VAMC Manchester, New Hampshire
Rare Expertise in Workforce Offers Twin State Vets Higher Quality of Care
September 12, 2018
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristin.Pressly@va.gov Manchester VA
Katherine.Tang@va.gov White River Junction VA
Pictured above left:
Dr. Evan Kelley, PT, DPT – Board Cert. Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT)
Pictured above right:
Dr. Baron Tang Sr, PT, DPT – Board Cert. Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT)— The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Manchester, NH and White River Junction, VT VA Medical Centers are proud to have Fellowship Trained Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists on their teams. This is a distinct honor that less than a single percentile of physical therapists in the nation hold and only 12 are in the VA Healthcare system nationwide. Dr. Evan E. Kelley, Chief of Physical Therapy at the Manchester VAMC was inducted as a Fellow to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT) in October of 2016 and Dr. Baron Tang Sr. of White River Junction VAMC achieved this in June of 2018.
The AAOMPT is a national organization committed to excellence in clinical practice, education and research; its Fellows are known for consistently providing, as well as teaching others in providing, the highest level of non-invasive musculoskeletal care through advanced clinical reasoning, manual therapy and movement science. The depth of their training has granted them status as experts of conservative management of pain and dysfunction through manual therapy, specific therapeutic exercise and pain neuroscience education. Fellows are experts at screening and understanding conditions, medications and how any/every variable can impact the patient’s presentation and treatment.
Dr. Evan E. Kelley joined the Manchester VAMC team in November 2017. Dr. Kelley transferred from the VA in Northern Colorado where he had worked since retiring from the US Air Force in October 2011. Dr. Kelley graduated from Simmons College in Boston, MA with a Master of Science in Physical Therapy in 1997. He initially worked for the Boston VAMC from 1997 until 2000 at which time he received a commission in the USAF. Dr. Kelley became a Board Certified Orthopaedic Specialist in 2004 and received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Regis University in Denver, CO in 2013 and immediately started to pursue a Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy from Regis University.
“As a retired service member, I have a strong connection to the VA population,” said Kelley. “As movement specialists, physical therapists are uniquely qualified to be our Veteran’s first point of contact for neuro-musculoskeletal care, and I am glad to be there for my fellow Vets.”
At Manchester VAMC our workforce is made up of many Veterans. Our military men and women possess the highest level of leadership and professionalism. Alfred Montoya, Medical Center Director for Manchester VAMC shared, “As a fellow Airman myself, I am proud to have Dr. Kelley on our team. He demonstrates integrity and unwavering commitment to the mission of the organization and our fellow brothers and sisters.”
Dr. Baron Tang Sr. has been with the White River Junction VAMC since 2014. He graduated from SUNY Upstate Medical University in 2011 with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy and through Evidence in Motion, Dr. Tang became a Board Certified Orthopaedic Specialist in 2016 and completed his Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy in 2018. Shortly after completion of his Doctoral training he became an entrepreneur in Southern Florida. There, he held ownership of a Physical Therapy business that catered to professional athletes and Olympians.
“In 2014, I realized I was missing fulfillment in my career,” said Tang. “I decided to join the VA and become an intrapreneur. Since then I am proud to have been serving our nation’s most deserving VA population.”
Dr. Tang has been heavily involved in several projects to address the pain and opioid epidemic, research, teaching (both live and virtual) and in training/mentorship in Orthopaedic and Pain Sciences.
Leadership at both the Manchester and White River Junction VAMCs are proud to have these highly trained and motivated Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Fellows on their team and look forward to their continued contributions to the Veteran population and experience.
“Dr. Tang is a great example of the top-notch, innovative employees that we have in White River Junction and across VA,” explains Dr. Brett Rusch, Acting Medical Center Director for White River Junction VAMC. “I am proud that we are able to offer evidenced-based medical care to our Veterans through dedicated and skilled providers like him.”
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