Staff Bios
Melissa Tutwiler, PT, DPT
Clinic Administrator, Physical Therapist
Melissa relocated to North Carolina in 2014 after living in Florida, Alabama, Texas, and her home state of Mississippi. She received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Mississippi, where she was also a graduate of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. Following graduation, Melissa completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2007 at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences located in St. Augustine.
She has over ten years of experience across a multitude of physical therapy settings. Her primary emphasis is outpatient orthopedics, manual therapy, and pediatrics. She is a member of American Physical Therapy Association, the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, and the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy as well as the North Carolina Physical Therapy Association. Melissa enjoys Crossfit workouts and spending her free time in the outdoors, biking, running, travelling, and creating new memories with her husband and two children. Melissa is passionate about helping patients achieve their highest quality of life so they too can enjoy life to the fullest.
Katherine Kennedy, PT, DPT, CSCS, PMA®-CPT
Physical Therapist
Katie moved to Durham in 2009 to continue her career as an accountant. Shortly after her arrival, Katie, an avid runner, biker, skier, scuba diver and yogi, decided to pursue a profession in Physical Therapy -- supporting her love of a healthy, active lifestyle and physical-mental balance.
Katie is a 2014 graduate of Duke University's Doctor of Physical Therapy program and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Upon graduating from Duke, she completed her Pilates teacher certification, which she incorporates into her physical therapy practice in order to match her philosophy of whole person wellness. She has advanced training in dry needling. She is highly trained by Herman and Wallace in pelvic health physical therapy working with men and women experiencing urinary, bowel and/or sexual dysfunction as well as pelvic pain, pregnancy and post-partum pain syndromes.
Katie is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 2011, Sports Physical Therapy Section, Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, Section of Women’s health and the North Carolina Physical Therapy Association (NCPTA).
Katie is excited to use her love of exercise and mental balance to help clients achieve their goals for health, fitness, strength and flexibility by providing patient- centered care with evidenced-based interventions to assist all patients in restoring health and movement. She enjoys putting all her skills together to help each of her patients achieve maximum physical wellness.
Marian Thomas Sudano, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Marian is an orthopedic physical therapist who received her Doctor of Physical Therapy
degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, where she also earned her undergraduate degree with a
double major in Biology and Psychology. While Marian’s specific areas of specialty are
sports performance and rehabilitation, she has experience treating a variety of
conditions. Her primary goal is to use evidence-based treatment to have her patients
return to healthy, active lifestyles as soon as possible. She enjoys educating her patients
about their condition and encouraging them to make exercise a life-long habit. Marian is
also certified in dry needling, which is a researched-based method to reduce pain and
muscle tension that occurs from muscle trigger points.
She is currently a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the Academy of
Orthopedic Physical Therapy, and the North Carolina Physical Therapy Association. In her
free time, Marian enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, and hanging out with her husband and chocolate lab Lucy.
Christopher Hope, PT, DPT, MBA
Physical Therapist
Originally from Arkansas, Chris has called North Carolina home since 2009. Chris received
his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from UNC – Chapel Hill where he was
awarded for clinical performance and professional development, as well as being
nominated for the NCPTA Outstanding PT Student award. He also holds a Master’s degree
in Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in healthcare.
Chris was previously the business manager of a local sports physical therapy practice and
performance development center before obtaining professional experience as both a
staff therapist and clinic director at Pivot Physical Therapy in Morrisville and Brier Creek.
He has training in general orthopedic and sports medicine physical therapy, including
experience working with patients of all ages. Chris is certified as a strength and
conditioning specialist, dry needling practitioner, and clinical instructor.
He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, Sports Physical Therapy Section, Academy of Orthopaedic
Physical Therapy, and the North Carolina Physical Therapy Association (NCPTA). Chris enjoys an active lifestyle and
participates in a variety of recreational sports. He can often be found outdoors with his wife (a local cardiology PA), his two
young sons, and his Labrador Retriever. Chris’ newest favorite adventure, though, is experiencing the growth of his family.
Wendy L. McBryde, RT-(R)(CT)
Patient Access Scheduler
Wendy is a North Carolina native growing up in Sanford, NC. She attended Sandhills
Community College receiving her Applied Science Associates degree in Radiology. Wendy
completed her certification in Computed Tomography (CT) from Edgecombe Community
College. She worked in x-ray for 18 years working mostly in orthopedics. A car accident in
2015 led Wendy to pursue a new career, which brought her to Chatham Rehab at
Pittsboro. Wendy’s medical background and her own personal experience as a physical
therapy patient makes her the perfect fit for helping the patients seen in the Chatham Rehab at Pittsboro office.
Wendy is the proud aunt of four nieces and one nephew. She enjoys reading, shopping, traveling the world and just
spending time with her friends and family.
Elizabeth Hopp, MA,CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Elizabeth is a Speech Language Pathologist who relocated to North Carolina in 2001 from
Michigan. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology/Biology from
Central Michigan University. She then attended Central Michigan University to obtain her
Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology in 1994. She is a member of the American
Speech Language Hearing Association and is licensed by the North Carolina Board of
Examiners for Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists.
During her employment in Michigan and North Carolina Elizabeth has worked as a Speech
Language Pathologist in a variety of settings including inpatient rehabilitation, public
schools, and home health. For the past five years Elizabeth has been employed at Chatham Hospital and UNC Chatham
Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation center. She is very interested in neurogenic rehabilitation and being part of an
interdisciplinary team. Elizabeth is a group leader with the Triangle Aphasia Project (TAP) providing a weekly meeting in
Siler City for patients with aphasia for promotion of communication/life participation. Elizabeth considers it an honor to
work with individuals to improve their communication, cognition, or swallowing ability.
Elizabeth lives in Pittsboro with her husband and two children. She enjoys travel, reading, and caring for her horses, dogs,
and birds. She is a volunteer in Chatham County Schools and is very interested in conservation.
