Melisa Abesa is a California native who now calls Sherwood, Oregon home. She enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and two border collies. She received her undergraduate education at Eastern Oregon University, where she competed on the NAIA track team in sprints and relays. She has practiced in the Portland area since graduating with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2014.

Melisa is a huge advocate for patient empowerment, individualized care, and a holistic approach to health and wellness, with a special interest in women’s wellness including prenatal, postpartum, adolescent, and athlete care.  She defines her treatment style as a collaborative experience incorporating hands-on and active therapies to help reach patient goals.

As a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy, she also enjoys working with a large variety of orthopedic and sports-related conditions, including runners, individuals with headaches, post-operative patients, and athletes across the lifespan.

Scott grew up in Oregon, earning his Bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University and his Doctorate from Pacific University in 2006. Scott has always had a passion for learning about the muscles and bones and this led him to a career path in physical therapy. In 2008, he became a certified Mckenzie Therapist, which is an internationally recognized treatment approach for the spine. In addition to treating the spine, he has a lot of experience with the foot/ankle and sports injuries and working with the geriatric population. 

Scott is an Elite Triathlete, often finishing in the top 5% of his races.  As a triathlete, he has learned running and swimming mechanics and proper bike fitting.  When he is not training for races, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two boys and doing activities like gardening, mountain biking, skiing, rafting, and hiking. He has summited 5 of the tallest peaks in the Pacific Northwest.

Originally from the East Coast, Matt Whitaker received his professional degree in 1998 from Loma Linda University. He lived in Utah and California prior to moving to the Northwest in 2016. His first 9 years of practice was in neurologic rehab with a focus on vestibular and balance dysfunctions which he continues to treat . Over the past 13 years his area of care has concentrated on orthopedics with a special interest in treating spine dysfunctions. As a distance runner and having completed two Ironman triathlons, he understands multi-sport athlete goals. He is a certified Level 1 Bike Fitter. Outside of treating patients, Matt has taught physical therapy students in the clinic and the classroom. He has lectured to medical students, provided post-graduate continuing education training to physical therapists, directed therapy programs for hospitals and owned a private practice clinic prior to opening and co-owning Evolve.

Yu-Jen “Jenny” Hwang PT, DPT was born and raised in Malawi, and completed her Bachelors in Physical Therapy at National Yang-Ming University in Taiwan. She then earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at New York University. Jenny moved to Portland, Oregon in March 2021 after practicing in New York City for 3 years in a multidisciplinary setting. Jenny uses many concepts of Pilates for rehabilitation as well as a combination of manual therapy and therapeutic exercises to help clients achieve their personal goals and move better. She is a strong believer of treating the body as a whole and is SFMA (Selective Functional Movement Assessment) certified and Balanced Body® Pilates Instructor trained. She enjoys helping people reach their full potential, no matter what fitness level or stage of life they are in. Jenny loves the outdoors and is exploring everything that the PNW has to offer. Jenny is fluent in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Taiwanese.

Laura is originally from Salem, Oregon, where she grew up playing soccer, tennis, and swimming competitively. Laura received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Pacific University, where she earned top academic honors. In 2015, Laura became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and in 2021, she became a board-certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy so she could advance her evaluation and treatment of complex cases.

Laura possesses substantial clinical experience treating a diverse group of clients, from dancers to long-distance runners to older adults recovering from joint replacement surgery. She also has a special interest in return to sport testing after an injury or surgery. Regardless of the condition, Laura always conducts thorough examinations so she can provide personalized care. Laura blends evidence-based treatments with careful incorporation of educational topics so clients fully understand their course of care. Outside the clinic, Laura enjoys running, golfing, and spending time with her family.

Brittany was born and raised in Oregon, and graduated from Sherwood High School. She has years of experience in medical office management and billing. Brittany worked in a chiropractic office for more than 7 years before joining our clinic. Brittany is committed to making patients feel welcome and well informed with their treatment plan, doctor and patient coordination, patient scheduling, and insurance plans.

Marley is from Tigard, Oregon, and graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. She played lacrosse through high school and college. She loves reading, snowboarding, hiking, hanging with friends and family, and her cat, Cleopatra.

Previously, she worked at a COVID testing clinic in Eugene, OR during the pandemic. At Evolve, she enjoys assisting people with scheduling and questions and ensuring each patient’s needs are met.