Commonweatlh Physical Therapists

 

Arlington Clinic

Chad Flickinger, MPT

Chad grew up in Massachusetts before attending the University of New England, located on the southern coast of Maine. While at the University of New England, Chad received a B.S. in Health Sciences followed by his Masters in Physical Therapy in 2003.

Chad has always been involved in athletics, starting with ice hockey at the early age of 4. In high school Chad competed on the cross country, winter and spring track teams in both the 1 and 2 mile races. Competing at the NCAA Division III level, Chad was a member of both the cross country and lacrosse teams at the University of New England. He has also assisted in coaching ice hockey as well as track and field at the high school level. After college, Chad first worked for a whitewater rafting company in northern Maine before starting his career as a physical therapist. Recently, he hiked 1,300 miles of the Appalachian Trail during the summer of 2006. Chad credits his past involvement in athletics and love of the outdoors as the basis for his interest in orthopedics, having required rehab for numerous sports injuries.

Chad first worked in orthopedics in Rhode Island before moving to Northern Virginia to join Commonwealth Orthopaedics in 2004. Currently, Chad is enjoying his third year practicing Physical Therapy at our Arlington office.

Chad still makes the occasional whitewater rafting trip with friends and continues to play ice hockey, as well as ski, hike, bike, kayak and jog, in his spare time.

 

Tommy S. Kim, DPT

Hailing from Hendersonville, North Carolina, Tommy went to UNC-Chapel Hill for undergraduate study. There he studied Journalism and Mass Communication, but felt his calling was for the health professions. After suffering a season ending shoulder injury in wrestling he decided that it would be vital to learn more about the body and how it functions.

After graduation, he fostered his interest in rehabilitation as a physical therapy tech at various clinics in western North Carolina before deciding on furthering his education at Elon University’s Master of Physical Therapy program. He had many beneficial clinical rotations including one at Duke University’s Sports Medicine which sparked his interest in outpatient orthopedics and sports medicine.

After graduation in 2004, he decided to stay at Elon University to pursue a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Tommy moved to Kentucky to practice in a hospital-owned outpatient orthopedic clinic after graduation, where he attained more knowledge of general outpatient orthopedics including aquatic therapy.

Along with some persuasion from some of his friends living in the area, Tommy decided that the calling to be near the nation’s capital could no longer be ignored. He joined the Commonwealth family in July 2006, working in the Arlington office as a physical therapist.

Tommy enjoys the area night life and vibrant atmosphere, partaking in all types of sports, enjoying the outdoors, traveling, and taking advantage of the rich cultural opportunities in the area.

 

Vanessa Reed, DPT

Vanessa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 2002 from Virginia Tech and is a member of the first graduating class to receive a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA in 2004. She has been active since an early age in sports and dance and was a leader in establishing the first girls AAA sanctioned soccer team at her high school in Hurricane, WV. Together with other intercollegiate sports, she maintained a vigorous soccer schedule at VT and became a trainer for the VT ladies volleyball and tennis teams. As a trainer, she had the opportunity to witness first hand a full range of sports injuries and related recovery processes.  This experience was the spark for her interest in and passion for physical therapy as a career.    

Dr. Reed is a member of the APTA and counts among her core values- honesty, integrity, ethics and compassion. She is enthusiastic about advising men and women of all ages concerning their musculoskeletal health and has a deep commitment to supporting her patients in their healing.  Vanessa resides in Arlington, VA and in her leisure time enjoys running, recreational soccer, music and VT football. 

 

Cherie Yadao, MSPT

Cherie Yadao was born in the nation’s capital and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. Throughout her childhood and high school years she had many athletic interests, including: tennis, swimming, soccer, field hockey and springboard diving. Those interests helped her continue her athletic endeavors at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of the diving team where she lettered all four years. During her training, she worked closely with the team’s head physical therapist. The therapist not only expedited her recovery from injuries to springboard back into competition, but also sparked her interest in health care professions.

Upon graduation, Cherie moved to Richmond, VA to take post-baccalaureate classes at Virginia Commonwealth University. Also volunteering at the Medical College of Virginia in the Total Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Unit, she observed the rehabilitation and recovery of patients with life threatening injuries and debilitating diseases. This experience confirmed her desire to pursue a career in physical therapy.

Before earning her Master’s of Science Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Miami in Florida, Cherie worked as an aide and a front office coordinator for Commonwealth Orthopedics. Following graduation in 2001 she returned to Northern Virginia and Commonwealth Orthopedics to begin her career as a physical therapist. Cherie is currently working in the Arlington office as the clinic manager and physical therapist.

Cherie enjoys traveling, snowboarding, kick-boxing, mountain biking and just relaxing with her dog Jasmine.