Meet our Doctors of Physical Therapy:
J Rick Rafael, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy, Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist
Owner, President
Dr. Rafael is the president and founder of SportsFit. Dr. Rafael obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California in BioMedical Engineering. After several years of working as an engineer and consultant to Fortune500 companies, he decided to pursue a career in physical therapy in order to follow his passion in health and fitness. Dr. Rafael received his doctorate in physical therapy from Mount Saint Mary's University and completed a yearlong orthopedic residency program at Kaiser Permantente. He established SportsFit in the year 2010 with the intention of providing the highest quality of service to every patient. Dr. Rafael is a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist and has served as clinical instructor for several physical therapy universities. He has also served as an adjunct professor at the Santa Monica College movement science program. Dr. Rafael takes pride in his work and has volunteered at the Venice Free Clinic treating underprivileged patients.
Dr. Rafael's vision for SportsFit has always been to lead a healthy and happy environment optimized for the offering of excellence in the service provided, and the professions created for employees. Under Dr. Rafael's leadership, SportsFit has been able to provide more than 70,000 treatment sessions as a team. During this time SportsFit has been accredited and earned a rating of A+ with the Better Business Bureau, awarded the patient's choice award, and selected 3 years in a row for Best of Santa Monica Awards for Physical Therapy. SportsFit has been recognized by many as the premier physical therapy clinic in Santa Monica and is known by colleagues as the gold standard for a physical therapy clinic. SportsFit has been the referral of choice for several of UCLA, Cedars Sinai, Saint John Providence, and Santa Monica physicians. In fact, Dr. Rafael has been consulted by many of such physicians for their own physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Dr. Rafael's Mission For SportsFit:
To constitute a facility apt to provide optimal recovery for all patients by implementing an individualized, multi-disciplinary and holistic treatment approach for each patient based on patient's unique background, goals, and injury.
Jared Vagy DPT, OCS, CSCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist
Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
Dr. Jared Vagy received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from the University of Southern California (USC). As a Doctor of Physical Therapy in clinical practice, he completed a one-year residency program and became a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist. He then completed an additional one-year fellowship program in Movement Science at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, totaling 9 years of academic and clinical study. Dr. Jared Vagy is a professor at USC in the DPT Program, has published numerous articles on injury prevention and delivers lectures and seminars internationally on the topic. He is a mentor for both the USC Physical Therapy residency program and the USC DPT program. He is on Academy Faculty for the TheraBand Academy and is on the Editorial Board for ADVANCE Physical Therapy magazine. He is the youngest physical therapist in the country to achieve the level of fellowship training in movement science, publication status and University teaching credentials.
Treatment Philosophy:
Dr. Jared Vagy served as team physical therapist in China for the Chinese National Track and Field Team in 2015 as well a physical therapist for Team USA at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials in 2016. He has rehabilitated several world champions, gold medalists, NCAA champions and Olympic athletes. His assessments and treatments are rooted deeply in an understanding of the movement system. He is a firm believer in an active approach to rehabilitation and works with clients of all ability levels to achieve their maximal function.
Rebecca Pitts, DPT, OCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist
Dr. Pitts knew from an early age that she wanted to be in medicine, shadowing family friends at hospitals and clinics, and learning how to perform basic field triage when she trained for a search and rescue group. She watched as some of her friends and family went through rehabilitation after injuries, including personal experience recovering from sports injuries. During schooling—including her Ortho based residency—she spent time researching how manual therapy affects the autonomic nervous system, non-operative treatment of small meniscal tears, and shoulder stabilization in the overhead athlete. Dr. Pitts has helped all spectrums of individuals, from those having difficulty with everyday living tasks to Olympic level athletes, and believes no issue is too small to address. She has taken further education courses for Therapeutic Taping, and is a preferred provider for utilizing the Graston Technique. She is an avid sports follower for the University of Arizona, and in her spare time she likes keeping active with outdoor activities such as running and hiking, and spending time with her family.
Treatment Philosophy:
I believe in utilizing manual therapy in conjunction with targeted exercises to decrease pain and maximize function. The main focus of treatment will be to find the source of the problem, as opposed to only looking at symptoms. This will make sure the strength and movement patterns encourage healthy maintenance after our sessions are complete.
Kyle Brown, DPT, OCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist
West LA Clinic Director
Dr. Brown grew up in the Napa Valley. He attended graduate school at Loma Linda University, earning his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2010. In 2012, he completed a year-long orthopedic residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center, which emphasized the management of complex and chronic orthopedic problems. Immediately after residency, he completed the year-long Kaiser Permanente Sports Rehabilitation Fellowship, one of the few sports fellowships in the nation. During this fellowship, Dr. Brown received extensive mentoring and training in rehabilitating both common and complex sports injuries in order to efficiently and safely return athletes back to their desired sport. He is passionate about sports. He played high school and college basketball and is currently a semi-professional skateboarder. In his free time, Dr. Brown enjoys playing basketball, golf, skateboarding, and traveling with friends and family.
