Leigh-Ann Edison, PT, DPT, CSCS, CKTP, LSVT BIG® Certified
HSS Rehabilitation Advanced Orthopedic Triage Certified Clinician™
Practice Owner
Dr. Leigh-Ann Edison completed her graduate studies at Stony Brook University in 2009, receiving a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy. She was a 2005 summa cum laude graduate of Adelphi University, graduating with a 4.0 GPA and a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science. Dr. Edison also holds an Associate of Arts degree from Nassau Community College. She has been inducted into multiple honor societies and has received numerous awards as a result of her academic performance throughout her educational career.
Since obtaining licensure, the focus of Dr. Edison’s practice has been dedicated to the outpatient setting. She has extensive experience with the evaluation and treatment of orthopedic and neurologic diagnoses for patients of all ages ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics. Dr. Edison routinely attends continuing education courses to expand her knowledge base and allow her to provide the highest level of care to her patients utilizing evidence based practice. Dr. Edison serves as a clinical instructor for physical therapy students from various graduate programs and is a member of the Nassau Community College Advisory Board for the Allied Health Science Department. She also participates as an interview committee member for local physical therapy programs.
Dr. Edison has always had a strong interest in orthopedics, specifically sports medicine and athletic injuries. In 2009, Dr. Edison became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®), which is the only strength and conditioning certification to be nationally accredited. Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists® are professionals who apply scientific knowledge to train athletes for the primary goal of improving athletic performance. They conduct sport-specific testing sessions, design and implement safe and effective strength training and conditioning programs and provide guidance regarding nutrition and injury prevention.
In 2013, Dr. Edison fulfilled the requirements to become a Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner® (CKTP®), demonstrating her commitment to the highest standards of patient care within the only globally recognized modality for health professionals. This credential ensures confidence that the practitioner has undergone the necessary training to integrate Kinesio Taping® into their practice. The Kinesio Taping® Method is a definitive rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while providing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion as well as providing extended soft tissue manipulation to prolong the benefits of manual therapy administered within the clinical setting.
Dr. Edison has been certified by LSVT Global, Inc. to provide treatment for individuals with movement disorders related to Parkinson disease and other neurological disorders using the LSVT BIG® modalities. LSVT BIG® is a standardized treatment approach that is customized to the individual goals of each individual in order to restore normal movement patterns in everyday activities.
In March 2024, Dr. Edison received her HSS Rehabilitation Advanced Orthopedic Triage™ Certification. As per the Hospital for Special Surgery’s description of the certification, physical therapists have become front line healthcare providers through the evolution of physical therapy practice and the laws of direct access. As a result, PTs require advanced triage skills to recognize systemic and sinister pathologies, as well as psychosocial concerns via detailed subjective questioning, observation and physical examination techniques. The course and certification developed by HSS provides clinicians with the tools and information to implement and optimize medical screening and differential diagnosis skills required for establishing referrals to appropriate medical providers and plans of care.
Born and raised in Valley Stream, Dr. Edison opened Paramount Physical Therapy in 2013 to provide exceptional care to her neighbors. Dr. Edison is a third generation Valley Stream business owner and continues to be an active member of the Valley Stream community. She is a member of the Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce and was the recipient of the Chamber’s Business Achievement Award in 2018. Dr. Edison participates in a number of community events annually and volunteers her time to provide physical therapy related programs to various community organizations.
Dr. Edison is a Certified Zumba Instructor and enjoys teaching classes at the Valley Stream Community Center. Since 2016, she has organized a Zumba fundraiser which raises thousands of dollars annually to benefit the Long Island Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
When not at the office, Dr. Edison enjoys traveling, boating, fishing, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with her cats.
