Physical Therapists

Amy L. Kramer, PT, DPT, CCRT

Dr. Waldman and Dr. Kramer realized that the unique collaboration of a physical therapist and veterinarian would provide optimal pet therapy outcomes. Together they founded and opened California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE) in June of 2007.

Dr. Kramer graduated from Whittier College in 1990. Following graduation, Dr. Kramer continued her education at Cerritos College where she graduated with honors from the Physical Therapist Assistant program in 1993. Dr. Kramer worked in a physical therapist owned orthopedic, private practice for seven years prior to returning to school to pursue a Masters’ Degree. She received her Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Loma Linda University Physical Therapy School in 2000.

While attending Loma Linda University Physical Therapy School, Dr. Kramer was honored with the Research Award for her study of “ The Influence of the Protonics Knee Brace on Pelvic Position“. In 2005, Dr. Kramer earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Western University of Health Sciences, where she was honored with the Leadership & Service Award.

In the fall of 2004, Dr. Kramer’s dog had knee surgery and needed post-operative services. This sparked her interest in animal rehabilitation, and thus prompted her to pursue a Certificate in Canine Rehabilitation through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute which she completed in 2005.

Dr. Kramer has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 1991 and she has served as both a district representative as well as a member of the House of Delegates. Currently, she holds the position of California liaison for the Animal Special Interest Group of the American Physical Therapy Association which enables her to help integrate the veterinary community with the physical therapy community. She is also on the board of Racing For Recovery.

In her free time Dr. Kramer enjoys triathlons, traveling, scuba diving, skiing and dedicating time to protect the environment. She is an active volunteer and supporter of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Santa Monica Baykeeper, Heal the Bay, REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation), Racing for Recovery and Walk With Sally. Dr. Kramer is also a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association as well as a Certified CPR Instructor through the American Heart Association. Dr. Kramer lives in the South Bay with her dog Karma.

Dr. John Wagner PT, DPT

Dr. John Wagner received his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University Southern California in 2008, and his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from USC in 2011. While in physical therapy school, he continued to pursue his interest in physical medicine and wellness by becoming a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He worked at the USC university gym personal training students and faculty professors. In addition, he was involved with data collection and extrapolation for the Motor Behavior and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory at USC. Dr. Wagner helped work on a PhD dissertation entitled Anticipatory Planning and Compensatory Adjustments to Control Reach Distance After Stroke that was presented for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) conference in June 2011. Throughout physical therapy school, Dr. Wagner has had the opportunity to intern at various physical therapy clinics from San Diego to Hawaii to New York City. After many physical therapy experiences throughout the country, Dr. Wagner has settled in Santa Monica enjoying taking care of the animals at CARE. In addition to working at CARE, Dr. Wagner currently works part-time in physical therapy for “Humans” in Huntington Beach.

When Dr. Wagner is not working Physical Therapy, he is studying Chinese medicine and Acupuncture through a Masters Program in Los Angeles. He aspires to combine physical therapy and Chinese medicine to specialize in pain management.

Dr. Wagner is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and joined the Orthopedics section of the APTA and its Animal Rehabilitation special interest group.

In his spare time, he enjoys pretty much any outdoor activity including mountain biking, running, playing volleyball, and hiking in the Santa Monica area. Dr. Wagner has recently begun marathon training and hopes to complete a couple marathons a year.

Noriko Yamaguchi, PT, DPT, CCRT

After graduating from Smith College cum laude with a major in Biology in 1996, Dr. Yamaguchi moved to Los Angeles to begin a Ph.D. program in biological oceanography at UCLA. During graduate school she became involved in marine science outreach programs with local elementary and middle schools and decided to finish her graduate studies with a Master’s degree in order to teach. She taught Biology at New Roads High School in Santa Monica for six years before deciding to move on to the next stage of her professional life.

Dr. Yamaguchi graduated with honors from the University of Southern California with a Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2008. While in physical therapy school, she continued to pursue her interest in research by becoming involved in studies conducted by the Biomechanics laboratory. She helped with data collection and analysis on an ACL research study and was lead-author on a study that established normative values of functional reach measurements in volleyball players, which she presented at the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting in 2008. She also was a student tutor for first-year courses in orthopedics, physiology, and motor control and participated in a merit-based manual therapy group to learn advanced manual therapy techniques.

Dr. Yamaguchi joined the Orthopedics section of the APTA and its Animal Rehabilitation special interest group in 2007. Using resources from USC and the APTA, she began contacting physical therapists who practice on animals to learn about the specialty practice. She met Dr. Kramer at an APTA conference in 2007 and joined the physical therapy team at CARE in June 2008. She completed her continuing education through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute and became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) in March 2009.

In addition to CARE, Dr. Yamaguchi enjoys working at her “human job” at USC, where she is therapist on a multi-center clinical trial studying recovery of walking after stroke. She also is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and has taken continuing education coursework in Kinesio taping with the Kinesio Taping Association. In her free time, she enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee, hiking with her husband and Rhodesian Ridgeback, Kailey, watching baseball, and spending time with her two cats, Ridley and Mica. She lives in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Diane Kinder, PT, CCRT, CWS

Diane Kinder graduated from Northwestern Medical University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy.  Following graduation she moved from Ohio to California and began her physical therapy career at Torrance Memorial Medical Center (TMMC) where she worked for 13 years.  While at TMMC she went to the Burn Unit for a rotation.  Diane became very interested in the specialty of burn and wound management and further developed her knowledge and skill by attending continuing education courses in advanced wound care.  Diane helped to develop the TMMC Wound Care Center, still a thriving unit focusing on wound management.   

In 1997 Diane was asked to develop a wound care program at Driftwood Health Care Center, a skilled nursing facility, where she stayed for 2 years.  In 1999 she went back to acute and hospital based out-patient care at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center where she also developed and managed an advanced wound care program.  In May of 2008 Diane took a position as a Clinical Consultant with Kinetic Concepts, Inc., a company that makes a medical device (V.A.C.) to support wound healing until August 2009, at which point she returned to Little Company of Mary where she is currently employed part time as a physical therapist managing wound care patients.  Diane has been a member of the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care since it was conceived in 1995.  She is a certified wound care specialist (CWS), awarded from American Academy of Wound Management in 2000.

Diane has been a volunteer at Harbor Animal Care Center, one of six Los Angeles City animal shelters, since 2003.  For years she has searched for a way to combine her love for animals and her physical therapy career and has found that in veterinary rehabilitation.  Diane joined the therapy team at CARE in September 2009.  She is a certified canine rehabilitation therapist (CCRT) having obtained her certification through Canine Rehabilitation Institute.

In her free time Diane enjoys going to the animal shelter where she grooms, socializes, and walks dogs.   She enjoys dinner parties with friends from the animal rescue world, and she enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Ella & Canelo, and her two cats, Tica & Sammy.