMMP
kmirarchi@americancareercollege.edu
310-529-2242
Long Beach, California

Tammy LaPadula, BHS, LMT, CMMP
custom2you@gmail.com
772-201-4686
Port St. Lucie, Florida

Karen Mooney, PhD, LMT, CMMP
karehow@frontier.com
814-528-1598
Gainesville, Florida

Mary C. Regan, LMT, CMMP
maryreganlmt@gmail.com
419-309-4475
Houston, Texas

Stephen E. Ryason, LMT, CMMP
seryak@cox.net
480-231-8782
Scottsdale, Arizona

Fernando Vasquez, CMT/CMMP, CLT
fernandomassage@yahoo.com
818-521-0610
Reseda, California

Samantha Avery, LMT, CMMP
samanthadavery@gmail.com
310-930-8158
Beverly Hills, California

Kim Kingston, LMT, CMMP
kimkingston00@gmail.com
615-477-4963
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Shea Shulman, LMT, CMMP
sheadaign@gmail.com
941-755-0406
Lakewood Ranch, Florida

Dolores Champagne, LMT, CMMP
dolores@medicalmassagebristol.com
276-494-9629
Bristol, Virginia

Gina Titus, LMT, CMMP
titus-gina@yahoo.com
310-569-8266
Santa Monica, California

Oleg Bouimer, MA, MMT, CMMP
oleg@russiansportsmassage.com
310-592-6144
Los Angeles, California

Lorraine Ross, LMT, CMMP
lorrie555@hotmail.com
941-343-8619
Punta Gorda, Florida

Nataliya Vinnikova, LMT, CMMP
biointegritycenter@gmail.com
267-629-2059
Warminster, Pennsylvania

Colleen Ferris Thompson, CMMP
colleencmmp@gmail.com
407-404-3391
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Michael Durrett, LMT, CMMP
michaeldurrett@gmail.com
832-858-3424
Spring, Texas

Carolynn Anderson, LMT, CMMP
mountainmassagebristol@gmail.com
423-723-4100
Bristol, Virginia

Ashley Essick, LMT, CMMP
ane062000@gmail.com
214-232-0335
Dallas, Texas

Josefina C. Garcia, LMT, CMMP
jcgfoundation@yahoo.com
386-672-1138
Palm Coast, Florida

S. Christine Knowles, LMT, CMMP
sknowles10@cfl.rr.com
321-684-9062
Melbourne, Florida

Mary Ann Maloney, BA, LMT, CMMP, CLT
mamaloney.lmt@gmail.com
941-755-0406
Lakewood Ranch, Florida

Hong (Rose) Nguyen, BA, LMT, CMMP, NMT, ACP
hongquantumtouch@gmail.com
626-622-8663
Los Angeles, California

Patricia Spatz, LMT, CMMP
pattyspatz2@gmail.com
941-755-0406
Sarasota, Florida

Yulia Chekan, BA, CMT, CMMP
yuliapilates@cox.net
310-598-0505
Irvine, California

Carole Suzanne Jackson, BS, MA, LMT, CMMP, BCTMB
csj@restoredbytouch.com
407-610-7435
Altamonte Springs and Winter Park, Florida

Melissa Reynolds, CMMP
melissa.itmedicalmassage@gmail.com
713-444-7145
Houston, Texas

Galina Yildirim, LMT, CMMP
ygalinak@gmail.com
404-819-9463
Atlanta, Georgia

Rita McRay, LMT, CMMP
ritamcraymassage@gmail.com
615-784-3390
Hermitage, Tennessee

Jeffery B. Wood, B.S., COTA/L, LMT, CMMP
jwood@massagesmart.com
352-817-3071
Inverness, Florida

John P. Maxwell, NCBTMB, LMT, CMMP
jpmax50@gmail.com
702-205-6208
Henderson, Nevada

Liam Newberg, BA, MA, CMT, CMMP
lnewberg@att.net
818-223-1187
Los Angeles, California

Juan Luis Ordaz Sabag, DMV, MMP, CMMP
juanluis2163@gmail.com
+52 (871) 720 1705
Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico

Laura M. (Bennetti) Righter, CMMP, LMT
laura.medicalmassagecmmp@gmail.com
610-401-5708
Reading, Pennsylvania

Steve Smith, LMT, CMMP
smith123@mac.com
303-709-4930
Littleton, Colorado

Theresa M. Brumble, RT(R)(CT), LMT, LLLT, CMMP
onemoremassage@yahoo.com
609-780-1330
Somers Point, New Jersey

Michael Devo, LMT, CMMP
genesislmt@sbcglobal.net
847-624-1164
St. Charles, Illinois

Misa Kobayashi McCue, B.A., LMT, CMMP
misamccue@gmail.com
941-777-3188
Venice, Florida

Debra Earp, LMT, CMMP
debsroyalt@gmail.com
314-616-9971
St. Louis, Missouri

Jorge Cruz Saenz, CMMP, LMT
jsaenz@saenzmassage.com
866-532-8815
McAllen, Texas

Nancy McNamara, CMMP, LMT
nancymcmassage@comcast.net
609-280-2405
Somers Point, New Jersey

Brian Boetel, CMMP, CMT
brianboetelcmt@gmail.com
219-929-8784
Valparaiso, Indiana

Jennifer Chason, MS, LMBT, CMMP
info@massagenetics.com
864-214-5963
Spartanburg, South Carolina

Richard Abisia, LMT, CMMP
richard@trinitymedical.care
707-342-8988
Phoenix, Arizona

Kristi Tidwell, LMT, CMMP
azmusclemechanic@outlook.com
602-510-4408
Coolidge, Arizona

Veronica Selby, LMT, CNMT, CMMP
selbymedicalmassage@gmail.com
480-382-2537
East Mesa, Arizona

Christina Loya, BSN, RN, LMT, NCBTMB, CMMP
christinaloya.rn@gmail.com
714-496-8286
Mascoutah, Illinois

Rebecca Place, LMT, CMLDT, CMMP
rplacelmt@aol.com
908-295-1020
Bridgewater, New Jersey

Heather Selby, LMT, CNMT, CMMP
selbymedicalmassage@gmail.com
480-382-2537
Mesa, Arizona

May Hawthorn, LMT, CMMP
debrascha@gmail.com
541-207-8240
Baker City, Oregon

Kimberly Merryman, LMT, CMMP
merryman.iym@gmail.com
346-200-2565
Cypress, Texas

Allen T. “Tim” Stanley, LMT, CMMP
keepityoungliving@gmail.com
352-561-2991
Lady Lake, Florida

Jorge Carrillo, LMT, CMMP
jorgecarrillolmtcmmp@gmail.com
402-706-7480
Omaha, Nebraska

Tammy Roecker, LMT, CMMP
azmedicalmassageschool@gmail.com
602-697-6463
Peoria, Arizona

Ben Keyes, LMT, CMMP
ben@rxmassagetherapy.com
407-595-4997
Winter Park, Florida

Susan E. Peterson, LMT, BCTMB, CMMP
loosenupmassagecenter@gmail.com
714-435-0865
Los Angeles, California

Sandra J. Abbott, LMT, CMMP
perceptivetouchmassage401@gmail.com
352-234-3878
Lake Panasoffkee, Florida

Kristina Lewis, LMT, CMMP
vitalitybt@proton.me
402-257-0576
Red Cloud, Nebraska

Dean Tidwell, LMT, CMMP
stretchcoach520@outlook.com
520-858-6722
Coolidge, Arizona

Brenda Howell
director@imbtnc.com
910-818-2513
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Zhanna Sukhomlinov, LMT, CMMP
jkrughkov@yahoo.ca
360-773-7262
Vancouver, Washington

Quint Sebastiaan Snel, BPE, CMMP, CSZMT, CSMT
info@micro-yoga.com
+31-6-1413-4617
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Troy Flathau, LMT, CMMP
troyflathaumassage@yahoo.com
615-500-7099
Jeddo, Michigan

Jaci Stephens, LMBT, CMMP
jacihock@gmail.com
910-303-1873
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Dr. Jeff Cullers was raised in Kailua on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, where an active lifestyle centered around surfing, paddling, swimming, and other outdoor sports sparked his lifelong passion for health, human performance, and natural healthcare.

