“The staff at Northwest Return to Work includes experienced physicians, therapists (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology), psychologists, and support staff who are committed to the highest level of care of their clients. For more information about our staff members, please select a name below.”
Our Staff
Meet our staff of physicians, psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and vocational counselors dedicated your rehabilitation, education, and quality of life.
Executive Leadership
Josh Cobbley, MS, OTR/L, CEAS, CWCE, is the founder of Northwest Return to Work. He is a certified work capacity evaluator (CWCE) and has been practicing in the area of industrial rehabilitation for over 20 years. Josh’s specialty is providing Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE’s). He takes pride in approaching his assessments as a “thinking evaluator” and does not rely on a wrote or pre-packaged FCE system. Josh has administered and reviewed thousands of FCE’s. He performs/assists and reviews evaluations on a daily basis and regularly attends advanced training classes. Josh completed his undergraduate and graduate work in Chicago, earning a bachelor of arts in biology from North Park College and a master of science in occupational therapy from Rush University. He is also a certified ergonomics assessment specialist.
Jay R Skidmore, JRS, PhD, is our Chief of Multidisciplinary Health and Rehabilitation Programs at NWRTW. Many here know that he helped develop our clinic into the leading multidisciplinary rehab center in Washington State. Dr Skidmore guided us through our initial and most recent CARF accreditations. He served as our first Clinical Director years ago, and recently returned as Senior Consultant to help guide our clinical programs to greater healthcare excellence. Previously he has directed top-notch musculoskeletal and neurologic rehab centers in Portland, Oregon, the Rockies & mid-west, and Great Britain. In prior medical center and university faculty positions, Professor Skidmore has authored dozens of research papers which have been published in scientific journals and presented at national & international professional conferences. His research and clinical work strongly integrates psychology and medicine to help patients recovery from serious injuries, overcome chronic pain & distress, regain fitness, and rebuild meaningful and active living.
Marisa Burgos is the clinic’s Director of Operations. She was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina where she was a Special Education Professor until she moved to the United States in early 1990. While raising two daughters, she worked as a social worker for 7 years in California before moving to the Pacific Northwest, where she specialized in the Medical and Legal Interpreting field before joining NWRTW. During her free time she enjoys traveling, learning new skills like riding a motorcycle and sign language, spending time with family and friends, and reading.
Physicians
Dr. William C. Marson, D.C. is the Doctor of Chiropractic at Northwest Return to Work and Graduated from Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, OR. in 1995. Currently he diagnoses and treats musculoskeletal injuries, as well as, management of work related injury claims within Department of Labor & Industries or self-insured employers. Dr. Marson enjoys spending time with his pets, family and working around the house in Redmond WA.
Therapists
Anne Good, PTA, is a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant, who was born and raised in Seattle, Wash. She graduated with a bachelors degree in Communications from Washington State University and led a successful career in sales & import management. Anne developed a passion for physical therapy after experiencing successful rehabs for injuries from recreational activities. She returned to school and completed her Physical Therapist Assistant AAS degree at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. Anne has a strong desire to motivate and help others achieve their rehabilitation goals. Away from work, Anne enjoys training her dog in dog sports, mountain biking, camping, and the outdoors.
Betsy Wightman, MS, OTR/L, CWCE, graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BS/MS degree in occupational therapy. She has worked primarily in industrial rehabilitation and outpatient physical disability settings. She is certified in the Matheson System of Physical Capacity of Evaluation and Epic Lift Capacity Test. She is also a certified ergonomic assessment specialist and has experience evaluating a variety of different work environments.
Brett Wolfe, MS, OTR/L, has been part of the Northwest Return to Work team since 2008, helping to maintain a high level of care that is focused on helping patients return to their best and safe level of function. In addition, Brett has experience in manual labor fields, which allows him to help patients apply techniques with a focus on real-world productivity. Outside of work, he is internationally recognized adventurer and endurance mountain bike racer and prior elite level skier. He has coached and counseled athletes at all levels for more than 20 years. Brett has his bachelor in science in industrial design, and a master’s degree in occupational therapy from University of Washington.
Dr. Carolyn van der Meulen, OTD, OTR/L, Cert. VRS, CFVRS is the Lead Occupational Therapist for the brain injury (BIRT) team at Northwest Return to Work. She earned her doctoral degree in occupational therapy from Pacific University after obtaining dual bachelors degrees in Sports and Exercise Science and in Psychology from Seattle University. She has additional credentials in providing specialized rehabilitation for vestibular and vision concerns. She completed her clinical rotations in industrial rehabilitation and mental health and focused her doctoral research on medical retirement from elite athletics. Dr. van der Meulen finds joy in supporting individuals in overcoming complex injuries by optimizing engagement and supporting the development of sustainable health practices. She uses best-practice evidence to create and deliver interventions that help individuals regain their abilities to participate their valued life roles to live meaningful and satisfying lives. In her free time, Dr. van der Meulen enjoys cooking and baking, writing code, and getting outdoors with her family and dog
Carrie Ford, PT, is a western Washington native, growing up in Woodinville (before it became the wine region it is!). She became interested in the physical therapy profession when she was young after participating in physical therapy herself after a few injuries from gymnastics – she loved the mixture of exercise and education that she could provide to people related to their injuries. She completed her Undergraduate work at Western Washington University, and went to PT school at Samuel Merritt University down in Oakland (she was ready to experience a new place to live). Ultimately, she is happy to be back in the PNW! Carrie has previous experience working with the Workers Compensation population and is excited to focus her career in this direction again. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her husband and pets (currently a dog, 2 cats, and 7 chickens), spending time outside in the summer, working out, and working on fixing up her house.
