Meet the Board of Directors
Michelle Collie, President
Michelle Collie PT, DPT, MS, OCS serves as Highbar and Performance Physical Therapy’s CEO, a multi-clinic private practice with locations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Michelle attended Otago University in New Zealand, earning a bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy in 1995. In 2005 she earned her Master of Science and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from MGH-IHP and was the recipient of the Ionta Award for Clinical Excellence. In 2005 Michelle became a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist.
Michelle has been an APTA member for over 20 years. In 2006 she received the APTA Distinguished Service Award. In 2014 Performance Physical Therapy was the recent of the Jane L. Snyder APTA, Private Practice of the Year award and in 2019 and 2021 Michelle received APTA-PPS Board Service awards. Michelle also serves as the treasurer for APTA Private Practice. In the past Michelle has held positions of RIAPTA vice president and director, chair of the Private Practice Special Interest Group and chair of the APTA Private Practice Section PR and Marketing committee.
Michelle is active in many community organizations and non-profits in RI: She is the past president of the RI Reach Out and Read Board of Trustees, has served on the Brown/Guachipilincito, Shoulder to Shoulder board, the Providence Children’s Museum, states Coastal Resource Management Council and Multiple Sclerosis board of trustees. In 2012, in light of all the philanthropic work Performance Physical Therapy does, her team was awarded the RI Outstanding Philanthropic Business Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Michelle lives on the East Side of Providence with her husband and two children, two dogs and two cats!
Jennifer Hurrell, PT, MS, DHSc, Vice President
Dr. Hurrell has been a licensed physical therapist since 1995 and has maintained continuous clinical practice since that time. Her primary area of clinical interest lies in the outpatient orthopedic setting, with a focused interest in the treatment of chronic pain using a biopsychosocial approach. Dr. Hurrell also joined the ranks of academia in 2001 and has held academic appointments at Mercy College, the Community College of Rhode Island, and Bryant University. She has been a member of the APTA for over 25 years and is currently a member of the RIAPTA Legislative Action Committee. In addition, Dr. Hurrell is a trainer for the APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program (CCIP) and is currently a member of the APTA CCIP workgroup.
» Email Jennifer Hurrell, PT, MS, DHSc
Paul Ullucci, Treasurer
Paul is the Associate Dean for the College of Health & Wellness and an Associate Professor at Johnson & Wales University. Previously he was an Associate Professor, SARS-COV2 Surveillance Program Administrator and Program Director for Bryant University's School of Health Sciences, Physical Therapy Program. Prior to working at Bryant, Paul acted as the Semester 1 Coordinator and Director of the Human Anatomy Lab at Sacred Heart University. His research interests focus on the evaluation and treatment of concussion, whiplash injuries, chronic headache, TMJ, spine, manual therapy, injury prevention and reducing workers compensation costs for businesses.
Paul currently serves on the American Physical Therapy Association’s Workgroup revising the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice and is the Treasurer of the RIAPTA Association where he is also a member of their Legislative Affairs Committee. He has previously served APTA as the Director of the San Joaquin Valley District of the California Physical Therapy Association, the Treasurer of the Connecticut Physical Therapy Association. Paul was appointed by the Governor of Rhode Island to the RI Physical Therapy Licensure Board in 2020. Paul is currently National Athletic Trainers Association’s (NATA) liaison to the US Bone and Joint Initiative and currently acts as its Treasurer. Paul became NATA District 1 Director in 2010 and was appointed NATA Secretary Treasurer in 2012. Paul has previously served as District 1 Treasurer and President of the Easter Athletic Trainers Association (EATA). He has received the EATA’s Cramer Award in 2009 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame the “49’ers club”. In 2015 he was recognized by the NATA as a Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer and received the NATA’s Athletic Trainer Service Award in 2010. Paul was inducted into the Rhode Island Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in 2014.
Albert Hulley, PTA, Secretary
Treasurer APTA RI for two years, Co-chair APTA RI education committee, Member Finance Committee Section on Pediatrics, Member Technical Advisory Board for PTA program at New England Institute of Technology, Member Board of Directors Greenlock Therapeutic Riding Center.
BA Psychology, Masters Business Administration, Associate in Applied Science (PTA), PATH registered therapist.
Currently employed as Physical Therapist Assistant at Meeting Street School and Greenlock Therapeutic Riding Center, Retired from John Crane Inc with various positions including Financial Controller, Customer Service Manager, Plant Manager, and Vice President of Operations
Outside activities include racquetball, horseback riding, and grandchildren.
Carol Petrie, Chief Delegate
Carol G. Petrie, PT, DPT, M.A.Ed
Board Certified in Geriatric Physical Therapy
Carol Petrie graduated with her B.S. in Physical therapy from the University of Vermont in 1992. She has served as a staff therapist and in leadership roles in civilian and military practice settings throughout her career. She is currently a full time clinical assistant professor and Director of Clinical Education at the University of Rhode Island Physical Therapy program.
She has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 1996 and is an active member in the Acute Care, Geriatrics, Cardiopulmonary and Education sections. At the state level, she has served as a Delegate for the past 4 years.
Mary Helene Chaplin, Director
Mary Helene graduated from Boston University’s Sargent College with a degree in Physical Therapy in 1984 and received an M.S. in Health Care Administration from Salve Regina University in 2018. She has had her Clinical Specialty in Hippotherapy (HPCS) since 2007. Mary Helene has extensive experience providing physical therapy to individuals with multiple developmental disabilities across the lifespan, from early intervention and school aged children to working with aging adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Additionally, she has experience working with geriatric adults in home care and assisted living facility settings in both RI and MA. She is currently working teaching, consulting to and mentoring other therapists who are incorporating equine movement into their therapy practice and in the process of starting her own private practice in RI: Engaging Physical Therapy, LLC with a focus on providing home and community based physical therapy with inclusion of equine movement to improve functional outcomes for appropriate individuals. Mary Helene has been incorporating hippotherapy into PT services for over 25 years, which has allowed her to combine her love of horses with the practice of physical therapy. Mary Helene began training as a faculty member for the American Hippotherapy Association in 2003 and became a Coordinating Faculty Member in 2006. In 2019, she began serving on the AHA, Inc Board of Directors and is currently serving as secretary. Additionally, Mary Helene is co-chair of the AHA, Inc. Education Committee and a member of the AHA, Inc. Research Committee.
Joshua Clare, PT, DPT, Director
Ken Vinacco, Director
I'm currently working at Rhode Island Hospital's Outpatient Neuro Clinic in Providence, RI as one of the neurologic physical therapists. I graduated from the University of Rhode Island's Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2021 and recently completed Boston University's Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program in August 2022. I specialize in treating individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis and really love treating a wide variety of pts with other neurologic diseases. I have a strong interest in behavior change and empowering my patients to overcome the many challenges they face. I have been a member of the RI APTA since 2018 and during my time at URI, I was involved in reaching out to local legislators to advocate for the profession and discuss different barriers that we face as practitioners. I am very thankful for my time at URI and how much the program emphasized our involvement within our local APTA. I have attended previous RI APTA annual dinners, as well as many virtual and in-person lectures that have been offered. On the national scale, I have attended Combined Sections Meeting either in-person or virtually for the past 3 years. This year I will be attending and presenting my research poster on exploring biopsychosocial factors that contribute to walking activity in people with PD. Additionally, I also help to edit and produce the ANPT's Degenerative Diseases SIG Podcast, helping to translate knowledge into practice.
Erin Sayles, Delegate
Albert Hulley, PTA, PTA Caucus Representative
Tamara Paolangeli, Executive Director
