Our Staff.

Thomas Sawhill, P.T.

Physical Therapist

Tom is a graduate of CSU Northridge with his certificate in Physical Therapy from UCLA hospitals and clinics in 1979. He opened South Valley Physical Therapy in April 1985, which is an outpatient orthopedic clinic in South San Jose. He has an interest in nutrition and believes food should be used as medicine and is extremely important in combating disease and facilitating the normal healing process. Tom is a plant-based eater and an avid exerciser. He enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren and enjoys watching his grandchildren participate in gymnastics, baseball, marching/piping band, and motorcycle riding.
Tom’s philosophy for physical therapy is “knowledge is key”. He has a firm belief that giving clients the information they need to help manage their own condition. He is an educator and makes sure that patients understand their condition, how they can impact their own progress, and how to strive to achieve their goals with Physical Therapy.
Tom has been married to his wife Kathy since 1979. They moved to San Jose from Southern California in 1985 to open South Valley Physical Therapy. They had 4 adult children and 6 grandchildren (2 girls and 4 boys) that are the joy of their life. Tom is a World War II enthusiast with an extensive collection of memorabilia that is on display in the clinic.

Ayesha Sulemani, PT DPT

Physical Therapist

Ayesha was born in Madanapalle, near Bangalore, India. She received her bachelor's degree in physical therapy from Manipal University in Manipal, India.
She got married and moved to California in 2006. She and her husband have 2 children, a boy and a girl.
Ayesha returned to school at A. T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona where she received her Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy.
When she's not treating patients Ayesha enjoys running, dancing and yoga. She loves to spend time with her family (her brother is also a physical therapist living in the bay area) and her friends. She likes to play tennis, badminton and basketball, and enjoys being outside enjoying nature and exploring the world through her travels!
Ayesha treats all of her patients with compassion and kindness. She believes that the more a patient understands their condition and the more they take an active role in their rehabilitation are the major keys to a successful recovery.

Natalia Ushak

PT, DPT

Natalia graduated from Rutgers University, before moving to California in 2004 for Graduate school at Azusa Pacific University. Where she graduated with Summa Cum Laude. Natalia loves to bring a compassionate & individualized care plans to optimize function. Addressing rehab, prevention and wellness meeting each patient where they are and helping get them where they want to be.

When Natalia isn't in the office she's an at home fitness fanatic who loves hiking, reading, nutrition, cooking and Preventative medicine management of chronic illness & autoimmune conditions.

Sandhya Patel

PT

Sandhya, originally from India, earned her bachelor's degree in physical therapy from Maharaja Sayajirao university of Baroda, India. In 2017, she relocated to Connecticut, where she worked for a year before moving to California. She has been working as a Physical Therapist at South Valley Physical Therapy since 2019.
Her passion lies in helping individuals positively transform their lives through improved movements. She focuses on using whole body approach that integrates human anatomy, movement patterns, & nervous system to enhance function. She believes in educating her patients about their condition, rehabilitation progress & long-term recovery to ensure optimal health outcomes.
In addition to English, she is proficient in Hindi and Gujarati. She has completed extra course work in Movement Links, as well as attained certification in Applied Functional science & chain reaction.
When she is not in the office, she enjoys spending quality time with her daughter and husband. She also loves hiking, reading, painting, and jigsaw puzzles.

Vincent Sy

PTA

My name is Jose Vincent Sy, but I usually go by Vincent or Vince. I was born in Manila, Philippines and moved to San Jose, CA as a small child. I attended West Valley College and earned Associate's of Arts degrees in kinesiology, liberal arts and sciences, math, and communications. I then went to Ohlone College and earned a Physical Therapist Associate's degree. I arrived at South Valley Physical Therapy for my third and last clinical rotation in April 2022. I became a full-time employee at SVPT after passing my state board exams several months later.
I have 3 younger brothers and 1 older sister. My hobbies include playing goaltender for roller hockey and weightlifting.

Stephanie Torres

PT Aide

Stephanie was born and raised in San Jose, California. She attended San José State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. In February, she began working as a PT aide at South Valley clinic, where she enjoys helping patients on their journey to recovery. Outside of work, Stephanie loves traveling, hiking, spending time with friends and family, and relaxing with a good movie.

Neveah Ramirez

Front Office

Nevaeh was raised in Morgan Hill/San Jose. She graduated from Live Oak High School in 2021. Nevaeh began her career with South Valley Physical Therapy in November of 2024. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, attending concerts, and relaxing. She values spending quality time with friends and family, as they are an important part of her life.

Esmi Navarro

Front Desk Coordinator

Esmi joined South Valley Physical Therapy in July 2011. Outside of work, she treasures family time with her kids Bella and Ricky. She enjoys going to concerts and family gatherings with all her loved ones. Most wonderful thing about working here has been building amazing relationships in and outside the office for years to come.

Idaisa Arenas

PT Aide

Coming soon.