About - Great Falls PT

Dr. Mary Jean Stack PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS

Owner

Prior to opening Great Falls Physical Therapy, Mary Jean worked as a physical therapist in New York City and Washington DC. She became a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist in 2018. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. Mary Jean was certified to teach Pilates by Power Pilates and has taught Pilates in individual and group settings. Mary Jean is also a Certified Expert by the Titleist Performance Institute to better allow evaluation and treatment of golf related injuries.

Mary Jean earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2014 from New York University, where she received the Elizabeth C. Addoms Award for Academic and Clinical Excellence. As an undergraduate at Muhlenberg College, Mary Jean taught ballet and graduated cum laude with a double major in Dance and Russian Studies.

Mary Jean grew up in Great Falls, where her family still lives. She attended Great Falls Elementary, Cooper Middle School, and Langley High School. She began studying ballet at the Margaret Haddad Studio of Classical Ballet. In high school, she attended the prestigious Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC where she received an Artistic Degree.

Mary Jean first became interested in the field of physical therapy following her own injuries as a ballet dancer. As a physical therapist, Mary Jean utilizes her prior dance background to assess biomechanics and movement in both dancers and non-dancers. As a clinician, she understands first-hand the importance of individualized and patient-centered care to enable patients to achieve their personal goals. She strives to help all her patients become pain-free and stronger than before their injuries. In her free time, Mary Jean enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and her dog, Abby.

Dr. Jaison Alderman PT, DPT, MBA, CMTPT, CDNT

Jaison grew up next door in Loudoun County and earned his B.A in Physical Education, Health Education K-12 from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV. He earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University in 2011 where he was class President and received the Leadership Award. He also went on to get his Master of Business Administration in 2014 from Shenandoah University.

His journey to becoming a physical therapist started in 1993 while playing football when he sustained a season-ending knee injury. Following his meniscus and MCL knee injury, he underwent a knee arthroscopic debridement procedure. After surgery, he was given an order for physical therapy, where his journey started.

Jaison specializes in orthopaedic manual sport and spine therapy. He approaches each patient as a new challenge to provide individualized treatment that is patient goal centered. He utilizes his manual therapy techniques to promote the start of improved functional mobility, which he reinforces with individualized functional movement training to restore patient body mechanics.

Over the last six years Jaison has been a continuing education instructor for other physical therapists with the Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Treatments, teaching a manual therapy curriculum with a specialization in Trigger Point Dry Needling. He has enjoyed teaching this powerful skill around the country.

Jaison is certified in Trigger Point Dry Needling through Myopain Seminars and the Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Treatments. He also holds the FMT Blades IASTM Certification, incorporating soft tissue instruments and kinesiology taping.

While not in clinic he enjoys traveling, cooking, being a foodie, and all things outdoors. He is an amateur cell phone sunset photographer. He currently lives with his wife, Sandy, and their dog, Java.

Dr. Sarah Bellman PT, DPT, CRTS

Sarah hails from West Hartford, CT, and earned her B.S. in both Exercise and Sport Science as well as Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While in Chapel Hill Sarah was a member of the Club Gymnastics team. She then went on to earn her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2011.

Sarah initially became interested in the field after a high school lacrosse injury sidelined her. Knowing she wanted to work in the medical field, the connection Sarah made with her physical therapist inspired her to pursue this as a career.

Sarah specializes in orthopedics and sports medicine with a concentration in manual therapy. She believes it is important to assess and treat the whole person, not just the symptoms or injury.

Sarah is dedicated to providing her patients with individualized care with a focus on hands-on manual therapy techniques, functional movement patterns, and return to sport. It has been Sarah’s goal to work in an environment that allows for one on one care for full achievement of goals and return to high-level activities.

Sarah is certified in Functional Dry Needling and is a Pose Method® Certified Running Technique Specialist. She is dedicated to teaching the skills and technique of running to help patients avoid pain and injury, and run more efficiently.

Outside of the clinic, Sarah enjoys traveling, taking her Flat-Coated Retriever, Benny, hiking, visiting the Outer Banks, and cheering on the Tar Heels!

Arlee Barnes

Office Administrator

Arlee is a Lancaster, PA native who grew up with a true appreciation of the outdoors, nature and animals. The youngest of four, she had a competitive drive, especially when it came to sports. Her childhood nickname was "Fragile," often finding herself sidelined or playing through the pain of orthopedic injuries. After a shoulder surgery at age 13, her years-long journey into the PT realm started.

After graduating magna cum laude and working as an Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary, Arlee took a chance and moved to Virginia in 2014 on a whim to see what else life had to offer. She started work in the beauty industry, walking dogs on the side. In 2015 she started her own dog walking and pet boarding business in Ballston. This is how Arlee met Abigail ‘Pancake’ Stack and her human, Mary Jean!

Fast forward a few years and Arlee became a patient at GFPT after Mary Jean’s parents' uncoordinated yellow lab puppy, Zoe, took a nosedive into Arlee’s newly un-booted ankle. After being broken and bruised, Arlee became a true believer in the healing art that an exceptional physical therapist can offer.

When not at the office, Arlee spends time with her rescue dog, Gidget, and visiting fur-children at her heavenly home base in Great Falls. When not tending to dogs, Arlee enjoys having bonfires, driving her mini cooper, eating oysters, relaxing with her flat mates Bob & Lily Lou, exploring the beauty that is life and actively avoiding social media.

Great Falls PT