Beginning his career in 1987, Dr. Cullers has dedicated nearly four decades to the study and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. His professional background includes extensive experience as an award-winning licensed massage therapist, chiropractic physician, educator, certified personal fitness trainer, and medical massage specialist. Throughout his career, he has provided care for professional athletes, Ironman triathletes, marathon runners, business executives, entertainers, and patients seeking conservative treatment for acute and chronic pain conditions.

After establishing a successful multidisciplinary healthcare practice in Florida, Dr. Cullers earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange, Florida. His clinical experience combines chiropractic medicine, medical massage, neuromuscular therapy, orthopedic assessment, lymphatic drainage, rehabilitation, and evidence-based soft tissue treatment.

In 2015, Dr. Cullers became the first physician in Florida to earn certification through the Science of Massage Institute under the direction of Dr. Ross Turchaninov, MD. He is authorized to teach the Science of Massage Institute’s Medical Massage curriculum throughout the United States and has educated thousands of healthcare professionals in advanced medical massage and orthopedic soft tissue treatment.

Dr. Cullers is the founder of Spartan Continuing Education Seminars, an NCBTMB Approved Continuing Education Provider (#20), offering nationally approved continuing education for massage therapists through live seminars, online courses, and webinars. His educational programs focus on Medical Massage, Neuromuscular Massage, Orthopedic Massage, Lymphatic Drainage, Trigger Point Therapy, Connective Tissue Massage, Post-Isometric Relaxation Stretching, Clinical Assessment, Documentation, and other evidence-based treatment approaches designed to improve patient outcomes.

In addition to his educational work, Dr. Cullers serves as Director of Diagnostic Testing for Symphony Spine & Pain Alliance, where he oversees electrodiagnostic and neurological testing programs including EMG/NCV, EEG, Quantitative EEG (QEEG), Vestibular Testing (VNG), and Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) testing. His work bridges conservative musculoskeletal care with advanced diagnostic medicine, helping physicians identify the underlying causes of pain and neurological dysfunction.

Known for combining scientific evidence with practical clinical application, Dr. Cullers is passionate about helping healthcare providers develop advanced assessment and treatment skills that improve patient outcomes while elevating the standards of the massage therapy profession. His mission is to equip therapists with clinically relevant, research-supported techniques they can confidently apply in practice the very next day.

I was fortunate to start my massage career at an outstanding clinical massage program 14 years ago (Ann Arbor Institute of Massage Therapy). My basic training included Functional Testing, Postural Analysis, Neuromuscular Therapy, Myofascial Release, Sports Massage, Muscle Energy Techniques, Swedish Massage, and Shiatsu.

Since then, I have continued to feed my love for figuring out the issues people face and helping to make them better through ongoing training and research. Several years ago, while researching headaches for a client, I found Dr. Ross Turchaninov’s incredible 5-part series of articles on Chronic Headaches. The level of scholarship and practical information was far superior to anything I’d previously encountered. I delved into his other articles, but initially didn’t realize that he provided training and a wealth of other support as well.

When I discovered that, I was excited to attend training with him, purchased his books and subscribed to the Science of Massage website. Wow! The review of all massage articles alone is a tremendous resource – to be able to find everything on a particular topic with an evaluation by a person who knows the science is so much better than trying to pick your way through contradictory information and opinions. The Video Library is a gold mine of techniques, testing, and protocols. I have to commend Dr. Ross for providing a much deeper and broader base of understanding, analysis, and application for massage therapists. He’s done a great deal of work on our behalf and for those we serve. It is so reassuring to have solid science behind you. While there’s enough material to digest for a long time, you can also start using it immediately.

I was hooked! I attended a second seminar and then went on to complete certification (and plan to continue learning from him for years to come). No other training helps you understand exactly how things work, how to thoroughly differentiate causes and the best treatment approach, and brings everything together in a comprehensive whole. I appreciate Dr. Ross’ knowledge and experience, hard work, integrity and support. I thought I had helped people before, but I’ve found that the level of results possible with Medical Massage is significantly more reliable, complete, and lasting.

