Team

Kathryn Cieniewicz, PT, MSPT, CAPS, CEAC

Owner, Team Physical Therapist

Kathryn graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, MA in 2003 with her Masters Degree in Science of Physical Therapy. She is also certified as an Aging in Place Specialist and an Environmental Access Consultant. Kathryn has been a practicing Physical Therapist for fifteen years, starting her career in New Jersey at one of the best sub-acute rehab hospitals in the country in 2003- Kessler Institute (now Select Medical). She moved to Delaware in 2006 with her husband Mark and then in 2014, decided to follow her passion for helping seniors and started Aging in Place Specialists. Currently, through her company, Aging in Place Specialists, Kathryn has dedicated her career to helping individuals strategize and achieve the ability to stay in their homes as they get older, through in-home Physical Therapy, consulting, service coordination, and home modifications. Aging in Place Specialists is best known in the community for their stellar treatment of balance and low back pain conditions, as well as a reliable service for home environment changes that enhance the quality of life for their clients. Kathryn lives in Lewes, Delaware with her husband Mark and two young boys, Landon and Noah. She enjoys photography walks with her husband, reading, bike riding, and traveling.


Mary Ann Gargano PT, MSPT, CAPS

Team Physical Therapist

With over 19 years of experience, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Long Island University in New York in 1999. She has worked in 3 different states, and in various settings, including in-patient acute care, respiratory and cardiac rehab, out-patient orthopedics, assisted living, nursing homes, and home care P.T. Her experience treating back pain and other orthopedic diagnoses is extensive, including Continuing Education classes that broadened her knowledge base in this area. Mary Ann has also taken many courses specializing in manual therapy techniques treating the upper, mid, and low back. Her interest in this field started in her 20’s when she injured her left knee playing volleyball and was sent for Physical Therapy to avoid surgery. In 6 weeks, she was up and running, literally. Impressed with her success, and already have an interest in medicine and sports, she went back to school and started training to become a Physical Therapist. Her career in Physical Therapy has been a very rewarding one- she gets to help people feel better, function better, and have an improved quality of life.


Megan MacDonald, MPT

Team Physical Therapist

Megan graduated with her Master's Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Delaware in 2000. She has had diverse employment opportunities as she has moved several times for her spouse’s career, making Megan a highly diversified clinician with a significant skill set in the industry. Megan has experience in postoperative orthopedic care, acute spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury and neurological rehabilitation, both acute and sub-acute inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient care. 

Although she has treated all ages, including infants, her primary passion is geriatric care. Megan has advanced education in cervical and lumbar dysfunction and neurological rehabilitation (balance, falls) and is also Level 1 Dry Needling certified. 

Megan’s main goal as a physical therapist is to keep people as independent and safe as possible, so they can enjoy life with their loved ones. 

When not working, she loves spending time with her two children and husband, engaging in various sports and water activities.


Holly Ann Firuta, PT

Team Physical Therapist

Holly Ann Firuta has been a Physical Therapist since 1983, a graduate of Ithaca College. She has had a diversified career beginning at Magee Rehabilitation hospital in Philadelphia, PA. During her time in Philadelphia she owned her own physical therapy practice called Garden Court Physical Therapy and partnered with the University of Pennsylvania hospital to treat people with chronic pain. She has extensive training in aquatic physical therapy and used this with patients in her private practice where had an indoor pool.

Holly Ann's background in patient care includes orthopedic and neurologic conditions. She has been an instructor at a number of universities in Philadelphia and traveled the East coast providing aquatic physical therapy continuing education courses. Holly Ann actively engages her patients to motivate them to achieve their goals while having fun. She is a Certified Fall Prevention Specialist and always incorporates fall prevention and safety strategies into her plan of care.

Holly Ann has also been certified by the National Association of Home Builders to be an Aging in Place Specialist. This is training to create Universal Design and Barrier Free living space. Holly Ann has been in Delaware for the past 23 years enjoying the Beach Life. She is also a Licensed Captain, angler, foodie and loves to be with Tallulah her dog, cycle on the trails and kayak.


Arvin Del Castillo, PTRP PT

Team Physical Therapist

Arvin graduated with his Physical Therapy degree from St. Paul College, in Iloilo City, Philippines in 2002. Arvin has been a practicing physical therapist for 17 years, starting his career in the Philippines as a volunteer in an out-patient setting. In 2009, Arvin moved to the United States to further his career in Physical Therapy. He initially worked as a Rehab tech in Washington State while working on acquiring his Physical Therapy license here in the U.S. In 2012 he became an integral part of the Therapy Team in a Skilled Nursing Facility in Wilmington, Delaware. He honed his skills as a Physical Therapist focusing on Geriatric Rehabilitation. There he has found his ardor for providing Physical Therapy to help senior patients achieve their best potential. His love for his patients and his profession was observed by both his colleagues and patients alike, as he became one of the few to be nominated for the "All Star Awards" Program for Best Physical Therapist in the state of Delaware.

