Orthopedic Medicine, Sports Medicine and
Physical Therapy Services in Honolulu, Hawaii
From our medical receptionists to our medical doctors, the team at Portner Orthopedic Rehabilitation embodies the spirit of compassionate care and personalized service that fuels our passion for helping people. From the first contact you have with our staff, you’ll understand why so many people choose us for exceptional orthopedic care in Hawaii. Our team is friendly, accommodating, and personally invested in your health and wellness. If there is anything we can do to make your experience easier and more enjoyable, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Born in Wisconsin, and raised in Duluth, MN, Kathy graduated with a BS Degree in Sports Medicine from VSU, Valdosta, Georgia, in 1988, followed by a degree in Physical Education from VSU. She received her degree in Physiotherapy with honours from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland, graduating in 1998. Kathryn is currently working on her doctor of science in physical therapy (DScPT), specializing in manual therapy, at Andrews University in Michigan. Kathy is a certified Pilates instructor who also enjoys running, stand up paddling and snowboarding. She has been with Dr. Portner since 2002 and anticipates many more years of providing excellent PT service to Portner Orthopedic patients.
Dean earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2009 from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and his Bachelors in Biology from Western Illinois University.
He joined the Portner Orthopedic team in January 2012, bringing with him professional experience that includes two years at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, an outpatient orthopedic clinic, with a focus on various musculoskeletal injuries and neurological impingements in the cervical and lumbar spines.
His previous work experience includes Rehab Services PRN and a variety of temporary in fill-in hospital care providing in-patient acute and home health physical therapy. Dean is currently an on-call therapist at Rehab Hospital of the Pacific in Honolulu, focusing on neurological cases such as traumatic brain injury and stroke. Dean participates in continuing education directed at learning new manual techniques for stretching and mobilizing various tissues and joints.
Dean spends his free time surfing, hiking, kayaking, enjoying nature, hanging out with his wife, cooking and playing the guitar.
Brittney graduated from California Lutheran University in 2007 with her Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science and sports medicine. She then entered the clinical doctoral program at Chapman University where she obtained her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2010. Brittney has experience in several clinical settings including subacute rehab, neurological rehab, and post-operative rehab, and has worked in the outpatient orthopedics setting since September 2010. She has been a member of the Portner Orthopedic Rehab team since October 2011. In her free time, Brittney enjoys stand up paddling and surfing, spending time with her fiancé, and when possible, traveling back to Washington state to visit her family and friends.
Xiaoqing “Yana” Hodge graduated 6th highest in a class of 200 from the Nahjing University of Chinese Medicine in Nanjing, China in 1990. Nanjing University of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is one of only five universities in China that are in collaboration with the World Health Organization. Since then, she has worked at Jiangsu Provinicial Hospital of TCM in Nanjing and afterwards traveled to Europe and Moscow where she spent 5 ½ years at Polyclinic of Traditional Medicine “INTERMED” Inc. as Doctor in Charge of TCM. Here she treated thousands of adults and children with various illnesses.
Yana has been in private practice for more than 10 years in Honolulu. She also practices at Rehab Hospital of the Pacific with Dr. Eugene M.C. Lee, M.D. (Internal Medicine/Pediatrics) and at Portner Orthopedic Rehabilitation with Dr. Bernard Portner, complementing their western medical practices with her expertise in eastern medicine.
Linda La Form is from Hilo, Hawaii. She graduated from Big Island School of Massage in 1994 (Hawaii license: Mat #4029) and has been a member of “Team Portner” since 2005.
Lynda specializes in deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy and myofascial release. She has attended continuing education workshops with James Wasloski in orthopedic massage — treating cervical spine conditions and also pelvic stabilization. Lynda’s hobbies include running, swimming and hiking Koko head.
Graduating from the Honolulu School of Massage in 1989, Gilda Lee has more than 20 years of work experience as a Hawaii licensed massage therapist (MAT #2495).
Gilda joined the staff of Portner Orthopedic Rehabilitation in 2000. She is trained in a wide variety of techniques including Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, Hawaiian lomi-lomi, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, lymphatic drainage, craniosacral therapy, reflexology and muscle energy techniques. She regularly participates in continuing education courses from James Waslaski focused on orthopedic and medical massage.
Doreen is a graduate of the University of Hawaii and earned her Masters Degree in physical therapy at the University of Colorado in May of 2000. A staff member of Portner Orthopedic since ____, her areas of expertise include sports-specific training for upper and lower extremities, treatment of spinal dysfunction, postural and ergonomic assessment, education in spinal stability, and aquatic exercise for rehabilitation.
Doreen has completed orthopedic specialty courses from the North American Institute of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy and the McKenzie Institute. She studied and trained in Maitland spinal techniques in Queensland, Australia and is certified by the Arthritis Foundation for aquatic exercise. Doreen is also proud to have authored a program guide for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Doreen’s knowledge of sports injury rehabilitation is enhanced by her participation in recreational sports. She has competed in several types of events, including triathlons, mountain biking, downhill and cross country ski racing. She enjoys surfing and has volunteered as a coach for the Tinman Triathlon and Honolulu Marathon clinics. Her goal is to create a personalized rehabilitation program to meet the needs of her patients’ unique lifestyles.
Crystal is a part time therapist for Portner Orthopedic Rehab. She has been working with us two years now, but she has been a massage therapist in Hawaii for six years, working explicitly with injured patients. Currently she is enrolled full time as a nursing student in the University of Hawaii. When she is not working or in school she enjoys her leisure hiking, going to the gym, or relaxing at the beach.
Born and raised in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, Kristi attended the University of Texas at El Paso on a full soccer scholarship to complete her undergraduate studies in Kinesiology in 200 and her Masters degree in Physical Therapy in 2007. Licensed to practice in both Canada and the United States, Kristi has been part of the Portner team for almost 5 years and continues to improve her knowledge with continuing education courses. Kristi is also a mat-level certified Pilates instructor and e she enjoys surfing, running, Crossfit, traveling and spending time with her husband, her family and friends.
To learn more about our team and how we provide effective pain relief, please contact Portner Orthopedic at (808) 596-7300 in Hawaii and schedule your first visit.