Pamela Switzer, PT, DPT – Physical Therapist
Pamela began her education by obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Molloy College. Pamela became interested in physical therapy after having an injury and needing therapy herself. That experience opened Pamela’s eyes to the special connection between a physical therapist and their patients helping them through their rehab/recovery journey. She went on to earn her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at SUNY Stony Brook in 2016, where she gained experience through different clinical internship settings. These settings included acute care (hospital), skilled nursing facility, school-based system, and a 16 week clinical internship at Paramount Physical Therapy. After all these experiences, Pamela has found her niche in outpatient Orthopedics. In her career, Pamela has worked with orthopedic, post-surgical, neurologic, geriatric and pediatric patients. Pamela also has experience in home care working with adults recovering from joint replacement surgeries or suffering from debilitating medical conditions like cardio-pulmonary problems. Pamela is also fluent in Spanish, which has been very helpful in her medical field career. On her spare time, Pamela enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially with the little girl she and her husband welcomed last year. Pamela enjoys taking family trips, doing barre/pilates, hot yoga, beach days and taking her husky dog for long walks and car rides.
Vera Walther, PT, DPT, Physical Therapist
Vera began her education by obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and Minor in Gerontology at SUNY Oneonta in 2018. She completed her graduate studies at Stony Brook University in 2021, receiving a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy. Vera began with us at Paramount Physical Therapy as a volunteer in 2016 and has made it full circle as a clinician. She has had clinical experience in the hospital setting, outpatient orthopedics, pediatric home care, and in school based therapy for the NYC DOE.
She began her journey to become a Physical Therapist after her own injuries from sports. “While I was a patient I saw how large of an impact my PT was to me. They were there each week to help me work towards my personal goals of getting back on to the soccer fields. My goals are to impact my patients in a positive way and help facilitate their path to move forward and improve their day to day lives.”
She is certified in LSVT big which effectively trains improved movements for any activity, whether “small motor” tasks like buttoning a shirt or “large motor” tasks like getting up from a sofa or maintaining balance while walking. The treatment improves walking, self care and other tasks by helping people “recalibrate” how they perceive their movements with what others actually see. It also teaches them how and when to apply extra effort to produce bigger motions- more like the movements of everyone around them.
Some fun facts about Vera include that she is fluent in the Russian language, she has visited 27 countries, and she has ran 4 marathons with Team Reeve fundraising over $15k towards spinal cord injury research.
Giovanni Calderon, PTA – Physical Therapist Assistant
Giovanni Calderon graduated from Nassau Community College as a Physical Therapist Assistant with an Associate’s Degree in Applied Sciences. He has acquired clinical experience across various settings, including Skilled Nursing Facilities, school-based pediatrics, and outpatient rehabilitation. He has worked with populations such as geriatrics, post-surgical patients, individuals with vestibular disorders, and children with developmental disabilities.
Giovanni began as a student at Paramount as one of his first internships, and upon graduation, was hired to be an official member of the team. He has always believed that achieving physical well-being is an essential step toward improving quality of life. His focus is to deliver effective care, establish rapport, and support patients as they improve through therapy. Giovanni enjoys spending time outside with his dogs and exploring his interests such as sneakers and cars. He is also attending Farmingdale State College full-time as he works to complete his undergraduate studies.
Sabrina Decopain, PT, DPT, Physical Therapist
Sabrina began her journey at Paramount Physical Therapy in 2013 as a high school junior and has been part of the team ever since. Inspired by her own experiences recovering from sports-related injuries, she developed a strong interest in physical therapy early on, which led her to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and Nutrition from Queens College. Following graduation, she gained valuable clinical experience at a local children’s hospital specializing in locomotor therapies, where her passion for pediatrics truly took shape as she helped young patients improve their mobility and independence.
During her time in the DPT program at Long Island University, Sabrina continued working as a PT Aide while building hands-on experience. She also participated in a service trip to Ghana, where she fit children for orthotics and conducted health screenings for families in underserved communities—an experience that deepened her commitment to compassionate, accessible care. In 2025, she earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy and officially transitioned into her role as a licensed physical therapist.
When she’s not in the clinic, Sabrina enjoys taking long walks at the park or traveling with friends and family.
Ancillary Staff
Paramount Physical Therapy’s support staff is comprised of a group of hardworking, talented individuals who all began their careers at Paramount as volunteers. Based on excellent interpersonal skills and strong work ethics demonstrated during their internships, they were offered permanent positions. All of the aides are in the process of pursuing careers in physical therapy and are at various stages of their educational careers. The aides are responsible for maintaining the facility to its immaculate condition, preparing treatment areas, and assisting with clerical duties such as scheduling appointments and collecting copays. Their primary objective is to assist Dr. Edison in ensuring that each patient has an exceptional experience during every treatment session.
