Our Team

Sonam Patel, PT

Owner & Physical Therapist

Sonam leads Healthwell with a hands-on, whole-body approach rooted in deep expertise across manual therapy, Fascial Counterstrain, and orthopedic rehabilitation. She brings particular skill in treating complex and connective tissue conditions, including EDS, hypermobility, and chronic pain.

Her treatment style is known for being thorough, intuitive, and genuinely caring. Patients describe her as having a "soft and knowledgeable touch" and consistently praise her ability to find the root cause of pain — often providing unexpected exercises that make an immediate difference.

Specialties: Manual therapy, cupping, Fascial Counterstrain, Pilates reformer, shockwave therapy, SI joint work, hypermobility & EDS, nervous system regulation, chronic pain management.

The Healthwell Team

Cheryl Buringrud, PT

Physical Therapist

Cheryl earned her bachelor's degree in physical education from Sonoma State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and received her bachelor's degree in physical therapy from UCSF in 1988. With over 40 years of experience in orthopedic physical therapy, she has spent her career in outpatient settings treating a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions.

Cheryl treats every patient with kindness and patience, driven by a genuine desire to help people recover from injury and surgery and return to their quality of life.

Sneha

Occupational Therapist & Hand Therapy Specialist

Sneha is an occupational therapist with over eight years of experience across acute, inpatient, and outpatient settings. She holds a post-professional Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Tufts University and has advanced training in hand therapy, including custom splint and orthosis fabrication.

Her clinical background spans complex musculoskeletal, neurological, and psychiatric conditions, including critical care rehabilitation at a Level II trauma center. She specializes in joint stabilization, protection, and functional optimization for individuals with connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.

Kittie Krivacic

Pilates & Dance Instructor

Kittie is a San Francisco-based Pilates and dance instructor who received her training through Balanced Body at EHS. She began her Pilates education after many years of struggling with chronic pain resulting in a hypermobile EDS diagnosis — and found that strength training was one of the best antidotes to living with a bendy body.

Her work is centered around helping patients feel strong and grounded, with an emphasis on functional movement and proper alignment. Kittie is always expanding her knowledge, including recent coursework on treatment approaches to Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders and EDS.

Olive

Pilates Instructor

Olive brings 15 years of combined Pilates practice and teaching to Healthwell. As a competitively trained jazz, modern, and ballet dancer living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, she understands firsthand the power of movement — and the challenges of navigating chronic pain and hypermobility.

After recovering from hip surgery with the guidance of compassionate Pilates instructors, Olive found her passion for helping others. She's currently pursuing her PhD in disability research and loves connecting with clients who have EDS, hypermobility, or chronic pain to create personalized movement plans.

K

Kara

Physical Therapist

Bio coming soon.

Our Physical Therapy Team

Our physical therapy team includes experienced PTAs who assist in implementing individualized treatment plans, guiding exercises, and supporting patients in improving strength, mobility, and daily function. They work closely with our therapists to ensure safe, effective, and personalized care for all patients, including those with hypermobility and connective tissue concerns.

Fluffy

Clinic Comfort Specialist

Every good clinic needs a therapy dog. Fluffy is Healthwell's unofficial mascot, greeting patients with enthusiasm and providing moral support between exercises. Known for his impeccable sweater collection and his talent for finding the coziest spot on the treatment bench.

Our Roots

Healthwell was founded on the pioneering principles of personalized, whole-body rehabilitation. Over more than 29 years, the practice has built a reputation as one of the few clinics in the Bay Area with genuine expertise in EDS and connective tissue conditions.

Today, under Sonam's leadership, the practice continues that legacy while expanding its offerings in shockwave therapy, therapeutic Pilates, and hand therapy — always grounded in the same principles of thorough, evidence-based, human-first care.