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Clinical Leadership

About Cynthia Stein, PT, M.Ed.

Pioneering Physical Therapist, Global Educator, and Founder of Conquer Concussion™

Biography

Cynthia is a distinguished physical therapist and educator. She earned her B.S. in Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh and her M.Ed. in Exercise Physiology from Temple University.

Throughout her career, she has held significant leadership roles, including serving as Chief Physical Therapist at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital and Staff PT at the Annapolis Naval Hospital.

As the founder of Conquer Concussion and former owner of Squirrel Hill Physical Therapy in Pittsburgh, PA, Cynthia has dedicated her career to helping patients achieve true healing through advanced modalities like Nasal Release Technique. Today, she is highly regarded globally for teaching these methods to healthcare practitioners.

Clinical Expertise & Leadership at a Glance

Core Modalities

• Concussion Management

• Nasal Release Technique

• CranioSacral Therapy

• Manual Lymph Drainage

• Myofascial Release

• PEMF

Clinical Leadership

• Founder of Conquer Concussion (2014–Present)

• Private Practice Owner (1982–2015)

• Chief PT at Naval Regional Medical Center

Academic Appointments

• Visiting Professor & Clinical Instructor at Temple University

• Visiting Professor & Clinical Instructor at University of Pennsylvania

•Visiting Professor & Clinical Instructor at  University of Pittsburgh

Honors & Grants

• Navy Achievement Medal

• Letter of Commendation

• $200,000 U.S. Navy Research Grant recipient

Cynthia’s Full Clinical Background

Work Experience & Advisory Positions

  • Founder and Owner, Conquer Concussion™, 2014-Present

  • Owner, Private Practice, Squirrel Hill Physical Therapy Center,1982-2015

  • Contract Physical Therapist, Nursing Services Home Care, 1982

  • Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, 1982

  • Sea West Physical Therapy, Long Beach, CA,1982

  • Chief Physical Therapist | Naval Regional Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA,1977-1981

  • Staff Physical Therapist | Naval Academy Annapolis, Annapolis, MD,1974-1976

  • Senior Clinical Instructor | Hahnemann Medical College, Dept. of P.T., Philadelphia, PA, 1980-1981

Visiting Professor

  • Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 1978-1981

  • University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 1977-1981

  • University of Delaware, New Castle, DE, 1978-1979

Part-time Physical Therapist

  • NRMC, Long Beach, CA,1982

  • Methodist Hospital, Sports Medicine Clinic, Philadelphia, PA, 1980-1981

  • Director of Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, 1978-1979

  • Homestead Hospital, Homestead, PA 1974

Consultant and Advisory Positions

  • Clinical Instructor, University of Pittsburgh, 1983-1984

  • Clinical Instructor, Temple University, 1976-1981

  • Clinical Instructor, University of Pennsylvania, 1976-1981

  • Clinical Instructor, Hahnemann College, 1981-1984

  • Curriculum Advisory Committee, Hahnemann College, 1980-1981

Education & Professional Societies

  • M.Ed in Exercise Physiology, Temple University, 1982

  • B.S. in Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, 1974

  • American Physical Therapy Association

  • Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association

  • Medallion Member of International Alliance of Health Care Providers

Decades of Continuing Education (1975–2023)

  • Collaboration Cures Conference Sept 2023

  • Sensing and Releasing Emotional Shock Part 1 American Academy of Osteopathy Jan 2023

  • Collaboration Cures Conference Sept 2022

  • Dry needling Level 1 Club Physio 2017

  • NeuroMeningeal Manipulation Barral Institute 2015

  • Vestibular Rehabilitation, Emory University April 2015

  • Differential Dx and Medical Screening March 2014

  • Kinesiology Taping, March 2014

  • EndoNasal Release Technique, Dr. Rik Cederstrom, April 2013

  • Contact Reflex Analysis, Dr. Versendaal, 2013

  • Fascial Manipulation Part 4 Antonio Stecco 2013

  • Fascial Manipulation Part 3, Antonio Stecco 2012

  • Massage Cupping, 2012

  • Cervicogenic Headaches and Cervical Thoracic Pain, Gavin E. Hamer 2012

  • Functional Core Stability, Gavin E. Hamer 2012

  • The Hip to the Foot, an Evidence-Based Diagnostic and Manual Therapy Treatment Approach Gavin E. Hamer 2012

