Executive Team
Zach Borg
Zach Borg
Chief Development Officer
Zach Borg is the Chief Development Officer of SPEAR Physical Therapy. Over his career, Zach has worked in various investing and finance roles and has experience in closing numerous healthcare private equity and investment ban...
Dan Rootenberg, PT, DPT, CSCS
Dan Rootenberg, PT, DPT, CSCS
CEO & Co-founder
Dan Rootenberg is the CEO and Co-founder of SPEAR Physical Therapy, the American Physical Therapy Association’s 2017 Practice of the Year. Dan co-founded SPEAR in 1999 working out of a small treatment room. SPEAR has since ...
Ryan Kitzen, PT, DPT
Ryan Kitzen, PT, DPT
Chief Operating Officer
Ryan Kitzen is SPEAR Physical Therapy’s Chief Operating Officer. He is a licensed and registered Physical Therapist with a Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy. He is a member of the Orthopedic section of the APTA. Ry...
David Endres, PT, MS
David Endres, PT, MS
Co-founder & Physical Therapist
David Endres is the co-founder of SPEAR Physical Therapy and practicing Physical Therapist. After graduating from Touro College with a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy, Dave worked for the NYC Board of Education treatin...
Lisa Yirce, PT, DPT
Lisa Yirce, PT, DPT
Regional Director
Lisa Yirce is the Regional Director of our Empire Region. She graduated summa cum laude with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Stony Brook University. Lisa has extensive clinical...
Amir Rand, PT, DPT
Amir Rand, PT, DPT
Regional Director
Amir Rand is the Regional Director of our Gotham region. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy with distinction from The New York Institute of Technology. His clinical experience includes outpatient orthopedics, sports-...
Joe Costello, PT, DPT, SCS
Joe Costello, PT, DPT, SCS
Regional Director
Joe Costello is the Regional Director of our Freedom Region. He received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. Joe received his undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in Busine...
David Block, PT, DPT
David Block, PT, DPT
Regional Director
David Block is the Regional Director of our Liberty Region. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy with distinction from the New York Institute of Technology. While at NYIT, David received the Benjamin Morey Commitment t...
Jeremy Crow, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS, ART
Jeremy Crow, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS, ART
Director of Clinical Services
Jeremy Crow is the Director of Clinical Services at SPEAR. He received a B.S. in Exercise Science with a Sports Medicine emphasis from Florida State University in 2000, where he was a scholarship Student Athletic Trainer. Jer...
Lauren Carleton, PT, DPT, CHT
Lauren Carleton, PT, DPT, CHT
Clinical Director
Lauren is the Clinical Director of SPEAR’s Tribeca – Chambers Street location and a Certified Hand Therapist. Lauren moved to NYC in 2010, where she attended and graduated from Columbia University with a Doctorate in ...
Joe Losurdo, PT, DPT
Joe Losurdo, PT, DPT
Clinical Director
Joe Losurdo is the Clinical Director of SPEAR’s Upper East Side location. Joe earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Temple University. Prior to attending Temple, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with...
Ninia Agustin, PT, DPT
Ninia Agustin, PT, DPT
Clinical Director
Ninia Agustin is the Clinical Director of SPEAR’S Times Square – Center for the Performing Arts location. Ninia earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Delaware. During her time there, she was ...
Austin Afshar, PT, DPT, CSCS
Austin Afshar, PT, DPT, CSCS
Clinical Director
Austin Afshar is the Clinical Director of SPEAR’s Brooklyn – Park Slope location. Austin earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York University after obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science...
Nicole Surach, PT, DPT, SFMA
Nicole Surach, PT, DPT, SFMA
Clinical Director
Nicole Surach is Clinical Director and Physical Therapist at SPEAR’s Brooklyn Heights location. She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Miami. She received her undergraduate degree from...
Joshua Rieders, PT, DPT, CSCS
Joshua Rieders, PT, DPT, CSCS
Clinical Director
Josh Rieders is the Clinical Director of SPEAR’s Financial District – 70 Pine Street location. Josh received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from New York University and his Bachelor of Science degree in Health &...
Ashley Rozek, PT, DPT, CSCS
Ashley Rozek, PT, DPT, CSCS
Clinical Director
Ashley Rozek is the Clinical Director of, and Physical Therapist at, SPEAR’s Grand Central – 3rd Ave location. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York University and her Bachelor’s degree in Human...
Michael Virgile, PT, DPT, CSCS
Michael Virgile, PT, DPT, CSCS
Clinical Director
Michael Virgile is the Clinical Director of SPEAR’s Union Square location. Mike earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy and Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Science from Northeastern University graduating with mag...
Michelle Dearwater, PT, DPT
Michelle Dearwater, PT, DPT
Clinical Director
Michelle Dearwater is the Clinical Director of our W 75th Street location. She received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Columbia University in New York City. Michelle has a diverse background in business, graduating cu...
Donald Squire, PT, DPT
Donald Squire, PT, DPT
Clinical Director
Donald Squire is the Clinical Director of SPEAR’s Penn Plaza – 7th Ave location. Don earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Misericordia University in Pennsylvania, where he also received his Bachelor’s D...
Kate Esler, PT, DPT
Kate Esler, PT, DPT
Clinical Director
Kate Esler is the Clinical Director of our Tribeca – Park Place location. Kate earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Rutgers University. She received her Bachelor’s in Health and Exercise Science with ...
Patrick Watson, PT, DPT
Patrick Watson, PT, DPT
Patrick received his Bachelor’s degree in Community Health from Hofstra University and his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York Medical College. Patrick focuses on the treatment of orthopedic and sports injuries.
Whi...
Michelle Rooney, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Michelle Rooney, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Clinical Director
Michelle is the Clinical Director of SPEAR’s Chelsea location. Michelle attended Utica College in New York, where she graduated from the accelerated Doctor of Physical Therapy program. She also completed her undergraduate d...
John Mackarey, PT, DPT
John Mackarey, PT, DPT
Clinical Director
John Mackarey is Clinical Director of, and Physical Therapist at, SPEAR’s Long Island City – CityView clinic. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Temple University in 2017 and a Bachelor’s degree in...
Kyle Stupi, PT, DPT, CSCS
Kyle Stupi, PT, DPT, CSCS
Clinical Director
Kyle Stupi is the Clinical Director of our Westchester – Athlete’s Warehouse clinic. He received his BA in Neuroscience from Columbia University, MS in Exercise Physiology from Long Island University, and his Doct...
Ryan Coye, PT, DPT
Ryan Coye, PT, DPT
Clinical Director
Ryan Coye is the Clinical Director of SPEAR’S Midtown – Plaza Hotel location. Ryan earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Stony Brook University. During his time there, Ryan served as Co-President of his class and ...
Tom Anderson, PT, DPT, CSCS
Tom Anderson, PT, DPT, CSCS
Clinical Director
Tom is the Clinical Director of SPEAR’s E 56th Street location. Tom earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree from Springfield College and his Bachelor’s degree in Biological Science from Binghamton University. Thro...
Derek Lee, PT, DPT
Derek Lee, PT, DPT
Clinical Director
Derek Lee is the Clinical Director of our Murray Hill location. Derek received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Health and Exercise Science from the University of Oklahoma and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Texas Wom...
