We are a company based on quality care accessible to people throughout the lifespan and in various socioeconomic contexts. The main objective of Forefront Therapy is to meet the Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy needs in Evansville, IN, and surrounding regions. Forefront Therapy bases its foundation on three main Pillars.

Our CORE Three Pillars

1.       One-on-one care

It is our strong belief that every individual deserves one on one medical care from their provider.  With individualized attention, it will allow us the best opportunity to deliver the most effective and efficient care possible.

2.       Education and research

We at Forefront Therapy believe it is both our social and professional duty to be at the forefront of education and research in the fields of physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

3.       Accessibility for all

Forefront Therapy has a call to serve all aspects of the community, including those with limited access to healthcare. 

Finding a therapy and wellness service provider that meets your specific needs and expectations is so important. When you become a patient with us, we will meet with you one-on-one to ensure we provide you with the best care possible, customized just for you.

Mission

To be the leader of therapy and wellness services and provide the best standard of care, research, and education to a diverse community.

Vision

Lead healthcare, grow access, inspire community wellness, and thrive in our culture.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Forefront Therapy takes pride in providing care across the entire community. We strive to partner with and employ diverse individuals and organizations who share our values and will join us in improving the lives of every member of our society. This principle is a key aspect to who we are and for what we stand.

Dr. Sara Aucoin, PT, DPT, OCS received her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology: Exercise Science from the University of New Hampshire where she was a four-year varsity letter winner for their volleyball team. She then earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Washington University in St. Louis and is now recognized as an APTA board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. Her experience lies in working with young athletes and individuals diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and hypermobility syndromes. Along with general orthopedics, she is passionate about treating children with exceptional care and encouraging optimal movement patterns for life starting from a young age. In addition to her clinical interests, Dr. Aucoin also teaches Anatomy and Physiology at Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions as she actively engages in a lifetime of continued education.

Dr. Tonya Barringer, PT, DPT, WCS is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Evansville. Along with general orthopedics and neurological care, she is passionate about women’s health and pelvic floor therapy. Tonya has been successfully certified for the treatment for men and women with pelvic floor dysfunction through Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute.  She most recently passed her Board Specialty Certification Exam in Women's Health Physical Therapy through the APTA and is officially a Board Certified Specialist Women's Health Physical Therapy.

Dr. Hannah Brooks, PT, DPT, OCS, LAT, ATC is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Evansville. After completing the Forefront Therapy/Arcadia University Orthopedic Residency, Hannah successfully passed her board certification and is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. She is originally from the St. Louis area but fell in love with the charm of Evansville while studying at the University of Evansville. Hannah is also a licensed certified athletic trainer and holds certifications in SFMA Level 1 and LSVT BIG. Hannah has developed a love for working with the older adult in various forms throughout her Orthopedic, Neurologic, and Balance/Vestibular passions! She loves being on a Forefront team that is so invested and mission focused in working with the entire Tri-State community!

Dr. Brian Grant, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Evansville. Brian has successfully completed the 12-month Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency at Forefront Therapy in collaboration with Arcadia University and is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist.. Brian has thorough experience and passion working with individuals with orthopedic, sports, and neurological conditions. He has been accredited through the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Brian has also taken a regional leadership role as Vice President of the Southwest District, American Physical Therapy Association Indiana Chapter. A native of Evansville, he continues to serve as a local swim coach with Harrison High School and has immense pride and passion for his community!

Hope Hansen, MS, CCC-SLP is a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) who received her Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology as well as her Bachelor's of Science degree in Communication Disorders from Murray State University. Hope has clinical experience in inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient pediatric settings. She is passionate about treating all areas within the scope of practice of a SLP. From articulation and language to augmentative and alternative communication. Hope is dedicated to family-centered therapy and evidence-based intervention. She strives to provide ultimate care and build successful interpersonal relationships with her patients. Hope enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dog, being involved in her church community, exercising, and traveling.

Kylie Horstmann, MSOT, OTR/L is an Occupational Therapist who received her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy at University of Southern Indiana. Prior to OT school, Kylie attended SIUC in Carbondale, IL where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science. Kylie has clinical experience in the inpatient rehab and outpatient pediatric settings and is so excited to serve on the Pediatric Forefront team. She is passionate about utilizing a holistic approach to help children achieve their fullest potential and be successful in their everyday activities.

Selene Lopez, PT, DPT is a bilingual Physical Therapist who completed her doctorate degree at Texas Woman’s University and her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at El Paso. She was born and raised in El Paso, TX and grew up with a family of 5 siblings and 5 dogs. She moved to Dallas, TX after undergrad to pursue her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Thereafter, she moved to Evansville to be with her significant other and further her education and skills in pelvic health and neurological physical therapy. She is an advocate for supporting Hispanic families and educating the entire span of our community on available health resources to improve their quality of life! This has been shown through her interests in research including investigating risk factors for falls in the elderly population in San Jose, Costa Rica as well as researching movement dysfunction in patients with HIV in Puerto Rico.