Treatment Philosophy:
I take a multi-faceted approach to patient care which combines manual therapy, movement re-education, and re-training the brain in order for each individual to reach their desired goals.
Samuel Franklin, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist
Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
Dr. Franklin was raised in Sarasota, FL, before attending the University of Miami for his undergraduate and graduate education. He received his B.S. in Exercise Physiology/Kinesiology, followed by his Doctorate of Physical Therapy. He then pursued his specialization through the Orthopedic Residency program at University of Southern California. He is currently an Adjunct Instructor of Clinical Physical Therapy in the USC Doctor of Physical Therapy program. He has also lead professional seminars on the topic of Movement Analysis and Treatment of CrossFit athletes, and has served as part of the Sports Medicine team for the World Weightlifting Championships. Dr. Franklin has a personal background in ballet, while now enjoying weightlifting, running, yoga, and movement practice.
Treatment Philosophy:
I believe in developing individualized treatment plans to reduce pain and correct underlying movement dysfunctions allowing patients to maximize their functional potential and reach their goals.
Adam Paicely, DPT, OCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy, Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist
Dr. Paicely grew up in Thousand Oaks, California. He pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which he completed in 2013. While at Cal Poly, he discovered his love of physical therapy and decided to pursue it as a career. From there, he went on to Western Kentucky University where he received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2017. In 2018, he completed a year-long orthopedic residency program at Loma Linda Medical Center, which provided him with a strong foundation in managing chronic orthopedic conditions. He enjoys athletics, particularly basketball and ultimate Frisbee. He continues to compete in ultimate Frisbee and has competed as a semi-professional athlete in the sport. In his free time, Dr. Paicely enjoys spending quality time with his friends and family as well as being outdoors, whether it is at the beach or hiking.
Treatment Philosophy:
My approach to patient care emphasizes the identification of movement faults and utilizing pathomechanics to establish a treatment plan that combines movement retraining, therapeutic exercise, and manual therapy to empower the patient throughout the rehabilitation process.
Erik Nelson, PT, MPT
Master of Physical Therapy
A California native, Erik Nelson received his Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Mount Saint Mary's College in 1999. Erik’s clinical experience has been focused in the realm of orthopedic and sports physical therapy, which includes a strong emphasis on manual therapy and biomechanical analysis. Erik consistently designs innovative and highly individualized programs for his patients, creating an interesting, productive, informative, and enjoyable rehabilitation and fitness regimen which carries into each individuals post recovery lifestyle.
Erik’s talent and commitment have created an enthusiastic demand for his teaching services as well. In this capacity he has served as Clinical Instructor to students from Physical Therapy graduate programs across the country. Having mentored many beginning practitioners as an instructor, Erik is widely respected among practicing clinicians and has developed strong relationships with academic and research professionals.
Erik’s passion for health and fitness is also well represented in his personal life. A prior certified ski instructor at Squaw Valley Ski Resort, Erik has not limited himself to the snow, participating in competitive soccer and water skiing. Erik’s favorite hobbies also include mountain biking, surfing, and scuba diving in addition to spending time with his wife and daughter.
Erik’s personal history of competitive and recreational sports and a variety of occupational positions prior to physical therapy has, on more than one occasion, been interrupted by his own injury and rehabilitation. Far from regretting this history of injury, Erik draws upon it daily, relating to and understanding the experiences of his patients from a very personal point of view.
Treatment Philosophy:
My approach to patient care emphasizes the identification of movement faults and utilizing pathomechanics to establish a treatment plan that combines movement retraining, therapeutic exercise, and manual therapy to empower the patient throughout the rehabilitation process.
Kimberly Kenyon, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Kimberly Kenyon, DPT received her doctorate in physical therapy from Saint Louis University. She originally became interested in physical therapy after multiple injuries as a ballerina. Her experience is in outpatient orthopedics and she continues to work with an emphasis on manual therapy and sports injuries. She enjoys treating patients of all levels including sports injuries, sprains, and strains, post-operative and degenerative conditions. She has a special interest in a hands-on approach and education to continue exercise at home to improve function and prevent further injury. Kimberly loves to help patients transition from rehabilitation to wellness and helping patients return to the activities they love and their previous level of function in activities of daily living, sports, and recreation.
