Introduction to ICU Rehabilitation

John Avila, RCP, RRT is an experienced Respiratory Therapist and Clinical Specialist with over a decade of service at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. He began his career after earning an Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy and is currently completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. Throughout his 10-year tenure, John has gained extensive clinical expertise across diverse critical care settings, including the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and Adult Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU).

John has served as an Adult Critical Care Transport team member and contributed to the adult hybrid ECMO team, reflecting his advanced clinical capabilities. He previously held the shift supervisor role and now serves as the Clinical Specialist for the 7th floor Cardiothoracic ICU. In this role, he leads educational initiatives and clinical training for respiratory therapists, registered nurses, and physicians, supporting the highest standards of patient care and interdisciplinary collaboration.

In addition to his clinical responsibilities, John is actively involved in professional advocacy and leadership. He is a member of the Elections Committee for the California Society of Respiratory Care, where he helps guide the profession's future through engagement and service.

Hannah Jones, PT, DPT is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with over a decade of experience in the field. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, following her undergraduate studies at San Diego State University. With a strong foundation in acute care, Hannah has spent more than three years focused exclusively on intensive care unit physical therapy. Currently, she works on the cardiothoracic unit at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center where she plays a key role in supporting critically ill patients helping them regain function and strength. Her compassionate approach, clinical expertise, and commitment to patient care make her a trusted and respected member of the healthcare team.

Shandiz Kamrava, PT, DPT earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from California State University, Northridge and has over 10 years of experience working in acute care physical therapy. She currently practices at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, providing care across a wide range of specialties including ICU, cardiothoracic, orthopedics, medical-surgical, multi-organ transplants, and neurology. She specializes in treating the critically ill, and patients with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD) and mechanically vented patients. 

In addition to her clinical expertise, Dr. Kamrava has served as a part-time faculty member in CSUN’s DPT program for eight years, teaching courses in cardiopulmonary physical therapy, applied anatomy, and applied physiology lab instruction. She is known for blending practical experience with academic rigor, helping shape the next generation of physical therapists.

Nicole Shoraka, MAOT, OTR/L graduated from the University of California Irvine with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and social Behavior followed by a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California. She first joined Ronald Reagan UCLA working in acute rehabilitation at the Neurological Rehabilitation and Research Unit followed by California Rehab Institute before transitioning to acute care at Ronald Reagan. Nicole has experience working with a number of populations, including work with patients in both the Cardiothoracic and Neuroscience/Trauma Intensive Care Units.

Danielle Spitzmiller, PT, DPT earned both her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences (2004) and Doctor of Physical Therapy (2006) from Marquette University. She began her career in an outpatient setting at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, WA before transitioning to acute care at UCLA Medical Center.  With over 17 years of experience at UCLA, Danielle has provided care across a wide range of specialized services and intensive care units, including medical/oncology, neurology, cardiothoracic, liver transplant, and general surgery. She is skilled in mobilizing critically ill patients with complex medical needs and devices, such as ventricular assist devices (VAD), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP), external ventricular drains (EVD), and mechanical ventilation.

In 2022, Danielle advanced into a leadership role as a rehabilitation supervisor. In addition to continuing direct patient care, she oversees the professional development of physical and occupational therapists and regularly leads clinical education and hands-on skills training.
 

Hanh Tan, PT, DPT is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with nearly a decade of experience in acute care, including the past seven years at UCLA Medical Center. She has extensive experience working with high-acuity inpatient populations, including cardiothoracic, orthopedics/trauma, medical-surgical, transplant, oncology, and neurology. Hanh has a special interest in early mobility for medically complex ICU patients and is passionate about equipping therapists with the skills and confidence to treat critically ill patients safely and effectively.

Robert Weber-Velez, PT, DPT graduated from the University of Miami in 2008 with a Bachelor of Health Science, graduated from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in 2011 with a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and received the 2011 Linda D. Crane Memorial Scholarship for excellence in cardiopulmonary practice. Robert started his career at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, FL where he developed his skills working with patients in the Neurological-, Cardiothoracic-, and Medical- Intensive Care Units. 

Robert moved to Los Angeles in 2013 to join the inpatient acute Rehabilitation Services department at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. At UCLA, Robert has worked with patients across all adult ICU settings, as well as medical, general surgery, emergency medicine, and medical/surgical observation services. Robert also briefly worked in the Neurological Rehabilitation and Research Unit at UCLA, providing therapy to patients with various neurological conditions including stroke, brain injury, progressive neurological disease, and spinal cord injury. Robert became a supervisor in 2018 and functions as a liaison for the clinical education student program at RR-UCLA.

Joanna Wong, MS, SLP completed her bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science at University of California, San Diego and her Master’s degree in clinical Speech Language Pathology from Northern Arizona University. She specializes in both pediatrics and adults, working primarily with the inpatient care setting. Populations served include acquired traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), head and neck cancer patients with related communication disorders, cognitive impairments, and dysphagia. Joanna has clinical interests in assessment of dysphagia and use of tracheostomy speaking valves and is skilled in modified barium swallow studies (MBSS), fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), and tracheostomy speaking valve assessments for ventilator dependent and non-ventilated patients. Other interests including mentoring and development of new clinicians and students.