Meet the Clinic Team

— 834 Inman Village Parkway NE, Atlanta, GA, 30307 —

Merci Ortenzi Treaster PT,DPT

My mission is to deliver the best quality of care during all phases of womanhood while providing every woman with an individualized program that integrates the most current evidence-based physical therapy treatment for pelvic floor dysfunction.

One of my moms is an OB/GYN and my other mom is a chiropractor, so I like to say…out popped me, a pelvic health physical therapist. Growing up in a healthcare world, anatomical terms were part our daily conversation. I remember my mom going through the female reproductive system in my 3rd grade class during a career day event. All the other children’s eyes were big and scared and I just thought it was a normal day. How was I supposed to know that other moms did not teach their children anatomical terms like vulva, vagina, clitoris, urethra, etc. Other kids called their privates “ hooha, no no, foo foo, bum, china..” while I could recite all of the stages of your menstrual cycle at age 12. I always knew the field of health would be in my future, pelvic floor and all!

It was in the car one day that my OBGYN mother and I discussed the lack of women’s health during the postpartum period. As a physician, she knew how to keep the mother “medically safe” but when it came to the musculoskeletal side she had no clue how to help them. Daily she heard complaints of pelvic pressure, pain with intercourse, urinary leakage, bowel leakage and she knew about medications and surgical interventions that could help but never knew there could be help outside of the medical realm. That is where I come in. I did research and found that in other countries pelvic health physical therapy is the norm. It is protocol before and after you have a baby.

The Pelvis Pro began as an Instagram account as a way to deliver fun and educational pelvic health information to the public. It quickly grew as a place to present prenatal tips as I started my pregnancy and postpartum journey. People reached out to me weekly asking questions regarding pelvic health and exercises that could be done and when to begin postpartum.

After becoming a mother myself, I learned more than ever how important it was to have a pelvic health physical therapist as a partner during recovery (you can read about my labor and delivery/postpartum journey on my blog posts). I worked very hard alongside my pelvic health therapist to get to the place where I am today.

I am here to be your partner pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, and postpartum.

A little bit more about Merci…

A Georgia native, Dr. Merci Ortenzi Treaster PT, DPT obtained her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Mercer University and a BS in Health Sciences from Georgia State University.

Merci began her pelvic floor training at Women First Rehabilitation and has received continuing education with Herman and Wallace Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Institute. In addition to her training in pelvic floor rehabilitation, Merci is also certified in trigger point dry needling. She is a manual based therapist and employs a functional approach to treatment of the whole body. In addition, she is a partner to her patient’s and is an active participant in their journey. Merci is passionate about the field of pelvic health and strives to incorporate the latest evidence into the treatment of her patients.

As a mother to her 4 year-old son, Merci understands how pregnancy and postpartum changes are unaddressed by many health care professionals. She is a part of a team of like-minded practitioners to promote a holistic approach to healing during all phases of womanhood. She is determined to bridge the gap through education so women call feel less anxious through all stages.

Merci lives with her husband, son, and pup in Midtown. She enjoys hanging outdoors, Peloton ride classes and tread classes, traveling, and spending time with her family at the local park.

Angelica Whaley PT,DPT

Since becoming a pelvic health physical therapist, I’ve realized I enjoy treating pelvic pain the most. I love neurological PT and we know that with chronic pelvic pain conditions there can be an alteration in the way the body processes pain. I help patients manage the biological, psychological, social, emotional, spiritual, and of course, physical contributions and manifestations to their symptoms so that we can partner along the journey to the other side of pain. My extensive background in running track and field keeps me excited about getting postpartum women back to their previous level of exercise as quickly and safely as possible whether it’s running, weight lifting, kickboxing, spinning, Pilates, etc! You name it! I’m here to make that transition seamless!”

As she originally moved to Newnan, GA from Paso Robles, California with her family at the age of 7 years old, Dr. Whaley grew up as the baby amongst her 3 active and inspiring sisters, a father who retired early from being an electronuclear engineer and a mother who spent life serving as an RN to start life anew closer to extended family in the South with a West Coast twist!

