NYC Physical Therapy Directors & Executive Team

Dan Rootenberg, PT, DPT, CSCS

CEO & Co-founder

Dan Rootenberg is the CEO of Spear, the only two-time National Practice of the Year award winner. Dan co-founded Spear in 1999, working out of a small treatment room in midtown Manhattan armed with a singular vision for combi...

Ryan Kitzen, PT, DPT

Executive Vice President of Operations

DPT, PT

Ryan Kitzen is Spear’s Executive Vice President of Operations. He is a licensed and registered Physical Therapist with a Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy. He is a member of the Orthopedic section of the APTA. Ryan...

David Harris

Chief Operating Officer

David joined Spear in 2023 and brings 25 years of experience in the physical therapy, health, and wellness industry. David is a PTA who worked as part of the operational leadership team at Upstream Rehabilitation and Ivy Reha...

Greg Park

Chief Growth Officer

Greg joined Spear in 2023 after having served on Spear’s Advisory Board the prior two years and having been a friend of the Company for nearly 10 years. Prior to joining Spear, Greg enjoyed a 30+ year career in investment b...

Lisa Yirce, PT, DPT

Regional Vice President of Operations

DPT, PT

Lisa Yirce is the Regional Director of Spear’s Empire Region. She graduated summa cum laude with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Stony Brook University. Lisa has extensiv...

Joe Costello, PT, DPT, SCS

Regional Vice President of Operations

DPT, PT, SCS

Joe Costello is Spear’s Regional Vice President of Operations. He received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. Joe received his undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor i...

Austin Afshar, PT, DPT, CSCS

Regional Director

CSCS, DPT, PT

Austin Afshar is the Regional Director of Spear’s Brooklyn region. Austin earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York University after obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science from the Indiana Univers...

David Block, PT, DPT

Regional Director

DPT, PT

David Block is the Regional Director of our Liberty Region. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy with distinction from the New York Institute of Technology. While at NYIT, David received the Benjamin Morey Commitment t...

Midtown NYC Physical Therapist Ashley Rozek

Ashley Rozek, PT, DPT, CSCS

Regional Director

DPT, PT

Ashley Rozek is the Regional Director of our Midtown, Queens, Long Island and New Jersey clinics. Through her many years at SPEAR, Ashley says the greatest thing about the company is the culture and camaraderie found at every...

Michael Virgile, PT, DPT, CSCS

Regional Director

DPT, PT

Mike is the Regional Director of the Empire Region (lower Manhattan) and has over a decade of experience at Spear while holding positions of Physical Therapist, Clinical Director of 3 of our lower Manhattan clinics, Area Dire...

Nicole Surach, PT, DPT, PCES

Area Director

DPT, PT

Nicole is the Clinical Director of Spear’s Brooklyn – Williamsburg clinic. She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Miami and her undergraduate degree from the University of Maryla...

Ryan Coye, PT, DPT

Area Director

DPT, PT

Ryan Coye an Area Director here at Spear . Ryan earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Stony Brook University. During his time there, Ryan served as Co-President of his class and was inducted into the Alpha Eta Nationa...

Joshua Rieders, PT, DPT, CSCS

Area Director

CSCS, DPT, PT

Josh Rieders is the Area Director of Spear Lower Manhattan. Josh received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from New York University and his Bachelor of Science degree in Health & Exercise Science from Syracuse Univer...

Derek Lee, PT, DPT

Area Director

DPT, PT

Derek Lee is the Clinical Director of our Cobble Hill location. Derek received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Health and Exercise Science from the University of Oklahoma and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Texas Wom...

Benjamin Kraus, PT, DPT

Area Director

DPT, PT

Benjamin Kraus is the Clinical Director of Spear’s Flatiron location. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy and Bachelors in Clinical Health Studies with a minor in Nutrition Promotion from Ithaca College. Benjami...

Patrick Watson, PT, DPT

Area Director

DPT, PT

Patrick received his Bachelor’s degree in Community Health from Hofstra University and his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York Medical College. Patrick focuses on the treatment of orthopedic and sports injuries. Whi...

Alyssa Reyes, PT, DPT

Area Director

DPT, PT

Alyssa Reyes is the Clinical Director of our Upper West Side-W 92nd St location. Alyssa earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy, Masters in Anatomy and Clinical Health Science, and Bachelors in Exercise Science from the Univ...

John Mackarey, PT, DPT

Area Director

DPT, PT

John Mackarey is Clinical Director of, and Physical Therapist at, Spear’s Long Island City – CityView clinic. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Temple University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Health...

Kyle Stupi, PT, DPT, CSCS

Area Director

CSCS, DPT, PT

Kyle Stupi an Area Director at Spear. He received his BA in Neuroscience from Columbia University, MS in Exercise Physiology from Long Island University, and his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York Medical College. Du...

Ninia Agustin, PT, DPT

Area Director and Director of Performing Arts

DPT, PT

Ninia Agustin is the Director of Spear’s Center for the Performing Arts. Ninia earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Delaware. During her time there, she was the fundraising chair for her class...

Lauren Carleton, PT, DPT, CHT

Area Director and Director of Specialty Programs

CHT, DPT, PT

Lauren is the Clinical Director of Spear’s Tribeca – Chambers Street location and a Certified Hand Therapist. Lauren moved to NYC in 2010, where she attended and graduated from Columbia University with a Doctorate in Phys...

Executive Team

Explore

About Spear

Locations