Meet the Team

The Pelvic Pride Team

Dr. Joy Noble

PT, DPT, CMTPT/DN, PCES (she/her)

Founder of Pelvic Pride

My journey to become a specialist in pelvic health started when I was in physical therapy school. During class, my professor told a story about celebrating the day a patient came in crying because she had pain free sex for the first time in 6 years. My first thought was "that is so awesome! I could totally do this!" I feel that being able to make such an impact on someone's quality of life is amazing. After graduation, I started adding to the orthopedic therapy skills I learned in PT school, through training with the Brooks Institute of Higher Learning, APTA, and Herman & Wallace. The trust my patients give me to treat a sensitive area while helping them become pain free, stop peeing their pants, or gain control over their post-partum body has been a driving force my entire career. I spend every day of my life talking openly about pee, poop, and sex (much to my husband’s dismay and undying support) as well as movement and function to help my patients feel empowered through the knowledge and skills needed to reach their goals. I feel like once we realize everyone deals with these issues, we can move past the scary feelings and start healing. These symptoms are common, but they are not normal and you do not have to live with them.  


I currently live in Baltimore county with my partner, our pup, and two cats. Outside of the clinic, you will find me reading, traveling, recording a new episode for Pints & Pelvic Floors: The Podcast, or trying a new Baltimore restaurant.

Education:

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Saint Augustine
  • Bachelor of Science, University of West Florida

Expertise:

  • Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
  • Certified Manual Trigger Point Therapist/Certified Dry Needling
  • Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist

Experience:

  • Panelist - American Urology Association Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Baltimore Safe Haven Gender Affirming Informational Session
  • Presenter - APTA's LGBTQIA+ Allyship Series, Johns Hopkins Hospital, New York APTA Student Special Interest Group, Columbia University, New York Medical College
  • Conference Presentation, AWHONN Pennsylvania Annual Conference

Dr. Marlena Allen

PT, DPT, PCES (she/her)

Education:

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy, Duke University
  • Bachelor of Science, University of Virginia

Expertise:

  • Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
  • Neurologic Physical Therapy
  • Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist

Experience:

  • Presenter, PRE & POSTnatal Yoga Workshops at The Womb Room

From a young age, I have been intrigued by the idea of movement as a form of well-being and rehabilitation. Further, my passion for pelvic health began after attending a presentation as a physical therapy student highlighting the role of pelvic therapy and helping individuals return to pain-free sex. Following school, I moved from North Carolina to Maryland and began my journey as a PT working with individuals with neurological-based diagnoses improve their function and quality of life. Now joining the Pelvic Pride team, I plan to further develop my pelvic health education and skill set to provide an individualized, multifaceted approach for each patient. I enjoy helping people return to their daily activities and get back to doing what they love. More than anything, I am here to listen to each person’s story and understand their priorities for their care.


I currently live locally in the Federal Hill neighborhood with my partner and two pups. In my spare time, you can find me in my garden cheering my plants on, trying a new restaurant or recipe in the kitchen, or taking our pups out on an adventure. 

Dani Dermer

MS, OTR/L (she/her)

Education:

  • Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Towson University
  • Bachelor of Science, Towson University

Expertise:

  • Pelvic Health Occupational Therapy
  • Occupational Analysis and Modification
  • Pediatric Occupational Therapy
  • Infant Development, including Torticollis and Plagiocephaly

Experience:

  • Clinical Instructor, multiple occupational therapy schools

I began my career working in pediatric settings, where I further specialized in parent coaching and infant development with a focus on resolving torticollis and plagiocephaly. This passion led me to become intrigued by the prenatal and postpartum population. After the initial spark for pelvic health ignited, I trained with two of the top occupational therapist-led courses, followed by further training from Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. While pelvic health is an emerging specialty within the field of occupational therapy, the scope of practice emphasizes looking at how pelvic health impacts a person as a whole person.

 

I approach patient care through a holistic biopsychosocial lens, taking into account each person’s experiences and environments. My treatment approach guides patients on their journey to reach their goals and reduce disruptions and dysfunction that may be impacting their quality of life.

 

Originally from the Baltimore suburbs, I recently moved back to Baltimore after a few years in the D.C. area. Outside of work, I am often spending quality time with my family and friends, exploring the food scene, traveling, or reading with my dog in my lap.

Robyn Forney

MS, OTR/L (she/her)

Education:

  • Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Shenandoah University
  • Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science & Physical Education, McDaniel College

Expertise:

  • Pelvic Health Occupational Therapy
  • Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Experience:

  • Outpatient Rehabilitation, School-based Occupational Therapy

The primary factors that drew me to occupational therapy as a career were the fact that we could support people from every walk of life in a variety of healthcare settings, and that OT's directly help our clients to regain independence, safety and confidence in the most essential activities of daily life (how cool is that?!). Having worked with clients from age 4 through 99 over the course of my OT career, I have grown to love all that the field of OT embodies. 

I developed a passion for pelvic floor OT specifically after I participated in pelvic floor therapy as a client myself. My quality of life was vastly improved after receiving compassionate, high-quality care from my therapist, and the experience opened my eyes to the significant need that exists for pelvic floor therapists in our healthcare system. After this experience, I began my education and training through the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, and I am thrilled to join the Pelvic Pride team! 


I currently reside in Baltimore County, and when I'm not wearing my OT hat I can be found sewing, reading, walking my dog, or taking a strength training class.

Sam Horn

Patient Care Coordinator (she/her)

I come to Pelvic Pride with a combined background of healthcare administration and patient advocacy. I look forward to using the skills that I have learned over the years to support both our patients and our therapists.


In the clinic you can find me welcoming patients, answering questions, and keeping the space warm and inviting. Outside the clinic you can find me advocating for cancer research, trying a new Baltimore restaurant, and counting how many dogs I see on my daily walks.


A note about our therapists' training...

At Pelvic Pride, we take your care seriously. This means we are devoted to learning from the top educational institutes in the field of pelvic health therapy. All of our clinicians have completed their education in pelvic floor therapy and dry needling through trusted sources including the American Physical Therapy Association, Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, Brooks Institute of Higher Learning, Core Exercise Solutions & Myopain Seminars.


Choosing between a Pelvic PT and a Pelvic OT

We get it, OTs are newer on the scene in the pelvic floor world so we are here to set your mind at ease when it comes to deciding if you should see a PT or an OT. Both types of therapists attend graduate school and pass national boards to begin treating patients. Upon entering the pelvic floor world, all of our training is completed together at the most advanced educational institutes in pelvic health. This means when we take a class there is a nice mix of PTs and OTs present, all collaborating together and learning from each other, on everything from the hands-on manual therapy skills needed for internal pelvic floor work and c-section scar tissue massage to the assessment and treatment of movement patterns and body mechanics. All that to say, at Pelvic Pride you will receive expert care from each of our providers!

  • To compare this to the physician model, don't think of PTs vs OTs as physicians vs nurse practitioners, think medical doctors (MDs) vs doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs). Still curious how OTs can help? Click here learn more about OT in Pelvic Health.
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