Emily Behm, PTA, grew up on the east coast riding and jumping horses. She completed her Physical Therapy Assistant training at Green River Community College where she graduated with honors in 2013. Prior to becoming a PTA she was a successful Massage Therapist working with a variety of patients. Outside of work she enjoys mountain biking, hiking with her dog, photography and camping.
Fabian Santana is a physical therapist at Northwest Return to Work. He was born in Seattle and raised here in the Lynnwood Washington area. He is a University of Washington graduate in psychology and a Baylor University graduate in physical therapy. His inspiration for a career in physical therapy began with his passion for health in fitness. As a young teenager he was overweight and displeased with how he saw the future of his health. Fabian decided he wanted to make a change for himself to improve his health habits. Fast forward several years he had injured himself exercising and the rehabilitation process sparked his interest in rehab and understanding the human body better. Fabian has a passion for helping patients become the strongest most resilient versions of themselves by utilizing his own interest in strength training and understanding of body mechanics to help our clients get back to what their passionate about
Franco Garibaldi is a Physical Therapy Assistance, and License Massage Therapist at Northwest Return to Work.
Franco is originally from Lima-Peru where he was able to study Physical therapy assistance before moving to Spain. In Spain, he was able to learn Massage therapy and work as a massage therapist in a Spa for 3 years before moving to the US. After a couple of years learning the language, he received an Associate degree in Fitness Specialist and Associate degree in Physical Therapy Assistance in Lake Washington Institute of Technology.
It is one of his dreams to share his love for exercise with his clients and show them the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and what it can bring to their life and that exercise can be fun and done in different ways.
In his free time Franco likes to spend time with his wife, play and watch soccer (favorite team is Real Madrid). He also enjoys video games, singing and dancing.
Gabriela Sanchez Samanois a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant at Notherwest Return to Work. She grew up in Colima, Mexico where she began dancing. She moved to Washington State in 2007 to continue her training in classical ballet, modern and contemporary dance at Arc Academy of Dance. She acquired a couple injuries while dancing and began to take an interest in physical rehabilitation as she moved through her recovery process. A special interest to her was the impact that injury has on the psychosocial and psychological aspects of an individual. She discovered occupational therapy and saw a match between her passion for movement and her desire to help others move through their own journey of healing. She completed her education at the Lake Washington Institute of Technology and received her associates degree as an occupational therapy assistant in June 2023. When she is not working or dancing, Gabriela enjoys spending time in nature, doing yoga, meditation, and attending live music events.
Ingrid Junker, OTR/L, CWCE graduated from the University of British Columbia in Occupational Therapy in 1993. She has had several years of experience working with people with chronic pain and also industrial rehabilitation. She is certified in the Matheson System of Functional Capacity Evaluation and has trained at the Masters Level in this area of assessment. She is also trained in the Matheson System of Ergonomic Evaluation. She joined the Northwest Return to Work team in 2010.
Kayla Welling is a Licensed Occupational Therapist at Northwest Return to Work. She grew up in Bothell, Washington. She received a bachelor’s degree in applied human biology from Seattle Pacific University and a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Puget Sound. Kayla is passionate about helping others increase awareness of their body. Her goal is to assist clients with improving pain management and self-care strategies with the goal of increasing client engagement and participation in occupation and leisure activities. In her free time, Kayla enjoys spending time with her baby girl, corgi, family, and friends whilst exploring new parks and discovering delicious restaurants.
Sarah is a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant at Northwest Return to Work who graduated with high honors from Lake Washington Technical College in June 2017. She also has over 20 years of experience as a Licensed Massage Therapist and likes to utilize her manual skills when appropriate. She is empathetic and has a passion for helping others. Sarah’s experience spans from acute care to outpatient therapy. She excels in designing activity-based therapy, enhancing daily function for individuals facing diverse challenges.
Shanna Emanuelson grew up in western Washington, but still loves to explore the state. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of Washington, she moved to Virginia to earn her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at Radford University Carilion. She started her career in a skilled nursing facility. Yet, she felt drawn towards working in industrial rehabilitation, to extend compassion to her clients at Northwest Return to Work. She is enthusiastic to help them reach their personal and professional goals while giving them the tools to lead a fulfilling life. When she is not working she enjoys hiking, spending time with her two cats, and paddle boarding.