Later in his career, Arvin became the Director of Rehabilitation in a Skilled Nursing Facility in Maryland where he shared his skills and experience with his team to cater to the rehabilitation needs of the residents of the facility. In 2020, he joined the team at Aging in Place Specialists.

Arvin's experience in physical therapy includes manual therapy, taping techniques, fall prevention, the LSVT BIG program, pain management, and neurological rehabilitation. Arvin has provided treatment for a variety of health conditions such as arthritis, joint pain, chronic pain, balance issues, sports injuries, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, stroke, and post- operative rehabilitation, among others.

Arvin's primary goal as a physical therapist is to help his patients not only restore their function but also promote safety, health, wellness, and fitness to achieve an optimal quality of life for his patients.

Other than being a physical therapist, Arvin spends most of his time exploring places and different cultures with his wife, April. Arvin also enjoys spending time at the beach with family and friends.


Lori Eberly PT, DPT, MEd, ATC

Team Physical Therapist

Lori currently resides in Lancaster County, PA, but spends time weekly in southern Delaware. Lori joined Aging in Place Specialists in 2020, bringing her extensive experience in geriatric care to the practice. She is also currently working as a professor in a PTA program and provides physical therapy part-time for Penn Medicine Home Health. Lori has also worked in the out-patient setting providing care for patients with orthopedic, neurologic, and pelvic floor conditions. Prior to becoming a physical therapist, Lori has worked as a high school educator, Certified Athletic Trainer and personal trainer. Lori has her doctorate in physical therapy from Neumann University and a Masters' degree in Health Education from Penn State. When not working, Lori enjoys collecting sea glass, hiking, kayaking, and spending time with family and friends.


Samuel Moncure III, PT

Team Physical Therapist

Sam is originally from southwestern Virginia and moved to the eastern shore upon his discharge from the Army in 1984. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from physical therapy school in 1994 from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Since this time, he has practiced on the eastern shore in both Maryland and Delaware, both in clinical and home health care settings. He also spent 20 years in the mid to upper-level management and development of outpatient clinics.

Sam believes that all his patients should be treated with the same professional, courteous, individualized treatment that he would want to receive or would have provided to a close friend of family member. Each patient's situation and condition is different and must be approached from a unique perspective. Sam believes strongly in a one-on-one, individualized, manual therapy approach combined with close communication with both the patient and other practitioners to provide the most effective program and environment for maximal rehabilitative results.


Elena Clyde-Correnti, PT

Team Physical Therapist

Elena has been a physical therapist since 1988, after graduating from New York University's School of Education, Nursing and Health Professions. Her experience is wide and varied. Elena has practiced in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, as well as, owned her own private practice on Long Island in New York for many years. After having a serious neck injury and surgery, she sold her practice and "retired" from physical therapy. She returned to Hofstra University for her Master's degree in Physical Education and Health. She taught for 1 year in NYC, but missed physical therapy too much.

In the last 20 years, Elena practiced as a home care physical therapist for Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital as both a staff and senior therapist, and later, supervisor of the rehab department. It was in home care that Elena found her niche. She feels that she can provide her clients with the greatest progress by working within their home environment and observing all of the challenges they experience in their day to day life.

Elena transplanted to the Long Neck area 2 years ago and, in her spare time, loves to play in the dirt, enjoys woodworking, stained glass, and a multitude of other hobbies and pastimes.


Debra Pugh

Debra Pugh is our Office Administrative Assistant here at AIPS.

Debra came on board April 12, 2021, and comes to us with a background in management having worked for a financial institution (not-for-profit) where the philosophy was about "people helping people," and after 37 years whereas Debra focused on managing a Call Center, opening Branches, customer service, building an infrastructure in business development and training for the organization, Debra retired.

Staying in the vein of "people helping people," in 2016 Debra established a Home Care Agency in the state of Delaware. The Home Care Agency won several awards such as: Best Employer and Best Provider. Debra's knowledge in sales, compliance, case management, and office management was instrumental with her business ownership role.

Debra said it was bittersweet when she decided to close the Home Care Agency but she knew she wanted to continue to assist others and also be able to enjoy her 3 grandchildren -- and the opportunity presented itself through Aging in Place Specialists (AIPS).

Debra's focus will be assisting the team and the patients of AIPS by providing service that is friendly, professional, efficient, and effective- but mostly, connecting to the team and the community in the common goal of wellness.

My recent PT experience has been uniquely positive. Instead of simply doing the same exercises and activities, the therapist was observing my motions and directing me to activities designed to return function. Steven