Lorraine Ross

How did I get to completing the SOMI certification for Medical Massage Practitioner? That is a good question. I grew up with a strong interest and ability in math, science and finance. I spent 20 years in a successful career in the construction industry in management accounting and finance. When I had the opportunity to retire early 11 years ago, I took some time to travel with my husband. Then I settled at home and found some good causes to spend my time on. One of those causes was Hospice. I went through the Hospice training and started to volunteer.

As that amazing work continued, I found that adding massage therapy to my work offered hands-on comfort and pain management. I went back to school and became state licensed and achieved NCBTMB certification. My initial education was an 18-month, 990-hour massage therapy program that included in-depth anatomy and physiology studies. From that experience, therapeutic massage education became a passion of mine that I continued to expand annually. I have studied anatomy and physiology, bodywork, massage for cancer patients, Lymph Drainage, Deep Tissue, Swedish massage, Myofascial Release, Trigger Point Therapy, Sports Massage, Hot Stone, Energy Healing Level 1, and Chair Massage.

Things were great; I was enjoying this second career just fine. Then I found a SOMI seminar in Inverness, Florida. By the end of the first day of the Medical Massage seminar, I felt like a whole new area of massage that included a strong science backing was opening up for me. By the end of the weekend seminar, it was like I had found my home.

Every day I am excited about my practice and integrating Medical Massage. I love the science behind the protocols. I am grateful for the community, especially Dr. Ross and all the support material, including the three books, the Forum, and the Video Library. And thank you to Mary Preuss for all the behind-the-scenes work she does to make this process work.

I am in the southwest corner of Florida in Punta Gorda. I work out of two treatment rooms, one in Punta Gorda, FL, and the other in North Port, FL. The website is Lorraine Ross Massage – Therapeutic Massage. The office number is 941-343-8619, and the cell number is 304-281-1881.

Nataliya Vinnikova

Born in Ukraine, I was first introduced to the benefits of the integrative approach to health and various complementary therapies by my parents. My mother often implemented massage and bodywork to help the kids when something was “off” in our bodies. She even taught us how to apply some basic techniques, and my sister and I often traded back massages with each other while growing up.

I firmly believe that having such care very early on in my life has helped my body tremendously, keeping it resilient and pain-free despite all of the soccer practices, athletic activities at school and hard labor on our tiny farm.

When I moved to the United States in 2007, pursuing a career in manual therapy became an obvious choice. Having worked on more than a thousand different people, aged 6 to 88, and having crafted many, many massage therapy sessions in the past 9 years, I’ve become very successful when it comes to stress-reduction and therapeutic applications of massage, but I was getting increasingly frustrated with the stability of my clinical efforts. Though I’d been implementing various musculoskeletal realignment and orthopedic modalities, the results had been relatively short-lived and far from predictable.

Meeting and learning from Dr. Ross have changed the course of my career and my life forever. My problem-solving nature finally has the right tools for tackling various pain puzzles and helping my clients achieve long-lasting pain resolution. It took a lot of learning and even more unlearning, but the results continue to impress me on a daily basis. I could never go back to just being a stress-reduction therapist. Discovering Medical Massage was like trading a horse and buggy for a high-performance sports car. While the first one can provide you with a unique and enjoyable experience, you would still want a Ferrari as your ride to the hospital.

My biggest professional ambition now is to grow my private practice into a multidisciplinary facility for somatic rehabilitation where my community can have access to proper, effective, integrative, affordable care, and which could serve as a platform for further scientific research in the field of Medical Massage and applications of manual therapy.

I’m forever grateful to Dr. Ross for his expertise, dedication and continuous selfless efforts in bringing back the science, educational and clinical standards, and results into American massage therapy.

