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.
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 Introductory Massage Therapy
and Palpatory Integra-tion and has a private practice in Northwest Tucson
Arizona.
Todd Edwards
Massage Therapist, Desert Institue 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. He works as
a professional massage therapist at the Cortiva clinic.
Patricia Holland
Massage Therapist, Desert Institue of the Healing Arts, 1993. MA, Counseling,
University of Phoenix, 1999. BS, Speech Communications, Illinois State
University, 1982. Patricia has a private massage therapy and counseling
practice. She is the Dean of Students, coordinates the Student Resource
Department and teaches the On-Site Chair Massage Therapy elective.
Deb Kortyna,
NCTMB (Reflexology)
Massage Therapist, Academy of Somatic Healing Arts, GA, 2000. Certified
Reflexologist, American Academy of Reflexology, CA, 1999. BA in biology,
Eastern College, PA, 1974; MBA in Health and Medical Services Administration,
Widener University, PA, 1981. Deb maintains a private practice in Oro
Valley Arizona and works at a destination spa. She serves as Vice President
for the Arizona Reflexology Association and is a member of both the Reflexology
Association of America and the International Council of Reflexologists.
Deb teaches the Reflexology elective.
Michelle Larson
Massage Therapist, Desert Institue of the Healing Arts, 2001. Michelle
is the founder of Catalina Foothills Wellness Center and is currently
working on her Masters degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from
the Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She teaches Hydrotherapy.
Kathy Lee
Massage Therapist, Desert Institue of the Healing Arts, 1997. BS in Business
Administration. Kathy practices massage therapy at Loews Ventana Canyon
Resort, as well as running a private practice. She also serves as a volunteer
for Hospice patients. Kathy is a Clinic I and II supervisor and A&P III
instructor.
Ann Mihina
Massage Therapist, Desert Institue of the Healing Arts,1994. Ann has a
private practice doing massage therapy and hydrotherapy. She is the director
of Spa Services at a local day spa, and is a certified Kneipp Hydrotherapist.
Ann teaches Hydrotherapy and Simply Stones.
Dianne Pecoraro
Massage Therapist, Desert Institue of the Healing Arts, 1985. BS in Rehabilitation
Counseling, University of Arizona, 1974. Dianne has worked with older
and physically challenged clients since 1975. She teaches the Tucson Medical
Center electives and is a member of the school’s student resource
team. Recipient of the AMTA Council of Schools, Jerome Perlinsky Teacher
of the Year Award, 1996.
Christiane
Testa-Rekemeier, NCTMB
Massage Therapist, Desert Institue of the Healing Arts, 1998. Continuing
Education in Neuromuscular Therapy. Christiane has a private massage therapy
practice in Tucson. She teaches in the massage therapy department in the
evening program as well as the 18 hour Intro to Massage Therapy workshop
at Cortiva.
Beryl Varno
Licensed Massage Therapist, Cortiva 1997. Beryl came to Cortiva with eight
years of previous massage therapy practice in Vermont. Associate of Arts,
Pima Community College. She supervises Clinic I & II.
Lisa Walters
Massage Therapist, Desert Institue of the Healing Arts, 1999. BS, Occupational
Therapy, SUNY, 1991. Lisa has extensive experience in physical medicine
and rehabilitation. She has developed and teaches an elective course in
an inpatient rehabilitation setting for student massage therapists at
Cortiva. Lisa is also an instructor for Massage Therapy and Cancer, Massage
I, and various courses in the Massage Therapy and Anatomy departments.
Laura Yates
Massage Therapist, Desert Institue 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 Clinic in the day and evening programs and is a
teaching assistant in the massage therapy classes in the evening program.