She obtained a BS in Kinesiology and Health Promotions from The University of Kentucky and a minor in Spanish, where she also committed to run track and field on scholarship. Her primary events were the 400 and 4x400 where she had the honor of being a part of the best women’s team finish in UK history as they finished as the team national runner up at the 2015 NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon where she became a second team All-American.

While at Kentucky, she went on a life-altering community service trip to Ethiopia through her athletic department that sparked her interest in public health and health disparities. She graduated in 2015 and moved to Santo Domingo, Ecuador immediately after college to work as a health volunteer for 3 months to deepen her journey towards health advocacy. She will tell you that she always thought she wanted to solely treat athletes and turns out that was the last thing she wanted to do!

She went on to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Northwestern University. While there, she became one of the founding members of the Inaugural Global Health Committee and Black Student Committee and also developed a passion for pelvic health PT the more she learned about it in school and has been doing it ever since graduating! Her future plans and interests include eventually returning to school to get a Masters in Public Health to develop ways to advocate for, change the commodification of, and heal women of color who experience sexual violence and birthing trauma at disproportionately higher rates than their counterparts on more of a macro-level.

“As I like to tell my clients, we women are warriors, but unfortunately, the whole world does not advocate for us in the same way we do for others. That’s where my passion lies—treating women and giving them the space to live their daily lives without limitation and ultimately, being an advocate for our health.”

Remington Covert, PT, DPT

Also a Georgia Native, Dr. Remington Covert, PT, DPT obtained her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and a BS in Exercise Science with a minor in Public Heath from the University of South Carolina.

Remi was drawn to pelvic floor PT when she first met Merci (our fearless leader) back in 2017. Since then, she has completed clinical rotations, training, and coursework to hone her skills for treating pelvic floor dysfunction. She received pelvic floor training through Herman & Wallace Rehabilitation Institute and dry needling certification from the American Academy of Spinal Manipulation.

Navigating the realm of PT, especially pelvic health, can be intimidating. Remi prides herself in fostering deep connections, providing a safe space, and making taboo topics easier to talk about. She is excited to not only bring her pelvic PT skills but also her ortho skills to the table. Optimization, on all fronts, is her focus for her patients. Remi approaches each patient holistically and emphasizes the importance of a whole body approach in order to bridge the gap between orthopedics and pelvic floor therapies.

Remi calls Inman Park her home with her husband and their two fur babies: Nani (an adorable black and white Pitt mix) and Jax (their chunky bunny rabbit). Her favorite ways to stay active include group classes at MADabolic Atlanta, kickboxing at Vesta, taking her dog for walks, and going hiking!

Dr. Alainey Penn, PT, DPT

Clinic Director - Inman Park

Dr. Alainey Penn is a dedicated and compassionate physical therapist specializing in women's pelvic health. With a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and specialized pelvic floor training through Herman & Wallace, Dr. Penn has emerged as a compassionate and dedicated advocate of her field.

Driven by a deep commitment to enhancing the quality of life for women, Dr. Penn has honed her expertise in various areas of women's pelvic health. Her areas of specialty include pelvic pain, pregnancy and postpartum care, endometriosis management, urinary pain/urgency/frequency, painful intercourse (dyspareunia), and c-section recovery. Through her comprehensive approach, Dr. Penn provides personalized care tailored to the unique needs of each patient, helping them achieve optimal pelvic health and overall well-being.

Although challenges associated with pregnancy, postpartum, and aging (to name a few) are often overlooked and normalized to such an extent that many women are silently suffering, Alainey never misses an opportunity to express to her patients that they are worthy of a symptom-free life where they can do the things they love! As a women’s health provider, her number one priority is to create an environment where each of her patients feels understood, respected, and justified.

As a trusted advocate for women's pelvic health, Dr. Alainey Penn continues to make a profound impact on the lives of her patients, empowering them to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Brie Levy Gammie, PT, DPT, OCS

Our very own Ortho-Pelvic PT!

