Our Team
Marilyn Johnson, PT
Marilyn Johnson, P.T. and owner of Innovative Physical Therapy has been a physical therapist for 37 years starting out specializing in sports medicine treating professional and amateur athletes. Over the years she has widened her skills through extensive continuing education to provide excellent service to all types of patient populations. She graduated from Children’s Hospital School of Physical Therapy in Los Angeles with a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Physical Therapy and from the University of California in Santa Barbara with a Baccalaureate Degree in Health Studies. She started Innovative Physical Therapy in 1994.
Marilyn’s diverse experience, extensive knowledge, and passion for Orthopedics has lead her to specialize in the treatment of TMJ disorders, Tinnitis and the fabrication of custom foot orthotics. She uses a unique evaluation style to determine the cause of symptoms and then through the use of hands on techniques and functional training delivers highly effective treatment to her patients.
Outside of physical therapy, Marilyn enjoys spending time with her grand children. She also enjoys hiking, gardening and traveling.
Lindy First, PT, DPT, CPI
Lindy First, DPT is a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy, Internationally Certified Pilates Instructor and Owner of Innovative Physical Therapy. She received an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science/Pre-med and a minor in psychology from George Washington University and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from USC.
As a former Tennis Division I Scholarship athlete, Lindy has a passion for health and fitness and a thorough understanding of movement and body mechanics. Lindy’s strong manual skills and extensive knowledge in strength, resistance, and sport-specific training allow her to excel in rehabilitating patients with orthopedic injuries and training all ranges of athletes for return to sport.
In addition to rehabilitating patients with orthopedic conditions, Lindy specializes in Pilates, treating Runners, Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, Headaches, Sacroilliac joint dysfunction, and spinal injuries. Integrating skilled Manual Therapy, Kinesiotape, Pilates, Cupping, patient education and therapeutic exercise, Lindy has developed her own style of physical therapy to reduce her patient’s pain and improve movement and daily function.
When Lindy is not at the clinic, you can find her hiking the beautiful trails of San Diego with her husband Matt, their two kids, Louie & Charli, and their pup Whiskey. She also loves exploring new restaurants in town, cooking up her own recipes from scratch, taking Pilates classes, and spending time with her tight knit family at local Farmer’s Markets.
Andy Wiseman, PT, DPT, OCS
Kathleen “Kat” Carrillo, PTA
SUMMER STEWART, PT, DPT
Summer Stewart, DPT is a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy who earned her undergraduate degree at San Diego State University and Doctorate at Baylor University. Summer has specialized in outpatient physical therapy since graduating, focusing on the everyday athlete, emphasizing overhead and adaptive athletics, taking a biomechanical approach to the body and how it moves with each person’s anatomy. In addition, Summer also specializes in working with headaches and neurological conditions. She focuses on the overall awareness of the body incorporating both skilled manual therapy and therapeutic exercises to aid in the rehabilitation and help each individual improve their quality of life. Â
She grew up playing various sports and her main focuses were soccer, tennis, and softball. As an athlete, she suffered from a variety of injuries that landed her as a patient in Physical Therapy herself where she found love in knowing that you can go through the process with an individual to help them achieve the goals that they are striving for specifically for them. Summer was also a Wheelchair Tennis Coach for SDSU for her last 2 years of undergrad. Â
 Outside of the clinic, Summer enjoys playing coed softball/indoor soccer, weight-lifting, and anything outdoors such as hiking or just walking around her neighborhood. She is also a big Padres fan and enjoys going to games with her family, boyfriend, and friends.Â
Moises Vences, PTA
Moises Vences Jr. PTA, graduated with distinction from San Diego Mesa College in 2020. With a keen interest in enhancing the quality of life for his patients, Moises has specialized in outpatient physical therapy, focusing on alleviating back-related pain and promoting overall wellness.
Before his career in physical therapy, Moises established himself as a licensed esthetician, refining his healing touch and manual skills while working in a spa environment. This unique background contributes to his holistic approach to patient care.
Recognizing the importance of continuous growth, Moises actively engages in continuing education courses to expand his knowledge and refine his therapeutic techniques, ensuring that he stays at the forefront of advancements in the field.
Outside the clinic, he dedicates time to his well-being through regular workouts, enjoys lounging at home with his cats, thrift store shopping, or volunteering with a community organization.
Annika Soltero, Office Manager
Annika Soltero, our Office Manager, received her certification in Front Office Medical Assisting from Southwestern Community college in 1998. She now has over 18 years experience with Innovative Physical Therapy. Annika is responsible for all the day to day operations of the clinic. In addition to managing the office, Annika also handles all of the insurance and billing needs for IPT. In her spare time she loves baking, watching football and spending time with her family. Annika is also our office HIPAA compliance officer. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your privacy or our policies & procedures, please do not hesitate to contact her.