Get the answers you need and deserve. We are rooting for you!
You get to choose the pelvic floor therapy practice that seems best for your needs! How cool is that?
It’s a big decision and we want to make sure you find the provider best suited for your needs. Have any questions about your specific symptoms? We have seen practically everything (we’ve got over 30 years combined experience). Give us a call or send us a message and a trained member will make sure you are right where you need to be!
Keep reading on to learn more about our expert pelvic floor therapists!
Kristin Kennedy, PT, DPT | Clinic Director
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Dr. Kristin Kennedy is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes in pelvic health. She received her doctorate from Rutgers University and holds an undergraduate degree in biobehavioral health from Penn State University.
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Dr. Kristin has advanced training in pelvic health through the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy (APTA) and the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. Since beginning her career, she has gained extensive experience in working with those with hypermobility spectrum disorders (such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome), endometriosis and the pregnant and postpartum population. Dr. Kristin enjoys weight lifting and running and loves to incorporate this part of her life by forming creative treatment plans for her patients, so she can help get them back to doing the things they love.
Dr. Kristin was introduced to pelvic health during physical therapy school while performing research for a poster presentation on the topic of surgical site infections following cesarean sections. She soon realized how little information is available for new mothers regarding proper care of their bodies before, during and after pregnancy, and immediately questioned why pelvic floor physical therapy isn’t an established routine-practice following childbirth. Kristin believes she has found purpose in treating patients with pelvic health conditions, in educating the general public about the importance of these intimate health topics, and in starting the conversation about subjects that have far too long been inadequately discussed.
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In addition to her pursuits in physical therapy, Dr. Kristin also enjoys creating artistic informative content through her passion as a graphic design artist. She discovered her hidden talent while studying in physical therapy school where she began an educational and entrepreneurial venture to create visual study guides, which she shares with other visual learners through social media. To check out some of Kristin’s work, follow her on Instagram- @ptstudyguide.
Sarah Ellison, PT, DPT
Dr. Sarah Ellison is a licensed physical therapist, specializing in pelvic health therapy. Sarah received her doctorate in physical therapy from the MGH Institute of Health Professions and spent several years following her degree working in orthopedic physical therapy treatment. Sarah transitioned into pelvic health to help people use movement to address medical conditions whose musculoskeletal components are often overlooked.
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Sarah received her training in both visceral mobilizations and general management of pelvic floor conditions from the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. She uses her knowledge from both her Pregnancy & Postpartum Corrective Exercise and Selective Functional Movement Assessment certifications to form a systematic orthopedic approach to pelvic health treatment. With training in health coaching from both the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and the Integrative Women’s Health Institute, Sarah combines the support of wellness with her clinical expertise for long term and sustainable improvement in pelvic health outcomes.
Sarah is passionate about promoting collaboration between healthcare providers and the broader community for building effective and supportive care. She loves to embody the wellness practices she uses in her clinical practice to her everyday life as well. Sarah often looks for fun and new opportunities for connection and movement, exploring new yoga classes or taking long walks throughout Boston. When she is not out and about, you’ll probably find her hosting dinners with friends or reading a good book.
Shannon Pacella, PT, DPT
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Dr. Shannon Pacella is a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes in pelvic health. She received her doctorate from Simmons College where she also holds an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science.
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Shannon has extensive experience treating a wide variety of pelvic health related conditions, utilizing manual therapy techniques including myofascial release, as well as therapeutic corrective exercise and movement. Shannon believes in a whole-body approach to treating pelvic health concerns to ensure all potential contributors of someone's symptoms are addressed. Shannon is passionate about helping people to reach their goals and return to doing the activities they love.
Shannon has had the opportunity to teach pelvic health content to students, athletes, physical therapists, physicians, and many others both nationally and internationally. Education is a critical component in furthering pelvic health care for all.
Shannon enjoys spending time outside, often spending weekends with family in New Hampshire and Cape Cod, tending to her plethora of house plants, trying new recipes, and exploring the many restaurants around Boston.
Kathy Kates, FNP
Kathy Kates, NP is an experienced bilingual Family Nurse Practitioner at Wellest Integrative Health in Boston. As a specialist in pelvic health, she created a grant-awarded pelvic floor therapy myofascial release program at a local Boston health center to help women, men and transgender patients with chronic pelvic pain. She has been invited to lecture on pelvic health at the Partners in Perinatal Health conference and at the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers Annual Community Health Institute.
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Kathy has completed extensive training in the John Barnes Myofascial Release Approach™. She participated in the inaugural “Integral Touch of Birth” workshop in which she learned to integrate the Spinning Babies ™ approach to help women bring balance to the pelvis during pregnancy.