Eliza Carpio
Eliza is currently attending Long Island University Brooklyn and plans to pursue a master’s degree to become a marriage and family therapist. Her interest in physical therapy stems from wanting to better understand the connection between the mind and body, particularly as it relates to therapeutic approaches such as somatic therapy. She is also interested in learning more about the body to better understand ways to support her sister, who has experienced a traumatic brain injury affecting her left side. In her free time, Eliza enjoys yoga, which she initially began as a way to better understand movement and exercise and has since grown into a hobby as she continues to explore new techniques and poses.
Ciara Gabaldon
Ciara is currently attending CUNY Queen College for a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. Ciara completed a 50-hour internship at Paramount Physical Therapy prior to her employment here. Ciara enjoys staying active by going to the gym or playing sports. She played basketball for all four years of high school and was also in school choir.
Adrita Halder
Adrita currently attends Suny Stony Brook and plans on becoming a Physician Assistant in the future after obtaining a major in Nutritional Science or Public Health in order to learn how to best care for the body physically. When she’s not in the clinic or doing school work, she enjoys pursuing her passion for the arts by dancing in school concerts and learning how to make new creative art projects.
Tyler Healy
Tyler started working at PPT in August of 2016. When Tyler is not at Paramount, he is either working at a school as a Teacher Assistant or coaching. He is a running guide/coach for special needs athletes and also works with special needs students at Bowling Green Elementary School. He also works as a fencing coach for Herricks High School. When he is not working, Tyler is usually doing some degree of training for his races.
Loveleen Khasria
Loveleen attends Adelphi University, with a major in Health Sciences. She is planning on getting a Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies after graduating with her undergraduate degree. She is currently part of a research group that focuses on electrochemistry and its application in the medical field. In her free time, Loveleen enjoys listening to music, reading and painting.
Keilana Medina
Keila is currently attending St. John’s University majoring in Biology. Being around sports and athletes in high school inspired her to become a Physician Assistant concentrating in rehab and physical medicine. In her free time she enjoys listening to music, hanging out with friends, and going to the gym.
Sasha Persad
Sasha serves as a Physical Therapy Aide at Paramount Physical Therapy, where she enjoys supporting patients through their rehabilitation. She is currently attending Hofstra University to complete her undergraduate studies. After graduating, she plans to attend a Physician Assistant program to earn her PA-C credential and expand her career in patient care. Outside of the clinic, she loves working on hands-on home and automotive restoration projects, baking, and spending quality time with family.
Isabelle Pinard
Isabelle started working at Paramount Physical Therapy in her senior year of high school. She has a true passion for healthcare and a strong connection to Physical Therapy. In middle school, Isabelle had an intensive double knee surgery after which she had to undergo many years of physical therapy. With that she grew a strong connection to the setting; Isabelle is obtaining her bachelor’s degree at Adelphi in molecular neuroscience and plans to get her MD eventually.
Angelina Stavropoulos
Angelina began working at Paramount Physical Therapy during her senior year of high school through the work study program at Nassau BOCES, Barry Tech. Currently she attends Molloy University as a nursing major. After completing all of the materials required to obtain her BSN, she plans to work in the intensive care unit where she will obtain the requirements to go back to school to get her CRNA certification.
Carlos Suazo
Carlos attends Adelphi University, with a major in Biochemistry and plans on obtaining his MD. He has a strong passion in becoming a physical therapist in the future after obtaining many sports related injuries while playing Soccer. He believes in helping others along their recovery process. When Carlos is not in the office, he enjoys drawing and going outside to play soccer with friends.
Vanessa Toussaint
Vanessa has been part of the Paramount PT team since 2014. She began as a volunteer while working on her undergraduate degree at Stony Brook University. Vanessa graduated from Stony Brook with a B.S. in Health Science in 2016. After graduation, Vanessa became a full time aide at Paramount Physical Therapy. She values her job and absolutely can’t wait to become a physical therapist. Vanessa has participated in local community events including representing Paramount PT at the Valley Stream Community Fest. In her free time, Vanessa enjoys watching movies, going to art shows, and exercising.