Michael Durrett

I’ve always known that I wanted to work in the alternative healthcare field. When I was younger, I was fascinated by and in awe of books about physiology and acupuncture. It wasn’t until later in life that I started this journey of becoming a bodyworker. Even though I had graduated from notable schools with titles such as Holistic Health Practitioner, even an A.S. in Holistic Health, I still felt like there was something lacking. I searched out CEU classes to fill what I thought I was missing. It was at that time that I came across a Russian Sports Massage class with Oleg Bouimer. He said at the end of that fantastic workshop that if we had continued interest in a medical approach, we should take Dr. Ross’ class. After much deliberation and spending two days shadowing Curt Lezanic, I knew that I was on the right path. While I was spending the day with Curt, he told me that these techniques were nothing like I had ever been taught and that I would be so blown away that I would be brain dead after the first day. I thought, “Yeah, right!” Curt could not have been more on point. My first theory class with Dr. Ross washed over me like a wave. It was at that class that I realized I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

I am not going to lie and say that it was all easy. There is a lot to take in, process, practice and repeat. Yet anyone who has extended experience with Dr. Ross knows that it is worth it. I would like to share with you the two most valuable things that I personally gained from this program and that are most valuable to me. First, Dr. Ross provides not only a wealth of knowledge, but also detailed follow-up support, providing answers to any questions that you may have about how to best approach a treatment plan with one of your clients. The second thing was something that I never thought I would have, and that is clinical confidence. Now, after completing this certification, when clients move into my space with their issues, not only can I confidently tell them how I am going to treat them, but I can also lay out for them an honest treatment plan. This is particularly valuable, especially when everyone else is telling them that they have to just wait it out or that this problem/ailment is in their head. This also allows the client to build confidence in the work that you do, which will improve your sessions later on.

I can honestly say that I am a much better therapist due to Dr. Ross and the SOMI Team.

When Carole Suzanne first used the Science of Massage Institute (SOMI) protocol for bone-on-bone osteoarthritis (OA) in the knees, it seemed miraculous. Ending the first session, the patient reported 0 pain/0 tension. It had been at level 9-out-of-10 for several months. After four OA treatments, she held the results for four weeks. Dr. Ross Turchaninov confirmed the results were typical. “Those dramatic results are what drive me. It was my pleasure to empower her to prepare for the best outcome of future surgery,” says Carole Suzanne.

Ms. Jackson has successfully used integrative techniques to treat clinical conditions in her independent practice since 2008. In 2014, she began exclusively using SOMI MM protocols for clinical applications. They target every layer of soft tissue to establish quicker and more stable results. This provides more dramatic results and allows more success with advanced cases such as OA, complicated plantar fasciitis and scoliosis.

She worked at the University of Central Florida’s Health Resource Center as a Wellness Consultant while earning two degrees tailored for optimal Health and Fitness. Given her early experiences as a modern dancer and fitness instructor, she has been studying muscles for over 2 decades. Her experience teaching Personal Health, Student Success and Public Speaking at Valencia College also prepared her to provide support for her clients implementing healthy lifestyle changes. “The best self-care plan is the one you will do.” That’s Carole Suzanne’s motto as she provides options for healthy lifestyle support.

Ms. Jackson continually strives to better herself as a medical massage (MM) clinician. She is also dedicated to seeing MM rise in recognition among physicians and mainstream medical care in the US. Her work is getting the attention of physicians. A physician-written letter of recommendation affirming her MM proficiency is available on request. Also see testimonials posted on her website from other community leaders who have experienced amazing results in her care.

When she is not engaged in the joy of learning and reviewing concepts in advanced MM and healthy lifestyle support options, you may find Carole Suzanne gardening, swimming, cooking, or hiking and enjoying the company of loved ones. Growing edibles is one of her favorite pastimes: “Nothing tastes as good as fresh from your own garden.” Friends are welcomed when they ask her permission to drop by to show others her easy EarthBox garden method.

Speaking at various workplaces and community groups is one venue for public education on muscle health. She combines her love of gardening and love of inspiring pain-free living by teaching body mechanics for home and garden. Her most popular topic is Find Your Funny: Nurturing Positive Humor.

Hi, I am Melissa Reynolds, and I am so thankful to have found Dr. Ross and SOMI. I have always been interested in the workings of the human body. I originally wanted to become a Physical Therapist, and with all of the twists and turns of life, I did not head down that path. Although I have had many different careers, I still felt I was missing something.