Prior to her medical training, Kathy was a professional musician, playing locally with the Boston Pops and also traveling the world. Her two career paths, while disparate, have each served to foster a lifelong curiosity about the body from a biomechanical perspective. Her passion lies in educating others on how they can function optimally in order to live their healthiest lives. Kathy offers a unique perspective, not only as a medical provider, but also as a patient who has experienced pelvic pain after treatment for breast cancer.
Melissa Hines, PT, DPT | Founder
Dr. Melissa Hines, PT, DPT is a licensed physical therapist (PT) in MA. Since graduating from Simmons College magna cum laude with her doctorate in physical therapy, she has practiced in a wide variety of holistic settings specializing in GYROTONIC® rehabilitation, pelvic floor rehabilitation, myofascial release, visceral manipulation, and craniosacral therapy.
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Melissa specializes in Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy for all genders through the prestigious Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. Melissa's training in myofascial release, visceral manipulation, craniosacral therapy and GYROTONIC® has proven pivotal in the treatment of pelvic and orthopedic conditions. She has taken continuing education courses through advanced Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, Barral Institute of Visceral Manipulation, advanced myofascial release through John Barnes, Upledger Craniosacral therapy, and a certified GYROTONIC® instructor. Melissa has a strong interest in teaching and currently mentors physical therapists and students in the field to help empower physical therapists to think holistically.
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Melissa has a passion for treating the whole body and sees a widespread range of conditions from pelvic health to autoimmune to orthopedic. Melissa is currently training through the Institute of Functional Medicine in order to incorporate both manual therapies as well as supplementation through diet/food/supplements to aid in recovery and get to the root cause of the problem. Melissa utilizes an intuitive touch and enlightened approach in each of her treatments.
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​Melissa is also co-founder of the Institute for Pelvic Health, an accredited online pelvic health education platform for nurse practitioners, midwives, and OBGYNs. Wellest hosts many in person trainings for practitioners in the area.
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Melissa lives in Melrose with her husband, daughter Louisa, son Owen and cat! She enjoys being with her family, cooking with her husband, and being by the ocean!
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Iris Xu, SPT
Iris Xu is a 3rd year student physical therapist at the University of Southern California. She is completing her final clinical rotation in pelvic health at Wellest Integrative Health and recently moved to Boston with her fiancé and Aussiedoodle Scottie.
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Iris was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and has lived in California all her life. She had her first glimpse of physical therapy as a pelvic floor PT patient and fell in love with the care and compassion that was evident in the profession. Iris has clinical experience in the
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orthopedic, sports, neurological, pediatric, and pelvic health settings. She has completed coursework in Levels 1 and 2 of the American Physical Therapy Association Pelvic Health series. Iris also has experience with social media management and creating educational content for a pelvic health physical therapy practice and has had the opportunity to write several blog articles about topics such as digestive and bowel health.
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During her free time, Iris enjoys traveling the world, checking out new restaurants, and going for long walks in warm weather. She’s always looking for mystery and romance audiobook recommendations for her walks and commutes.
Shrishti Nirwani, MSF
Shrishti Nirwani brings a unique blend of expertise and enthusiasm to the Wellest team, with a background that spans both business and law. Her recent role as a Business Analyst for an artwork company in Boston allowed her to apply her knowledge in real-world scenarios, driving growth and efficiency through innovative problem-solving techniques. Her dedication to her work is evident in her ability to thrive in a variety of environments and tackle any challenge that comes across her path.
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In her personal life, Shrishti has experience in modeling, movies, and pageants. No matter what she is doing, she works hard to meet her goals and doesn't let obstacles stop her. In her downtime, she enjoys horseback riding and trying new things; she's always up for an adventure!
Shrishti's commitment to patient well-being and her multifaceted background make her a valuable addition to our team. As our patient care coordinator, she's the first face you'll see when you enter our clinic and she'll often be the one to return your phone calls and emails, too! She looks forward to supporting patients and providing compassionate care as she helps them along their wellness journey.
Katharine Kaufman
Born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, Katharine comes to Wellest with a deep passion for women’s health and fertility and commitment to empowering women on their reproductive journeys. She graduated from Wake Forest University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Business and Enterprise Management. Katharine began her career with Accenture in 2022, learning about the healthcare ecosystem through her various consulting engagements with both provider and payer clients. She brings unique operational healthcare experience to the Wellest team, supporting the ideation and implementation of innovative processes that will improve patient experience and outcomes.
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In addition to her work at Wellest, Katharine is enrolled in a post baccalaureate program at Harvard University and is a certified Pilates instructor teaching at Boston Body Pilates. During her free time, she loves to cook/bake, photograph her creations for her wellness blog, power walk along the Charles River Esplanade, and attend workout classes with friends.
Wellest shares an office space with Erin Walker, Licensed Acupuncturist and owner of Boston Integrated Health, who offers health support to women and their families. With our combined services, we are thrilled to offer a collaborative approach for all your health and wellness needs.