Peninsula Physical Therapy Our Staff

Mark Dutton, PT, MPT

Mark's interest in physical therapy began through repeated exposures to the field as a teenager with multiple injuries of family members that required physical therapy for rehabilitation. His father was an anesthesiologist, and he always new he wanted to be involved with medicine, however Mark wanted to be more directly involved with the healing process.

Mark earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1990. He spent the next 2 years traveling and doing construction until attending and subsequently earning his Master's degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Puget Sound, WA in 1996. He met his wife Alyson while in graduate school. She is an Occupational Therapist with board certification in Hand Therapy and they have enjoyed sharing similar professions ever since. They have two children, one daughter and a son 3 ½ years younger.

Mark's hobbies include: anything involving the family, woodworking, golf, boating, snowmobiling, snowboarding and reading.

Professional interests include: rehabilitation of the overhead athlete, anything involving the shoulder complex, manual therapy, post surgical rehabilitation and myofascial dysfunctions.

Alyson Dutton, OTR/L, CHT, LMT

Alyson graduated with a BA in psychology from Antioch University, San Francisco, in 1989 and The National Holistic Institute in 1991. She worked as a massage therapist for 5 years in Marin County, CA, before deciding to return to school to become an Occupational Therapist.

She began her training in upper extremity orthopedic injuries while working at Saint Joseph's in Tacoma and sat for the certification exam in hand therapy 5 years later. After working in upper extremity clinics in Tacoma and Gig Harbor, she eventually joined her husband, Mark Dutton, PT, to provide specialized hand therapy in Belfair, WA.

Currently, Alyson is enrolled at The Institute of Structural Medicine in a 4- year program to become a structural medicine specialist. "Structural medicine draws on and furthers all my previous experience, learning to analyze posture and physical compensation patterns in order to treat the whole person. It uses objective measurements to measure length of connective tissue, then, through physical manipulation and movement, it systematically releases imbalances in the connective tissue relieving many chronic injuries and pain." For more information see structuralmedicine.com.

Special interests include post breast cancer rehab, repetitive strain injuries, wellness and nutrition, post surgical upper extremity (arm and hand) injuries, and assisting individuals decrease chronic pain through lifestyle and structural changes.

When not working, Alyson spends time driving her 2 children to activities and doing all the things that moms do. She loves nature, yoga, camping and hiking, reading and learning, watching movies, boating, and hanging out with her family and friends.

Robert Ghent, PT, MPT

Bob grew up in southern California and began his involvement in Physical therapy working as a physical therapy aide throughout College. He Graduated from California State University Long Beach in 1989 with a BA degree and was accepted into Slippery Rock University for graduate school. This 3-year program allowed Bob to experience the east Coast and small town living, which he enjoyed very much.

After earning his Master's degree in physical therapy in 1992, Bob began working at Good Samaritan Hospital. He specialized in neurological rehabilitation, addressing spinal cord injury, stroke and Traumatic brain injured clients. Over the next 10 years he received advanced education in the neurologic field. He transferred this experience from inpatient to outpatient in 2002, working first in Gig Harbor and now Belfair. Over the last 8 years he has expanded his neurologic education to also include orthopedics and most recently specializing in vestibular rehab.

While Bob has been considered a neurologic expert he feels very comfortable also treating orthopedics. Throughout his career as a PT his patients have varied in age, and diagnoses, which keeps him interested excited about being part of the profession. Bob's resides in Gig Harbor with his wife, Jill, who is also a physical therapist. They have 3 children, 2 boys and one girl, who keep them very busy.

Sharon Brown, PTA/L

Sharon's interest in Physical Therapy started after her car accident in 1997. She suffered a pelvic fracture and Doctors weren't sure if she would ever run again. Through her 3 treatments of physical therapy and her determination in strengthening and stretching she has been able to return to running and has completed the Portland marathon, Seattle and Leavenworth half marathons, and a 24-hour relay run.

Sharon earned her Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from Central Washington University in 2002. Later she heard about the Physical Therapy Assistant program. Sharon attended Green River Community College and graduated with her certificate in as a physical therapy assistant in 2007. She fulfilled her internships at Harrison Hospital and Kitsap Physical Therapy in 2007 and she continued on with Mark Dutton and his team at Kitsap Physical Therapy of Belfair (now Peninsula Physical Therapy).

Sharon's hobbies include reading books, running and lifting weights, watching movies and remodeling her house with her husband.

Professional Interest included: post surgical rehabilitation and manual therapy.

Stephanie Durbin, PTA/L

Stephanie earned her Bachelor's degree in American Ethnic Studies from the University of Washington, Seattle 2000. She spent the next several years traveling and working in a small coffee shop in Olympia. She returned to school in 2006 to attended Green River Community College's Physical Therapist Assistant program. Steph received her Associate of Applied Science in 2008 as a Physical Therapist Assistant.

Steph's interests include traveling, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, mountaineering, mountain bike riding, snowboarding, gardening, spending time with her husband, family and her two black labs that she takes along on most adventures.

Stephanie loves working with people and has always been interested in the medical field. As a newer graduate, she is always striving to gain new experiences. When she is not at our outpatient clinic she works at a nursing home in Olympia.

From left to right: Sandy Denny, Cindy Petersen, Patty Nicholson

With initial hire dates between 2000 and 2002 these gals know the ins and outs of all the insurance companies and have great working relationships with all of the local doctor's offices. They will do everything possible to make your front office experience as smooth and friendly as possible. Cindy is the office manager as well as the billing manager. If you have any questions about your account please do not hesitate to call her. Sandy and Patty run the front desk and are responsible for scheduling and insurance verification.

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