We believe in your aspirations and are committed to helping you achieve your goals with a proactive approach and emphasis on whole person wellness.
We are committed to cultivating and nurturing a culture of health & wellness in the same community we choose to live, work and play.
DR. Sarah Ellefson, PT, DPT, OCS (altius pt Avon)
Sarah earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of New Hampshire where she competed as a Division 1 nordic skier. She continued her education at the University of Colorado in Boulder where she studied Integrative Physiology with an emphasis on whole-body function and its applications to human health and wellness. Sarah's passion for movement based treatment approaches to musculoskeletal and neurological dysfunction led her to Regis University's Physical Therapy program--one of the leading Manual Therapy programs in the country. Sarah earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy with highest honors while completing research on the effects of backwards walking treadmill training on hundreds of gait, balance and kinesiological variables for patients with Parkinson's Disease. Sarah has been practicing Physical Therapy in Eagle County since 2013 and earned her Board Certification in Orthopedics in 2016. She specializes in conservative treatment of the degenerative spine and hip, chronic pain management, orthopedic post-operative rehabilitation and return to sport performance. She is a professor of Human Anatomy and Physiology at Colorado Mountain College and guest lecturer for a variety of community wellness groups. Sarah is an avid runner, skier and mountain biker and has decades of experience working alongside elite and amateur athletes. In her free time you can find her playing in the mountains with her husband, Sylvan and two sons, Ryder and Aksel.
Dr. Ted Weber, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (ALtius PT Eagle)
After spending his early life developing a love of running both competitively and as a means of personal growth, Ted followed his passion for endurance sports and earned a Master’s degree in Kinesiology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Following graduation, Ted earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Husson University in Bangor, ME, where he completed research on Landing Kinetics and Kinematics on Cushioned vs. Hard Surfaces and taught graduate level courses in exercise physiology, kinesiology and wellness. Ted is a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist and earned his post graduate fellowship in orthopedic manual therapy from Regis University. He currently works as a physical therapist in private practice on the Western Slope of Colorado where his passions are helping individuals of all ages and abilities to achieve meaningful goals and helping the next generation of healthcare professionals achieve their potential. Ted recently stepped down from an extended tenure on the board of the Colorado APTA and as the chair of the APTA CO Professional Development Committee.
DR. Carrie Eckenhoff, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (Altius PT Avon)
Carrie is fellowship-trained as well as board-certified in orthopedics and has been practicing in the Vail Valley for over seven years. She takes an evidence-based approach and utilizes her expertise in manual therapy (hands-on treatments) to facilitate quicker recovery and success for her patients. Carrie strongly values community and understands the importance of a team mentality. Carrie played soccer competitively from a young age through college at Emory University, and has played recreationally in the Vail Valley through the majority of her time here. During the winters, Carrie is an adaptive ski instructor for Small Champions, a local program for children with disabilities. She also teaches virtual exercise classes for the Parkinson’s Association of the Rockies and helps out with Power Punch Parkinson’s, a boxing program that is designed to help individuals with Parkinson’s maintain balance and mobility, founded by local Rick Schwartz. Carrie also has been a trail leader for the Adopt-A-Trail program for the Vail Valley Mountain Trails Association/ Forest Service and is enthusiastic about doing her part to take care of the outdoor spaces that make this valley so special. In her free time, Carrie enjoys outdoor adventures with her dog Charlie, mountain biking, skiing, yoga and spending time with family, friends, and the community.
DR. KATIE ZEPPETELLI, PT, DPT, OCS (Altius PT Avon)
Katie is originally from Upstate New York and grew up skiing, hiking and running in the Adirondack Mountains. She completed her bachelor's degrees in Health and Exercise Science at Syracuse University where she was a member of the Division 1 women’s rowing team until an ACL injury inhibited her from sport. This experience led her to pursue physical therapy and she went on to complete her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Vermont in 2019 where she earned two awards for professional development and leadership. Katie completed a year-long orthopedic residency program at the VA hospital in Denver, Colorado where she was trained extensively in manual therapy techniques and the latest evidence based practice. She is certified in Trigger Point Dry Needling and earned her Orthopedic Specialist board certification in 2021. She enjoys helping and motivating others to achieve their health and fitness goals and is experienced in working with chronic pain conditions such as low back pain and fibromyalgia. Katie enjoys teaching patients the neurological and physiological reasons behind how and why we feel pain and promoting independence in managing chronic conditions. She specializes in spine rehabilitation, sports injury management and post-operative care. She is looking forward to spending her first full winter in the Vail Valley and making this her new home.