After completing my Associate of Science program, I decided I wanted something different for myself and pursued a degree to become a Physical Therapist Assistant. Due to some unforeseen test anxiety, I was not able to take the boards for this degree program. The program director suggested I get licensed in another field and then come back and re-try the program. I left the program feeling completely defeated and stumbled into a Massage Therapy program.

Everything worked in my favor, from timing and financing to the detail of the different modalities taught in this program. I began the program and discovered that there was much more to massage than I could ever have imagined. Then one of my instructors suggested I look into Medical Massage after graduation through SOMI with Dr. Ross. So, after I found my love for massage in school, I looked into SOMI and Medical Massage. After I went to the first seminar, I was hooked, and I continued through the summer to complete the CMMP certification.

The knowledge I have gained through this program along with my knowledge from school has made me beyond confident in my ability to help others. I have been using the knowledge from Medical Massage to help my clients who have many different types of issues. The knowledge I am able to provide my clients to prevent further injuries and maintain the health of their bodies for years to come fills the void that I had for years. All I ever wanted was to have the ability to help people have a better quality of life, and with the information I have been taught through SOMI, I have the ability to provide all those with pain and discomfort relief and hope that a less painful life is in sight.

I have 22 years’ experience as a Licensed Massage Therapist and 20 years’ experience as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. I graduated from Suncoast Center for Natural Healing-School of Massage in 1996, where Angela Bitting, my Sister and a fellow CMMP, was one of my Instructors. In 1998, I graduated from Daytona State College from the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program and immediately began my journey in the realm of Orthopedic Rehabilitation.

Over the last 22 years, I have had the opportunity to work with numerous pre-operative/post-operative patients in orthopedic rehabilitation and massage therapy settings. I have sat in on multiple surgeries with Orthopedic Surgeons and have had the opportunity to treat those patients 1-2 days after surgery. Over the years working in Outpatient Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Clinical Massage Therapy (aka Medical Massage) settings, I have worked with a variety of diagnoses/orthopedic-based conditions, such as Proximal Humerus Fractures, Rotator Cuff Repairs, Total Shoulder Replacements, Flexor Tendon Repairs/Extensor Tendon Repairs (in the OT Hand Therapy Department), and I have always had great success in my treatment approaches. But it was not until I became a Certified Medical Massage Practitioner that my assessment skills were enhanced even more. Much of what I learned from Dr. Ross and SOMI was already a part of my Occupational Therapy background, but learning the levels of assessment for the skin, superficial fascia, myofascial, muscle layers, using Dermographism, Kibler’s 1 & 2, Dicke’s, Opposite Shift Test, took my treatments to a whole new level. Learning when and why I would use Connective Tissue Massage versus Segment Reflex Massage versus a Treatment Protocol was the last piece of the puzzle for me as a Practitioner.

I am also the Lead Instructor at Withlacoochee Technical College’s Massage Therapy Program. After receiving the CMMP credential, I have embedded the principles of Dr. Ross’s teachings into my course curriculum. When my students learn how to perform massage strokes, we spend weeks in the Therapeutic Massage (aka the blue book), and then months in the Medical Massage I & II textbooks. The students in my WTC Massage Therapy Program learn all assessments and treatment philosophies presented in those three textbooks. When students graduate from the WTC Massage Therapy Program, they are primed and ready to enter the Massage Therapy Profession with a strong foundation in true Medical Massage. Because I have added these textbooks to my classroom setting, along with an understanding of their principles, my students are entering the Massage Therapy Profession with a higher level of hands-on and assessment skills. Employers are impressed with their knowledge and clinical decision-making processes.

Finally, I would like to share that I have dedicated many of my years of practice to giving back to the profession and served as the AMTA Heart of Florida Unit Chairman from 2006-2009 and was elected as an AMTA Florida Delegate for 2010, traveling to the AMTA National Convention to represent the AMTA Florida Chapter at the Delegate Session. I was involved in the development of the AFMTE ELAP and the AMTA Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge projects. But since 2014, I have begun to find a way to build a better curriculum for my program, and the philosophies/teachings of SOMI are what is helping my students excel at the highest clinical level.

