Our Staff

George Cachares is a 1981 graduate of Northwestern University’s Physical Therapy Program. He has worked in adult rehabilitation programs, in-patient therapy and outpatient orthopedics. He has been a co-owner of Southwest Physical Therapy since its start in 1990. He has a dedication to the field of physical therapy and supports the independence of therapy practitioners in private practice.

George’s current therapy focus is in the area of musculoskeletal dysfunction and orthopedic rehabilitation. This is specifically related to conditions associated with chronic pain and long term dysfunction.

Not only is he involved with the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce, George is dedicated to marketing the quality of therapist owned businesses both in networking with physicians as well as other health care referral sources. George supports the efforts of the state and national professional organizations for appropriate legislation to gain proper benefits for Medicare recipients in the area of reimbursement for therapy services.

George is very involved in community and church related organizations and believes in giving back to the community and to the profession which has allowed him to grow as a clinical and as a medical professional.

Tom Kolacki has been working as a physical therapist in 1988 after graduating from the University of Illinois Medical Center. He has been an owner of Southwest Physical Therapy since it opened in 1990.

Tom's specialties include extremity specialty in foot and ankle care, shoulder and knee rehabilitation. He is an avid golfer and is certified to treat golfers in need of assistance with injuries and problems that cause game and performance issues on the golf course.

Tom is involved actively with local Chamber of Commerce and community organizations supporting the efforts of developing business relationships and continuity of networking with other professionals in the Southern and Southwest suburban area. Dedicated to success, he is an avid supporter of the legislative efforts put forth by the professional therapy organizations driven to achieve and maintain the highest level of respect and performance of independently owned outpatient therapy businesses.

Ed Lopina is a physical therapists and clinic manager of Southwest Physical Therapy’s Tinley Park location. He has worked for Southwest Physical Therapy since 2001 when he earned his Masters of Physical Therapy from Midwestern University in Downers Grove, IL.

Ed was drawn to the field because he played competitive baseball in high school and college. Having had his own share of athletic injuries, Ed feels he can easily understand what many of his patients are going through in terms of rehabilitation.

Ed specializes in lower back pain and dysfunction which has included training courses from McKenzie and Mulligan. He also is trained in treating work related injuries.

Meg Clark is a staff Physical Therapist at the Southwest Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Tinley Park office. She has worked there since 1994. She graduated from Morton College with a Physical Therapist Assistant degree in 1987. She went on go get a BS in Physical Therapy in 1991 from University of Illinois at Chicago. In 1998 she earned a Masters Degree in Physical therapy from Indianapolis University.

In 2000, Meg received certification as an Orthopedic Certified Specialist, and has also been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 1993. She has also recently submitted her application for DPT degree from Indianapolis University and hope to start there in the near future.

Katie Vail is a physical therapist who graduated in March 2005 from Midwestern University in Downers Grove, IL. Katie graduated with a doctoral degree in physical therapy. Part of that degree included completing a series of clinical affiliations. She completed her affiliations in a variety of places including pediatrics, inpatient rehabilitation, acute care and outpatient orthopedic settings. Katie has been working at Southwest Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation since May of 2005.

Katie enjoys working with a variety of different patients and diagnoses. She enjoys the challenge each new patient brings and is eager to learn from her patients and coworkers. Katie strives to make each patient comfortable and enjoys the relationship she builds with each new person. She truly enjoys her job, the relaxing atmosphere of the clinic and the fun both her and the patients have each day.

Wendy Jatho is the Billing Administrator for Southwest Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation.

 

 

 

Lou Sanek is the Administrative Assistant for our Tinley Park office.

 

 

 

Jan Lewis is the Therapy Technician for our Oak Lawn office.