Dr. Erin Hood, PT, DPT, OCS, RYT, CLMS (Altius PT AVON)
Erin grew up in Spokane, WA and loved outdoor play (and mud!) from an early age. She grew up playing sports, practicing yoga, backpacking with her family across the Canadian and US Rockies, and nordic skiing. Erin graduated from Dartmouth College with Honors and a Senior Fellowship in Biology and Native American Studies in 2002. She was a 3 time NCAA All American and continued ski racing in Alaska, competing on the Europa Cup level and winning 2 National Championships. The end of ski racing drew Erin to Colorado, where she graduated with her Doctorate from the University of Colorado in 2011 with the Mary Gosnell Award for Clinical Excellence. Erin has practiced physical therapy for the last 11 years gaining expertise in Functional Dry Needling, as an Orthopedic Certified Specialist and obtaining her Lifestyle Medicine Certificate. Erin has been a registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance since 2005 and teaches classes and workshops including healing back pain with Yoga, Yoga for injuries on the mend, sports vinyasa, and Yoga for skiers. Erin’s background as a professional athlete combined with her personal interests in orthopedics, lifestyle medicine and yoga helps others focus, reflect, and refine personal wellness. Erin is the mother of two vibrant boys, who lead her to return to teaching yoga as well as coaching Nordic for Ski and Snowboard Club Vail and multiple Mountain Recreation Youth Sports leagues. Erin enjoys growing healthy veggies in the garden, telemarking, touring, backpacking, rafting and mountain biking across the Intermountain West with her family.
Dr. Mariah Donofrio, PT, DPT (Altius PT Avon)
Mariah grew up in Duluth, MN where she fell in love with playing various sports including soccer, swimming, skiing, and running. Her passion for physical therapy started while volunteering in the pediatric inpatient unit as a high school student but was solidified after sustaining a life changing brain injury during college. Following recovery she used her experience to empower others as a certified yoga and group exercise instructor. Mariah graduated from the University of Minnesota where she studied Kinesiology. Her desire for excellence and greater community impact led her to pursue her Doctor of Physical Therapy at the University of Colorado. During her time at CU Mariah published her first anatomical art in the research Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. She expresses her creativity within her PT sessions by bringing unique approaches to reaching her clients goals. She enjoys working with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Some of her special interests include working with various neurological conditions and sports and performance rehabilitation. In her free time, she loves skiing, running, yoga, creating art, and exploring nature with her energetic mini Aussie.
Dr. John knight, PT, DPT (Altius PT Eagle)
John hails from the Midwest where he grew up exploring nature and competing in tennis, ultimate frisbee, and ski racing. His experience as a ski racer compelled him to work as a ski instructor in Germany where he found his love for coaching and strength training. John earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, CO and his Bachelors in Health and Human Performance from the University of Montana in Missoula, MT. John specializes in orthopedic care as a certified Dry Needling Specialist and Active Release Technique certified clinician for the spine and neck. John also received additional training in movement analysis and his background in strength training allows him to employ individualized treatment to achieve his patient’s goals. He uses a combination of education, functional strengthening, and manual therapy to resolve pain, identify movement dysfunction, improve performance, and encourage active living by addressing the root cause. John invests in his client’s long-term health so they can move freely and independently throughout their lifespan. Some of his specialties include lifting form assessment, neck/upper back pain, shoulder pain, and arthritis management. Outside of the clinic you can find John exploring the Vail valley whether downhill/Nordic skiing, disc golfing, mountain biking or simply playing guitar and enjoying the company of friends.