Treatment Philosophy:
Kimberly was raised in Chicago and went to school in St. Louis but always dreamt of living in California. In the summer of 2017, Kimberly relocated to Los Angeles. She loves embracing the active lifestyle of the community. and in her free time, Kimberly enjoys spending time outdoors including hiking, relaxing at the beach, and exploring the city.
Brandon Pham, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Dr. Brandon Pham received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from San Diego State University in 2018. Dr. Pham is an Orange County native who developed a love for physical fitness through his childhood sports of swimming, weightlifting, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was first introduced to physical therapy through the unfortunate means of a car accident. However, this was a blessing in disguise. As a patient, he was able to fully appreciate the work of a physical therapist which ignited his passion to help others. Ever since then, he is devoted to provide every patient with the same fun and positive rehabilitation experience that motivated him to become a physical therapist. On his free time, Dr. Pham enjoys weightlifting, mixed martial arts, photography, and spending quality time with his family and friends.
Treatment Philosophy:
I highly value developing a strong personal relationship with all my patients. I enjoy putting in the extra effort to learn about my patient’s passions and lifestyle because it allows me to create an extensive individualized plan of care. A thorough plan of care will ensure that my patient is progressing at an optimal rate in order to effectively help them reach their goals.
Jessica Connor, DPT, OCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist
Dr. Jessica Connor grew up in San Diego, CA. She was a competitive dancer for 16 years, which led to her interest in movement of the human body. She obtained her Bachelor's of Science degree in Movement Science at Texas Christian University, then went on to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from San Diego State University. Dr. Connor has experience treating a wide variety of orthopedic injuries and especially enjoys utilizing her background in personal training to develop wellness strategies to continue the healing process and prevent future injuries. She is dedicated to lifelong learning and recently became certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist to further her knowledge in this field. Dr. Connor is passionate about health and wellness and spends her free time hiking, running, weightlifting, surfing, and snowboarding.
Matthew Slocum, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Marina del Rey
Dr. Slocum was born and raised in San Jose, CA before moving to Southern California for undergraduate and graduate school. He graduated with a B.S. in Physiology & Neuroscience from the University of California, San Diego. He received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine in San Marcos, CA. Dr. Slocum enjoys working with patients of all ages and skill levels, and always aims to have his patients completing physical therapy treatment with a new appreciation for everything their body can do. Dr. Slocum utilizes a combination of manual therapy and movement science approach with a goal of making patients (and their body) feel heard, in order to deliver outcomes that can be as long-lasting and effective as possible. In his spare time, he enjoys running on the beach, working out and watching any and all movies.
Treatment Philosophy:
I utilize a combination approach of manual therapy and movement science interventions with a goal of making patients (and their bodies) feel heard. The best outcome is one that turns pain or injury into an opportunity to become better in some way, whether that is strength, mobility or just a new appreciation for exercise. This allows us to make changes that can be as effective and long-lasting as possible.
Silvio Zucchelli, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Santa Monica
Dr. Zucchelli received his doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Texas Medical School. Silvio was born and raised in Tuscany, Italy where he played semi-professional soccer. His interest in physical fitness developed during his soccer career when he was first introduced to physical therapy after an injury on the field. Through his prior clinical experiences and his years in PT school, Dr. Zucchelli developed a strong interest in treating sports-related injuries and helping his patients improve their physical performance via a combination of manual therapy and neuromuscular re-education. In his free time, Dr. Zucchelli enjoys playing soccer in Santa Monica in addition to weightlifting, hiking, and running.
Treatment Philosophy:
I strongly believe in developing a strong relationship with all my patients so that we can better work together. I value the importance of understanding the source of the problem rather than only addressing the symptoms so that we do not only restore function, but we also prevent re-injury.
Dr. Vivian Chan, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Santa Monica
Dr. Chan grew up in Arcadia, CA and attended graduate school at the University of Delaware, where she received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Master of Clinical Anatomy in 2019. She has always loved sports and participated in basketball, cross country, and track & field since middle school. At the age of 16 Dr. Chan began developing her interest in the scientific aspects of human movement after two recurrent sports related knee surgeries and extensive rehabilitation: ultimately, solidifying her goal of being on the other side of the treatment table.
Throughout her schooling, she had developed a strong interest in treating all sports and orthopedic injuries and continues to work with an emphasis on functional manual therapy. Dr. Chan is experienced in treating patients of all ages in a variety of clinical areas including post-operative, orthopedics, recreational and collegiate athletes, geriatrics, neurologic and balance/vestibular disorders. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys visiting national parks, climbing, snowboarding and attending live music events.
Treatment Philosophy:
Through my personal experiences with physical therapy, I am devoted to providing every patient with a thorough understanding of their injury and individualized treatment in order for patients to achieve their goals and return to doing what they love the most.