Justin Merritt, PTA, is a Physical Therapist Assistant and Clinic Manager at Forefront Therapy- The Bronstein Clinic who graduated from Madisonville Community College. He is excited to join the exceptional team at Forefront Therapy and Forefront Community Therapy. Justin is an experienced orthopedic specialist with 13 years of experience and a background in management and leadership. The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce has recognized him as Ambassador of the Year for three consecutive years. As a native of Owensboro, he is eager to become involved in the local Evansville community through the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership. Justin is completing the Advanced Proficiency Pathways in Orthopedics program the American Physical Therapy Association offers. He is dedicated to improving each patient's quality of life using the latest evidence-based practices. Justin is known for his compassionate and friendly demeanor and is committed to serving the underserved.

Jenna L. McClary, PT, MPT holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Evansville.  Jenna has over 29 years of experience in the field, having worked in outpatient orthopedics, home health, and inpatient rehabilitation. She is excited to be working as part of the local community at the Bronstein Clinic, as much of her professional and volunteer life has been dedicated to geriatric and neurologic care.  Jenna is currently serving as an adjunct faculty member in the DPT Program at the University of Evansville. She continues to engage in the local Evansville community through her church, enjoys playing the piano, as well as spending time with her husband and 3 adult children.

Natalie Tiffany, PT, DPT is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with a graduate degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. Prior to PT school, she attended Westminster College and graduated with bachelor degrees in Biology, Exercise Science, and Philosophy. There she also played tennis on their collegiate team. Natalie’s passion for family-centered care and evidence-based practice in pediatrics has led her to present research at multiple national conferences. She loves being on the Forefront team that is devoted to providing quality care to all clients!   

Joe Todd, PT, DPT is a Doctor of Physical therapy with a graduate degree from Belmont University in Nashville, TN.  Prior to PT school, he attended The University of Mississippi and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. In the interim six years between Ole Miss and Belmont, he proudly served in the military. Joe is currently completing the 12-month post-doctoral Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency at Forefront Therapy in collaboration with Arcadia University. Originally from Henderson and a Memorial High School graduate, Joe is passionate about the Evansville community. He enjoys helping individuals from all walks of life and appreciates the relationships he builds with each one of them.

Ashlee Vindhurst is an Administrative Assistant at Forefront Therapy-First Street Clinic.  She is an Evansville native, who received her Bachelor’s degree in Physiology from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Life guided her to live in Colorado and Florida before she settled back home, where she can fully utilize her experiences in health care customer service. Her compassion for others is evident in each client interaction. Ashlee has experience collaborating with health care plans and takes pride in providing the best customer experience possible with every one of our clients!

Paige Wieland is an Administrative Assistant on the Forefront team. She began her healthcare career as a Certified Pharmacy Technician for 5 years, where she gained insight on the importance of advocating for underserved populations and developed great customer service. Born and raised in a small town in Southern Illinois, Paige decided to move to Evansville, where she graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration degree at the University of Southern Indiana. Currently, she is pursuing her Master of Healthcare Administration degree at the University of Southern Indiana to further expand her knowledge in the field of which she is so passionate. After living in Evansville for a few years, she fell in love with the community and is excited to be a huge part in providing the best patient care experience possible.

Dr. Jessica K Wood, OTD, OTR/L, BCP is Co-Owner of Forefront Therapy and Co-Founder of Forefront Community Therapy.  As the Director of Pediatric Service,  she has found the love and calling to serve the children and families of the Tristate community.  Jessica is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy with Bachelor and Master degrees from Saint Louis University, and her Doctoral degree at Mount Mary University with study focused on sensory integration therapy. She is a AOTA Board Certified Specialist in Pediatrics. She has a breadth of knowledge in her field including work at University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital in the NICU, PICU, SICU, neurological units, orthopedic units, and burn units. Jessica moved home to serve as an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Southern Indiana. She is currently conducting pediatric research on sensory integration, presents at state/national conferences, and has multiple publications in peer-reviewed medical literature.

Dr. Ryan Wood, PT, DPT, MHA, OCS is Co-Owner of Forefront Therapy and Co-Founder of Forefront Community Therapy. He operates as CEO for both organizations and is proud to work with such an amazing team. He is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with undergraduate and graduate degrees from Saint Louis University. Ryan attended the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency at the University of Chicago Medicine and is a board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. He received his Master of Health Administration (MHA) at the University of Southern Indiana. He has participated in research, participates in lectures, presented at state/national conferences, and has multiple publications in peer-reviewed medical literature. He is a strong advocate for his profession, serving in multiple roles for the American Physical Therapy Association Indiana Chapter, currently as a Delegate for the state.

Jackeline Yagual, MSOT, OTR/L is a bilingual Pediatric Occupational Therapist who completed her masters and undergraduate degrees at the University of Southern Indiana. She is originally from Ecuador and grew up sharing her parent's passion for their family business which specializes in creating developmentally appropriate and sensory based environments for children. She moved to Evansville to further her education and commitment to helping children through up to date sensory integration practices. She is very compassionate and attentive to families and strives to support caregivers in the process!