Experience and Education
Our physical therapists hold clinical doctorate degrees in physical therapy. Although this is becoming more common, our physical therapists have the experience to back up the degree. Our therapists have between five and fifteen years of experience treating patients. Additionally, they all actively participate in continuing education programs to further their expertise in patient care.
Board Certified Clinical Specialization
Every physical therapist is licensed, but only a select group continue on to become Board Certified Clinical Specialists. Our therapists have taken the additional steps necessary to become Orthopedic Clinical Specialists (OCS). This means they have advanced clinical expertise, skill and experience unique to orthopedic physical therapy. Although there are many certifications out there, Board Certified Clinical Specialist is the only certification recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association. There are only 170 Orthopedic Clinical Specialists in New Jersey, three of whom work for Professional Physical Therapy & Training.
Advanced Certifications
Dr. Matthew Riordan, PT, DPT, OCS, CMTPT
As an aging former collegiate athlete, Matthew knows how it is to want to be able to feel young and continue to perform at your best. As a busy dad of four, he understands how the time can fly by and without even realizing that stiffness, aches and pains can quickly settle in and are often accepted as normal. As a son to parents fpr whom he does whatever he can to help them maintain their mobility and independence, Matthew knows that right now is the best time to start getting better and work on keeping your mobility so you don’t have to settle for a life where you doubt your abilities or miss out on opportunities.
Matthew loves to work with women and men in their forties, fifties and sixties who want to live better into their seventies, eighties and beyond.
Matthew is a Doctor of Physical Therapy. His approach is to guide and empower his patients to live better by providing effective techniques for the ongoing maintenance of your most important possession; your body. He enjoys the planning and success his patients have in feeling, moving and living better again.
Matthew has over 20 years of experience treating patients with orthopedic and musculoskeletal problems. Early in his career Matthew found himself working in PT practices where it was standard to treat three to four patients each hour. He knew that there was a better way to deliver quality healthcare to people who were really striving to get better. He realized that the best results for people came through one on one focused care. People should not just be herded through their sessions, they should be treated like an individual. In 2004 Matthew founded Professional Physical Therapy & Training, which has now become Better With Physical Therapy.
Matthew is very proud of the fact that at a time when most of healthcare is moving toward seeing more patients in less time, under his leadership his practice has stayed true to the mission of providing the best care through one on one personalized treatment.
Through his passion for helping people become a Better version of themselves, he will forever continue to pursue advanced training and certifications. He is a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy (OCS); a designation that very few have. This means that treatments are comprehensive and often finds problems that often get missed by other practitioners who do not devote the same time to their patients. He has also taken advance certification in Dry Needling treatment earning him a Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist (CMTPT) which helps him get quickly and directly to the source of the patients problems which they may have been suffering with for years. Matthew also enjoys helping athletes and weekend warriors as a Certified Running Gait Analyst through RUN DNA.
Matthew earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, which is now Rutgers University. Previously a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from Mercy College, a bachelors degree in Biology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and originally an Associates Degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant also from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Wherever you may see Matthew, in the clinic, in the YMCA or even around town, he is always willing to listen and help where he can.
Dr. Miriam Hillman, PT, DPT, CKTP, CMTPT
Establishing a meaningful and deep relationship with each of her patients is of the utmost importance to Miriam and is the primary pillar to her approach to physical therapy. These strong relationships cultivate trust between Miriam and her patients that is vital for their care and success as a patient. During her career, Miriam has developed an organic and genuine interest in working with children and young adults suffering with chronic pain. Her unique approach to physical therapy while working with both orthopedic and specialized cases has made her one of the state’s few clinicians who treat AMPS in an outpatient setting (amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome). Miriam carries this deep and personal connection to all of her patients.
Miriam is an active mom of two young children and a local resident of Florham Park, NJ. Her hobbies include playing tennis, exercising and spending time with her family and friends. Physical Therapy is not just a career choice for Miriam but a part of her identity as a person and community member as well. She loves helping people become better, more fulfilled versions of themselves. Being a physical therapist provides the opportunity for her to do that!
Miriam earned her undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences from Cook College, Rutgers University and then moved on to receive her doctoral degree of physical therapy, graduating with honors, from Arcadia University in Glenside, PA.
Dr. Michelle Millner, PT, DPT, OCS, CMTPT
Michelle has always been active and somewhat injury prone. Due to her interests in hiking, running, and horses, Michelle has been on the receiving end of physical therapy several times and has learned that staying in shape helps prevent injuries in the first place. This realization helped drive her into the profession in the first place.
Michelle has been a practicing physical therapist for 15 years and in that time has had the pleasure of helping people recover from a variety of injuries. Using her professional experience and the most current evidence Dr. Millner has developed a unique treatment style focusing on function, education, exercise progressions and individualized care.