Shannon has been the Physical Therapist for the BIRT Program at Northwest Return to Work since December of 2022. She attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Exercise Physiology with a minor in Psychology in 2019. She continued her education at Marquette and earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2021. Shannon completed one of her clinical experiences as a student at NWRTW and enjoyed her experience so much that she returned as a staff PT. She has an interest in treating injured workers, particularly those who have experienced concussions with complex dizziness and headaches. Shannon is originally from Maryland and enjoys being able to explore the Pacific Northwest on the weekends by visiting different cities and towns, and hiking. She also enjoys running, listening to audiobooks, and cooking in her free time.
Yousif is a physical therapist assistant who graduated from the River Valley Community College in Claremont, N.H., in June 2011. Yousif began his career working in a skilled nursing facility and then an inpatient rehabilitation setting at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, Ill. Yousif moved back to Seattle with his wife and cat to be closer to family and soon after began working at Northwest Return to Work. Yousif has a passion for helping others to recuperate from injuries in order to improve their quality of life and return to work. Yousif in his free time enjoys riding his bike, listening to music and spending time with family.
Mental Health Services
Dena Goodman, MS, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist at Northwest Return to Work. She was born in New Jersey and raised in Los Angeles. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Language Studies with a focus in Spanish and a minor in Education at University of California Santa Cruz. She studied abroad for a semester in Spain, gaining fluency in Spanish. She went on to teach elementary school for two years. With a strong passion for communication and language, she decided to continue her studies to become a speech-language pathologist. She received a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences at University of Washington and a Master of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences at University of Oregon. Neurological rehab has been her career focus since graduating in 2010. She worked primarily in rehab and nursing centers until joining the BIRT team at NWRTW in 2017. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, cooking, traveling, spending time with her family and friends, and raising her animals.
Jay R Skidmore, PhD, is our Chief of Multidisciplinary Health and Rehabilitation Programs at NWRTW. Many here know that he helped develop our clinic into the leading multidisciplinary rehab center in Washington State. Dr Skidmore guided us through our initial and most recent CARF accreditations. He served as our first Clinical Director years ago, and recently returned as Senior Consultant to help guide our clinical programs to greater healthcare excellence. Previously he has directed top-notch musculoskeletal and neurologic rehab centers in Portland, Oregon, the Rockies & mid-west, and Great Britain. In prior medical center and university faculty positions, Professor Skidmore has authored dozens of research papers which have been published in scientific journals and presented at national & international professional conferences. His research and clinical work strongly integrates psychology and medicine to help patients recovery from serious injuries, overcome chronic pain & distress, regain fitness, and rebuild meaningful and active living.
Mychelle Wick is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington State and a National Board-Certified Counselor. Mychelle received her Master of Arts in Counseling from City University of Seattle. Michelle’s post-graduation focuses have included both individual and group settings. She has worked in community mental health, corrections, and group private practice.
Additionally, Mychelle has spent time working at a therapeutic riding center using evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement as a therapy tool to engage sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems to promote functional outcomes.
Mychelle’s work integrates different therapeutic styles and techniques to develop an individualized approach for each client. She encourages interactive, collaborative, and dynamic client engagement, emphasizing, but not limited to, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral therapy approaches. Mychelle is fully committed to providing each client a safe and supportive environment in which to express themselves.
Business Services
Betty is an MAA at NWRTW. She graduated from University of Washington with Bachelor degree in Public Health-Global Health. Born and raised in Taiwan, Betty has been in WA for 7 years. During her free time, she enjoys cooking Taiwanese cuisine, trying different restaurants around Seattle with her spouse, spending time at dog park with our lab, exploring WA islands and traveling around the US.
Colby Schimpf has more than 25 years of experience in office administration, with seven years as an administrative assistant for a national medical corporation where she trained and managed the front office staff for 21 physical therapy clinics. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her six grandchildren, quilting and riding her horses.
Jocelyn is the specialty services coordinator at NWRTW and has over 2 Years of experience in medical front desk and management. In her spare time, Jocelyn like to spend time with family, taking her dog to parks, and enjoys hiking, boxing ,watching combat sports and attending sport events.
Julya is a Medical Administrative Assistant at Northwest Return to Work. She is a trilingual English, Spanish & Portuguese speaker. She is a Native Bostonian with Brazilian and Spaniard background. Julya is a Mental Health Admin that has 4 years of field assistance in both medical and pharmacy. She is OSHA certified, and is currently an esthetician student, with multiple certifications in the esthetician field. In her spare time she enjoys painting, hiking, cooking Brazilian foods, & traveling.
Kathleen is the Billing Manager at Northwest Return to Work. She earned an Associate of Arts from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID, and holds an Associate of Technical Arts in Paralegal Studies from Edmonds Community College. She has worked in various medical environments which include neurology, orthopedics, and physical therapy. She enjoys the challenge that medical billing brings with the complexity of the details involved.
In her free time, you can find Kathleen playing drums or piano, baking gluten-free desserts, and spending quality time with her husband.
Lince is an Occ Med Administrator at Northwest Return to Work. She has 4 years of experience as a Lead Patient Coordinator with 6 years of experience of customer service. She graduated from Cal State University, Los Angeles with a B.S Human Resource Management and A.S Business Administration Management. She has recently moved from Los Angeles, California to Seattle, Washington. During her free time, she likes to go explore with her fiancé and try new places to eat.