At Cortiva, our instructors offer you significant personal attention and hands-on experiences in order to help you refine your skills. All of our students perform Massage Therapy treatments on instructors for feedback and testing.

All of our faculty members are graduates of our internal teaching program called START (Seminars for Training and Recruiting Teachers) and several have received national teaching awards.

• Baker, Allyn
• Blum, David
• Castle, Ginger
• Cole, Lori
• Edwards, Todd
• Espinosa, Timothy
• Fredenberg, Bonnie
• Freeman, Jean’e
• Holland, Patricia
• Lee, Kathy
• Maglothin, Jessica
• Quance, Melita
• Sylvester, Deanna
• Varno, Beryl
• Yates, Laura

Allyn Baker
Massage Therapist, Desert Institute of the Healing Arts , 1998. Allyn teaches Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology in our Professional Massage Therapy Program, as well as Stones Massage and Aromatherapy continuing education courses. She has a private practice in Tucson, Arizona.

David Blum
Massage Therapist, Cortiva Institute - Desert Institute of the Healing Arts, 2007. Physical Therapy Assistant, 1980-2007. David wrote and teaches an Advanced Manual Therapy continuing education course, and teaches continuing education courses in myofascial release, muscle energy technique & joint mobilization. David also teaches Clinic Foundations and supervises the Student Clinic in our Professional Massage Therapy Program, and has a private practice in Tucson, Arizona.

Ginger Castle
Massage Therapist, Seattle Massage Therapy School, 1992. Member, CWIC. Certified Red Cross Instructor and HIV/AIDS educator, WA. Former Program Instructor at the Renton Technical College Massage Therapy Practitioner Program (Ashmead College). Ginger teaches Clinic Fundamentals, Neuromuscular Release & Sports Massage, Assessment & Applications, and Clinical Reasoning & Research Literacy in our Professional Massage Therapy Program, as well as many continuing education courses. She has a private practice in Northwest Tucson, Arizona.

Lori Cole
Lori holds a Master's degree in Physiological Science from the University of Arizona , and teaches Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology in our Professional Massage Therapy Program.

Todd Edwards
Massage Therapist, Desert Institute of the Healing Arts , 2000. Todd brings the discipline of weight training and understanding of the functional aspects of human anatomy into the massage therapy classes. Todd teaches Myofascial Techniques, Neuromuscular Release & Sports Massage, and Musculoskeletal Anatomy & Kinesiology in our Professional Massage Therapy Program and practices at Tucson Touch Therapies in Tucson, Arizona.

Timothy Espinosa
Massage Therapist, Desert Institute of the Healing Arts , 2004. Shiatsu Practitioner, Desert Institute of the Healing Arts, 2005. National Certification, NCBTMB. Timothy teaches Student Clinic and Advanced Clinic in our Professional Massage Therapy Program and has a private practice in Tucson, Arizona.

Bonnie Fredenberg
Massage Therapist, Desert Institute of the Healing Arts , 2004. LPN, St Anthony's School of Nursing. Bonnie teaches Professional Ethics & Communication and Student Clinic in our Professional Massage Therapy Program and has a private practice in Tucson, Arizona.

Jean’e Freeman
Massage Therapist, Desert Institute of the Healing Arts , 2004. National Certification, NCBTMB. Certified Fitness Trainer, International Sports Sciences Association. Biomechanics Specialist, NESTA. Jean'e has been involved in the health & fitness industry for over 20 years. Jean'e teaches Foundational Mechanics, Population Spectrum, and Musculoskeletal Anatomy & Kinesiology in our Professional Massage Therapy Program, as well as many continuing education courses. She has a private practice in Tucson, Arizona.

Patricia Holland
Massage Therapist, Desert Institute of the Healing Arts , 1993. MA, Counseling, University of Phoenix , 1999. BS, Speech Communications, Illinois State University , 1982. Patricia is Cortiva Institute Tucson's Dean of Students, and has a private massage therapy and counseling practice. She teaches Professional Ethics & Communication and Massage Foundations in our Professional Massage Therapy Program, as well as many continuing education courses.

Kathy Lee
Massage Therapist, Desert Institute of the Healing Arts , 1997. BS in Business Administration, UW-LaCrosse. Kathy serves as a volunteer for Hospice patients, as well as operates a private practice in Tucson, Arizona. Kathy teaches Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology, Musculoskeletal Anatomy & Kinesiology, and Business Practices in our Professional Massage Therapy Program.

Jessica Maglothin
Massage Therapist, Desert Institute of the Healing Arts , 2004. Jesseca teaches Spa and Hydrotherapy continuing education courses, as well as the hydrotherapy units in our Professional Massage Therapy Program. She also teaches Foundational Mechanics and Student Clinic and has a private practice in Tucson, Arizona.

Melita Quance
Massage Therapist, Cortiva Institute - Desert Institute of the Healing Arts , 2007. BA in Spanish, Earlham College , 2001. Melita has extensive experience in crisis advocacy for survivors of various types of violence, and is a national trainer & consultant on cultural sensitivity and organizational wellness. Melita teaches Professional Ethics & Communication in our Professional Massage Therapy Program, and just completed the teacher training program to teach Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology. She also has a private practice in Tucson, Arizona.

Deanna Sylvester
Massage Therapist & Shiatsu Practitioner, Desert Institute of the Healing Arts , 2003. BS in Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Arizona , 2007. Deanna is the Director of Education and teaches Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology in our Professional Massage Therapy Program.

Beryl Varno
Massage Therapist, Desert Institute of the Healing Arts , 1997. AA in Liberal Arts/Communication, Pima Community College , 2003. Beryl came to Cortiva with eight years of previous massage therapy practice in Vermont. She teaches Massage Foundations in our Professional Massage Therapy Program and has a private practice in Tucson, Arizona.

Laura Yates
Massage Therapist, Desert Institute of the Healing Arts , 1992. Laura has many years of clinical experience and maintains a private practice. She includes the healing techniques of I am energy, I am discipline, into her life. She teaches Student Clinic in our Professional Massage Therapy Program.