If you are interested in contacting me, visit Enhance Your Skills with Massage Continuing Education or email me at jwood@massagesmart.com.

I’m a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) who graduated with honors in 1987.

Why am I in the field of Medical Massage after being a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine for 32 years? Well, here is my story: I met Ruth, my future wife, when she was 15 years old. I remember that she regularly visited an orthopedist because she suffered from constant upper and lower back pains. Her physician diagnosed her with Thoracic Scoliosis and Dorsal Lordosis and said that there was a very good chance that she would need surgery later in life to correct the deformation.

Time passed quickly, and we were married when she was 24 years old. After the birth of our second child, she experienced more pain in the upper and lower back. I researched everything, and that brought me to the massage field for pain relief. I examined all the different techniques and approaches; I bought books on reflexology, traditional massage, acupressure, traditional Chinese massage techniques, pediatric Chinese Massage, etc. I used what I learned with moderate success until one day in 2009, as I continued to search for something better, I stumbled on the Aesculapius Books web page, which offered three textbooks: Medical Massage (Volumes I and II) and Therapeutic Massage: A Scientific Approach. I ordered them immediately, since they used only science-backed information.

While waiting for the textbooks, I researched the author, Dr. Ross Turchaninov, and then I found the Science of Massage Institute website. I clicked on the Anterior Scalene Protocol from the Video Library, and I was greatly impressed by its presentation and very easy way to learn the recommended techniques and approaches. Instantly, I realized that this was information I had been seeking for several years! After I received the textbooks, I studied the protocols using the books and the Video Library. I applied the different protocols on my wife and was amazed how quickly Ruth improved after I used the Levator Scapulae Muscle Syndrome and Upper and Low Back protocols.

After I helped my wife, word spread, and many of my friends started to see me for treatment and, after I helped them, they recommended me to their friends. At this point, I realized that being a Medical Massage practitioner allowed me to help people and generate additional income for my family. The more I practiced, the more people with various pain syndromes came to me. For many of them, I was their last hope. Many of the pain syndromes I observed in my patients matched exactly with what I read in the textbooks and saw in the Video Library. I have been using Medical Massage protocols and recommended techniques for almost seven years with incredible success.

In December 2017, my wife and I agreed it was time to retire and pursue my dream of having a clinic that would care for patients suffering from musculoskeletal abnormalities and syndromes. After understanding the Certification process, I started SOMI classes in June 2018. I never realized that the first seminar I participated in in 2009 would be the beginning of a new career in my professional life, and that, undoubtedly, if I used continued education, passion, discipline and dedication, I would be able to have my own clinical practice to help thousands of patients to recover their quality of life according to the abnormalities and pathologies that may be attended to through Medical Massage from the Science of Massage Institute.

Thank you to my beautiful wife and my two boys, Juan Sebastian and Jeroni, for your support and to all the patients that have encouraged me to continue on this new path in my life.

Laura Righter is a Certified Medical Massage Practitioner (CMMP) who recently completed the 96-hour certification program with the Science of Massage Institute. She is licensed by the state of Pennsylvania, is a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), and specializes in science-based Medical Massage from the Science of Massage Institute.

She attended Cortiva Institute of Massage Therapy in King of Prussia, PA, and graduated top of her class with a 4.0 GPA. She also received the prestigious Mary Jo Myers Outstanding Student Award, symbolizing her distinction as a Massage Therapist who would make a difference in the field of massage therapy. Completely humbled by the experience, she always wondered how she would fulfill the expectations set forth by receiving such an award. She felt the bar was set high, and she never lost sight of the expectations she felt the need to fulfill.

In January of 2017, Laura walked into a CEU Oncology Seminar taught by Dr. Jeff Cullers, Premier Continuing Education. In that course, she heard about Medical Massage and the Medical Massage Certification program through the Science of Massage Institute that would forever change her career. Laura was encouraged to continue, through the love of her children Olivya and Zoey, endlessly studying the material and applying the knowledge to everyday practice. Laura has fully embraced every aspect of this journey, and now Medical Massage has become a part of her, as the knowledge and practice, along with her intuition, have developed her professional clinical mindset.