Brie is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. A Florida native, she graduated from Florida State University with a BS in Exercise Science. Brie moved to Atlanta and earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Mercer University in 2016 and went on to complete a
13-month Residency in Orthopedic Physical Therapy at Mercer.

In 2019, Brie and her husband relocated to Chicago, Illinois, where she provided physical therapy for The Joffrey Ballet. Brie’s career as a performing arts specialist flourished in Chicago, where she established herself as the point PT for local colleges and dance companies including A&A Ballet and Columbia College Chicago, providing both lectures and treatment for dancers. As she became more specialized in treating dancers with hypermobility syndromes, she began to realize many of her patients complaining of orthopedic ailments were also struggling with pelvic floor dysfunction. This was not by coincidence.

Brie decided there was a real need to help bridge the gap between pelvic floor and orthopedic physical therapy. Since receiving pelvic floor training, Brie feels she has been able to elevate her success and skill in treating all conditions in the body. Brie considers herself a manual therapist and loves using a multifaceted approach to treating pain, including Trigger Point Dry Needling. She has special interest in chronic pain, hypermobility and autonomic dysfunction, vestibular rehabilitation, dance medicine, and pelvic floor physical therapy.

Brie received dance medicine training through The Dance Medicine Education Initiative, The Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, and through mentoring with highly skilled performing arts therapists in both Atlanta and Chicago. Her pelvic floor education is through the Herman and Wallace Institute.

In her free time, Brie enjoys going to the gym, playing guitar, singing, and enjoying everything Atlanta has to offer with her husband, Joe, and her sisters. Brie has a strong belief that the mind and body function as a single system and deeply appreciates the need to treat the entire person, not just the injury at hand. Making patients feel comfortable, understood, and empowered to move better is her goal so they, too, can enjoy everything they love with those they love!

Services Offered:

Return to sport postpartum (running, weight lifting)
Cupping
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
Trigger Point Dry Needling
Joint Mobilization/ manipulations
Muscle Energy Techniques
Taping

Common Conditions Treated:

Low back pain/SI joint pain
Tendinitis Bursitis
Hypermobility Syndromes
Diastasis Recti
Labral tears
Wrist pain
Ligament sprains
Myofascial trigger points
Fascial restrictions
Headaches
TMJ Dysfunction
Dizziness/Vertigo

Mary Kathleen Toner | Operations Manager

Talking Queen, Mouth of the South, Chatty Kathy - she’s heard it all. So, it came as no surprise to her parents when Mary Kathleen decided to bid farewell to her business classes at Auburn University and head over to the Liberal Arts side of campus for the journalism program. She’s always loved having an audience to tell stories to and writing has given her a creative outlet to do just that.

Before joining the most elite girl gang to ever grace the ATL, Mary Kathleen was actually a patient of Merci’s! “Pelvic PT changed my life for the better. Not only did it lead to me finding my first friends in Atlanta, but it put and end to both mental and physical suffering I’d been experiencing from puberty well into my 20s. Now, I get to help other women find relief and empowerment! Combined with working alongside friends, what could be better than that?”

Although she serves TPP as an operations manager, she is a writer! Prior to moving to Atlanta in 2017, she was living life in Auburn, AL (War Eagle!) writing features for a nationally distributed hog hunting magazine (no, really, she was) for a year before jumping into the marketing world of women's contemporary fashion for a major online boutique.

Because of her diverse résumé, Mary Kathleen has learned the importance of the power that can come with owning your voice while also remaining versatile. From wildlife to clothing trends to pelvic health, this verbal vixen is prepared to not only educate an audience, but herself as well.

Mary Kathleen lives in Atlanta with her husband (Brian), pups (Cotton & Burlap), and kitty (Knuckles). They are slowly updating a mid-century modern home and will gladly accept any tips or references you may have in regards to home projects! She is also the owner of an online boutique for contemporary clothing called Velvet + Vine, launched October 2019!