In addition to one-on-one sessions, Dr. Millner teaches rehab based Pilates classes, foam roller classes and other educational seminars to empower everyone to take control of their health. The best approach to improving one’s health and performance is having a team and accountability to help you achieve those goals.
Dr. Millner is Rutgers University Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate. She also completed her orthopedic clinical specialist (OCS) certification. In her spare time, she cooks, eats, and hikes.
Dr. Will Hylton PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Will is passionate about providing a goal based approach to physical therapy to help people meet their true potential. Will enjoys working with patients of all ages, though is most passionate about working with young and adult athletes returning to their sport related activities at their highest level. Being a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Will is able to work with athletes across the entire rehabilitation continuum, even continuing long after an injury has resolved with the goal of returning to sport BETTER than ever before.
While receiving his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from Lynchburg College, he was also a member of the Baseball Team. During that time he also served as a CrossFit Trainer for two local gyms. Will stayed at Lynchburg College and received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy. After completing his Doctorate, Will continued his educational journey at Sacred Heart University, where he completed an Orthopedic Residency Program allowing him to specialize in Orthopedic Physical Therapy. He also had the opportunity to teach in the SHU Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at that time.
Will is originally from Southwest Virginia and is a new native to New Jersey. In his free time Will participates in all the recreational sports he has time for, CrossFit, and Olympic Weightlifting.
Zachary Demetrios, PTA
Zachary Demetrios is a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) who strives to provide the best possible care to his patients while keeping each session engaging and upbeat. He believes in taking a collaborative approach to help patients not only reach their functional goals, but their personal goals as well.
His journey started after taking a functional human anatomy course at Rutgers University. Learning about the human body and the series of complex systems that comprise it was extremely fascinating to him. This led to him observing multiple physical therapy clinics and it didn’t take long after that for him to fall in love with the practice. In addition to the satisfaction of observing the functional progress each patient earns, he believes their uplifting reaction to it is just as rewarding.
With experience working in a variety of physical therapy settings treating sports injury, orthopaedic, neurologic, post-surgical, and cardiac cases, Zachary has gained a well-rounded skill set and understanding of the rehabilitation process necessary to provide optimal care. Zachary earned his Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science degree from Union County College, Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Rutgers University, and plans to transition to a Doctor of Physical Therapy in the near future.
Zachary is also a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter and martial artist specializing in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He enjoys spending time with his family, living an active lifestyle, and learning new skills.
Dr. Jaime Ferreira PT, DPT
Jaime grew up as a soccer player throughout his entire life. Along the road, he had his fair share of experiences visiting different medical professionals for a variety of injuries, but mostly ankle sprains. Jaime noticed the physical therapists he worked with were always engaged in his sessions and really seemed to enjoy what they were doing. More importantly, they were always able to get him back to doing the things he enjoyed most, such as playing soccer, hiking, biking and skateboarding.
Jaime enjoys working with all ranges of athletes from youth sports to weekend warriors to get them back to the things they love. However, along the way he has found a deep appreciation for putting together and solving the puzzle to help people achieve their goals.
Jaime received his Bachelor of Science in Biology Degree from Kean University. He continued at Kean University to receive his Doctorate of Physical Therapy. During that process, he completed one of his full-time clinical affiliations right here at Better With PT. Outside of the classroom as DPT student, Jaime worked along side professors completing research projects to further develop the Physical Therapy Profession. During his final year at Kean University, he worked as a Teaching Assistant to help 1st year students through their Anatomy lectures and cadaver laboratory.
In addition to being a Physical Therapist, Jaime is a youth soccer coach in his hometown of Union, NJ. He enjoys playing soccer recreationally, living an active lifestyle, and learning something new everyday.
Dr. Jesse Garn PT, DPT
Jesse is a native of Syracuse, NY, where he grew up as an injury-prone, yet happy-go-lucky distance runner. He was a successful high school athlete, becoming the New York State Champion over 1000m during his senior year at Marcellus High School. After graduating, he went on to pursue academics and athletics at Binghamton University.
At Binghamton, Jesse’s passion for science led him to major in biochemistry, with a minor in health and wellness studies. With great mentorship in his curriculum and experience as a teaching assistant for the exercise science course, he knew he would pursue a career where he could help individuals reach their fitness and performance goals. Along the way, he was a 3-time DI NCAA All-American over 800 meters and competed in the 2016 Olympic Trials for the same event.
After several years of competing as a professional runner for HOKA, he returned to higher education, and graduated from Upstate Medical University with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy.
Jesse is most passionate about changing the lives of distance runners, track and field athletes, and those with orthopedic injuries of all levels through physical therapy and individualized goal setting. In his free time, he enjoys running, hiking, traveling, and is self-learning guitar.