  • Fascial Manupulation Part 2, Antonio Stecco, 2012

  • Fascial Manipulation Part 1, Antonio Stecco, 2012

  • Graston Techiques: Advanced Techniques, 2011

  • Graston Technique: Introduction 2011 Certification

  • Direct Access Certification 2010

  • Direct Access Certification 2008

  • Advanced Lymph, Upledger Institute, 2003

  • Korean Hand Therapy, Albuquerque, NM, 2002

  • Mechanical link III, Palm Beach, FL, 2002

  • Vodder Basic Lymph Drainage, Durham, NC, 2001

  • Advanced Mechanical Link, San Francisco, CA, 2001

  • CranioSacral Therapy and Immune Response, FL, 2000

  • Mechanical Link III, San Francisco, CA, 2000

  • Mechanical Link II, Mineapolis, CA, 2000

  • Mechanical Link I, New York, NY, 2000

  • Zero Balancing II, Pittsburgh, PA, 2000

  • Alchemy of Touch, Baltimore, MD, 2000

  • CranioSacral Pediatrics, Toronto, Canada, 1999

  • Zero Balancing II, New York, NY, 1999

  • Advanced CranioSacral, Toronto, Canada, 1999

  • Visceral Listening Techniques, Toronto, Canada, 1998

  • Visceral Manipulation, 1998

  • Process Accupressure 1B, 1998

  • Lymphatic Drainage III, Hartford, CT, 1998

  • Process Accupressure 1A

  • Mechanical Link I, Toronto, Canada, 1998

  • Mechanical Link II, New Orleans, LA, 1998

  • Visceral Manipulation 1-B, San Francisco, CA, 1998

  • Tigger Point Therapy Janet Travell, Washington DC, 1997

  • Tigger Point Therapy Janet Travell, Baltimore, MD, 1997

  • Lymphatic Drainage I, Upledger Institute, Toronto, Canada

  • Lymphatic Drainage II, Upledger Institute, Toronto, Canada

  • CranioSacral I, Philadelphia, PA, 1997

  • CranioSacral II, Philadelphia, PA, 1997

  • SomatoEmotional Release, Dayton, OH, 1997

  • Zero Balancing, Toronto, Canada, 1997

  • Visceral Manipulation, Philadelphia, PA, 1997

  • Myofascial Mapping, Toronto, Canada, 1997

  • Spinal Manipulation Course, San Francisco, CA, 1992

  • Gordon Group Myofascial Reorganization, 1992

  • Gordon Group Advanced Myofascial Reorganization, 1992

  • Lumbar Stabiliztion, Pittsburgh, PA, 1990

  • Myofascial and SomatoEmotional Release, Captiva, FL, 1987

  • Rocabado Course, TMJ Dysfunction, Knoxville, TN, 1986

  • Muscle Energy Course, Pittsburgh, PA, 1984

  • Lumbar Spine by Robin McKenzie, San Francisco, CA, 1982

  • California Physical Therapy Association Conference, 1981

  • American Society of Hand Conference, Philadelphia, PA, 1981

  • Cyriax Orthopedic Evaluation Part I, Philadelphia, PA, 1981

  • Neurology for RehabPersonnel, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 1980

  • Sports Medicine Course, West Chester, PA, 1980

  • American Physical Therapy Conference, Atlanta, GA, 1979

  • Combined Sections Meeting San Francisco, CA, 1979

  • Electromyographic Training Course, Portsmouth, VA, 1979

  • APTA Electrophysiologic Evaluation I, II, III, 1979

  • Cyriax Orthopedic Evaluation, Philadelphia, PA, 1978

  • Orthopedic Anatomy Course, Temple University, 1978

  • New Jersey Joint Mobilization Course, Philadelphia, PA, 1977

  • Cyriax Orthopedic Evaluation and Treatment, Rochester, NY, 1977

  • Supervision and Administration, University of Pennsylvania, 1977

  • Spinal Cord Anatomy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 1977

  • Extremity Mobilization, John Mennel, Philadelphia, PA, 1977

  • Basic Extremity Mobilization, Paris, Atlanta, GA, 1977

  • Cardiac Rehab Symposium, Reading PA, 1977

  • Cardiac Rehab Course, Highlandview Hospital, Cleveland, OH,

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis Symposium, Annapolis, MD, 1977

  • Systemic Lupis Erythematous Symposium, Philadelphia, PA,

  • Nerve and Muscle Physiology, Temple University, Phila PA,

  • Introduction to Joint Mobilization, Paris, Atlanta, GA, 1976

  • Western PA Arthritis Project, Pittsburgh, PA, 1976

  • UCLA Prosthetic-Orthotics Course, Los Angeles, CA, 1975

  • Teaching Assistant

  • Lymph I, II, III, Upledger Institute

  • CranioSacral II, 2001

  • Lymphatic Drainage III, San Francisco, CA, 2000

  • Lymph II, Toronto, Canada, 1999

  • Lymph I, Washington DC, 1999

  • CranioSacral I, Philadelphia, PA, 1999

  • Lymph III, San Francisco, CA, 1998

  • CranioSacral I, Pittsburgh, PA, 1998

  • Workshops Conducted or Organized

  • Cyriax Orthopedic Evaluation, Philadelphia, PA, 1979

  • Joint Mobilization, Philadelphia, PA, 1978-1979

  • Pain Management Seminar, Philadelphia, PA, 1978

  • Cyriax Orthopedic Evaluation, Philadelphia, PA, 1981

  • Self Lymph Drainage Workshops, Pittsburgh, PA, 1999

Publications & Workshops Conducted

  • February, 1980, A.P.T.A. Journal, Stein, C., McKelvy, P., Bertini, A.
    "Heart Rate Response to a Conditioning Program for Young Alcoholics".

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