Laura can successfully provide Medical Massage with proven clinical results that will greatly improve the quality of life of the clients who choose to get on her table. She welcomes difficult cases where other treatment options have failed. She knows she can give clients hope and improve their quality of life through Medical Massage rehabilitation, and she embraces the holistic approach to pain control as a CBD Distributor.

Laura looks forward to learning and growing and giving with each new case presented to her and believes that the biggest reward rests within the clients that she will continue to help along her journey.

I have wanted to become a Medical Massage Practitioner since I first attended Massage School in 2016. I was very fortunate to have an instructor who had trained under Dr. Ross before and strongly encouraged his students to subscribe to the video library and attend seminars as soon as possible. Thanks to him, I became convinced very quickly that there was an incredible power behind this massage therapy I was learning. It did not take long before I attended my first seminar in October 2017. I was so overwhelmed by the information, yet hungry for more. After graduating, I worked mostly for spas such as Elements and Hand & Stone. I even met my wife Heather at Elements Massage, where we both worked as massage therapists. We are now on this Medical Massage journey together, forming our practice as a unit.

I have an intense passion for massage therapy. I very much enjoy educating my clients and other therapists on how much potential is held within our hands. Since I have worked in spas primarily, many therapists have not had the opportunity to learn these concepts. I always encourage them to learn more and pursue additional education, especially from SOMI if they are drawn to that path. I want to help teach Medical Massage, since massage therapists need this information more than ever.

My strongest passion is for my clients’ well-being. I am constantly studying and grinding to maximize my efficiency in treating my clients/patients. I have enjoyed assisting my clients in recovering from chronic shoulder pain, chronic neck pain, tendonitis, etc. I am overjoyed to be a part of their path to wellness. I see it as an exciting challenge to replicate those same successes, only faster. I am in it for the long game of becoming an efficient medical massage clinician who can deliver quick and stable results. I have also had opportunities to network with local physical therapists, sending my patients there for diagnostics and explaining my role in their healing process in the same medical language they speak.

Initially, I was trained as a musician, but I always wanted to help suffering people. At one point, I enrolled in massage therapy school, and the Omaha School of Massage Therapy looked more medically appealing than other schools. I graduated from the 1000-hour school program in 2003. After passing the National Exams, I started to work in a national chain spa in Omaha.

As soon as I started to work, I became very unsatisfied with my training and its limited clinical possibilities. I decided to extend my education by enrolling in various workshops and seminars by the most respected national educators. Each class promised me effective treatment of somatic abnormalities. The results of the time and money I spent were minimal and, to put it mildly, professionally boring. It was obvious to me that these nationally recognized instructors had a very narrow box vision. At some point, I thought that I had already reached the pinnacle of the massage therapy profession, and it did not fulfill any of my expectations. I even started to think about changing careers.

However, one thought continued to drive me forward: “There’s gotta be something greater.” Finally, in 2018, during one of my many late-night searches for massage and medicine, I ran across a result that said “Science of Massage Institute.” I didn’t know what it was. I clicked on the link and was mesmerized by a wealth of professional information.

The COVID pandemic put everything on hold until February 2022, when I finally took my first class at SOMI. When I returned to my hotel room, I was overwhelmed by the enormous amount of scientific and clinical data from the first class. I could not even imagine the entire program! At that moment, I was humbled and realized that my teachers, national educators, and I knew nothing about the clinical application of massage therapy.

As I took more training, the information I was getting became almost like a drug. I read, took classes, tried it on my clients, studied more, dug deeper and deeper, and finally witnessed incredible clinical results delivered by my ten fingers!

SOMI also taught me to think critically and to “think outside the box” imposed by baseless educational sources. If I didn’t see the results I wanted, I re-evaluated and corrected my treatment plan until I delivered stable clinical results.

After two years, I am grateful to Dr. Ross Turchaninov and SOMI for everything I have learned and continue to learn. Now, I can help people with such complex somatic abnormalities, which I would not have been able to do or even dream about doing. I can also educate my patients and fellow therapists in Medical Massage! Thank you, SOMI!!!