Kenneth Neil Simons, PT, DPT, MS, OCS
Ken founded OPTA in 2001 so he could provide quality care to his patients. He is an expert manual therapist with over 30 years experience treating orthopaedic and sports injuries and pain. Ken is a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedics and has two years of specialized residency and fellowship training in manual therapy. He enjoys treating patients who have chronic pain and challenging physical therapy problems that require his expertise. As a triathlete himself, Ken also enjoys working with active people and has his Level 1 Certification in Triathlon Coaching. He has extensive experience treating work-related injuries and has consulted with companies on injury prevention and ergonomics. Client companies have included Verizon, United Technologies Pratt & Whitney, CYRO Industries, Hussey Seating Company, Grampa’s Workshop, Shaw’s Distribution Center, Shop and Save Grocery Stores and many others. Ken has also served as a clinical instructor in at Boston University and Sargent College and adjunct faculty at the University of New England physical therapy programs in the past.
Credentials and awards:
- Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Northeastern University, Boston Bouve' College in 1985
- Advanced Master of Science degree in Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in 1996
- Doctor in Physical Therapy Degree from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in 2006
- Board Certified Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
- Residency and Fellowship Training in Manual Therapy through the Institute of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy in Woburn, MA a
- Member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Therapists and the American Phyiscal Therapy Association
- Licensed in Maine and Massachusetts
- Named Best in Scarborough in Physical Therapy multiple years since 2006
Gwen Simons, PT, JD, OCS, FAAOMPT
Gwen is a physical therapist and health care attorney. She is a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. Gwen is frequently consulted (by OPTA and other physical therapy practices) when health plans wrongly deny claims and assists patients and health care providers with appeals. Gwen also provides Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE) in personal injury, workers' compensation and disability cases, serving as an expert witness in court on many occasions. She authored a chapter on the Legal Issues in FCEs in the Guide to the Evaluation of Functional Ability published by the American Medical Association. She is frequently an invited speaker at professional meetings and has authored many articles on legal issues in physical therapy. In the past, Gwen served as adjunct and clinical faculty at the University of New England, University of Louisville and University of Kentucky Physical Therapy Programs. She has also consulted with many businesses in Louisville, KY (where she is from) and Maine on the management and prevention of work-related injuries, ergonomics and the American's with Disabilities Act. Some of her clients have included Hitachi Automotive Products, 3M, Modine Climate Systems, General Electric, Caldwell Tanks, Jim Beam, Shaw's Distribution Center, Verizon, and Mercy Hospital. In her spare time, Gwen enjoys triathlon training. She is a 10+ year breast cancer survivor and has participated in the Tri-for-a-Cure since 2018.
Credentials and awards:
- Bachelor of Health Sciences in Physical Therapy, University of Kentucky, 1986
- Juris Doctor, University of Maine School of Law, 2005
- Board Certified Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties
- Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT)
- Past President, Maine Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
- Past President, Kentucky Physical Therapy Association
- Named one of Louisville's "Forty Under 40" in 2000
- Service Award, AAOMPT, 2012
- President's Award, Maine Chapter APTA, 2017
- Licensed to practice physical therapy and law in Maine
