Meet The Team
Dr. AJ Cohen, PT, DPT
AJ Cohen founded Up and Running Physical Therapy to pursue his passion of helping people see what they’re truly capable of; whether coming back from an injury that they thought they’d have forever, or running a personal best marathon. Originally from Manorville, New York, AJ graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Sacred Heart University.
AJ trained in a variety of clinical settings including Orthopedic Outpatient, Acute Oncology, and Skilled Nursing and passed his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist exam. AJ is also certified in Functional Dry Needling II.
As an ultra-marathoner and rock climber, he has an affinity for working with athletes and active-adults, helping them in their various sports. AJ’s doctoral studies emphasized the importance of manual therapy, in conjunction with specific exercise, to maximize the benefits of therapeutic techniques to improve function, pain, and performance.
Some of AJ's Running Accomplishments
- Run the Ranch 12hr - 1st OA and CR
- Run Rabbit Run 100 - Under 30hrs
- Never Summer 100k - 4-finishes
- Never Summer 60k - 10th overall
- Silverton Alpine 50k - 3rd overall
- Hogs Hunt 50k - 7th overall
- Various Trail and Road Races from 50M to 5k
Dr. Joey Przybyla, PT, DPT
Joey is a licensed physical therapist who earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Texas State University. Originally from Michigan, he moved to Texas in 2011 where he spent his time learning and growing as a physical therapist.
He moved to Colorado in May 2022 and will call Fort Collins home. Joey has 8 years of experience in orthopedic, post operative and sports related rehabilitation. He brings additional perspective as an avid runner and was even able to reach the status of a competitive local-elite athlete. With the love of distance running and a personal record half marathon time of 70 minutes, Joey lives to help others reach their physical goals.
Specifically, he utilizes manual therapy, Functional Dry Needling and emphasizes the use of exercise to allow patients to get back to the activities they are passionate about! Outside of the clinic, you can catch Joey exploring all the nearby trails with his wife Kelsie and two sons, Luka and Lane.
Some of Joey's Running Accomplishments
- Blue Sky Half-Marathon - 3rd OA
- Half-Marathon PR: 1:10
- This list will be updated soon!
Dr. Stephanie Hope, PT, DPT
Stephanie earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Psychology from The University of
Georgia and then later went on to graduate with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from
The University of North Georgia. She is originally from the southeast, born in South Carolina
but raised most of her life in Georgia. She loves to travel and has lived overseas as an
adult. Most recently, she and her family returned from New Zealand where she worked as a
physiotherapist for 2.5 years.
Stephanie specializes in pelvic floor dysfunction and this has become her passion within the
PT profession. She treats a wide range of women’s and men’s health issues, including
incontinence, pelvic pain, and pelvic post-op complications. She is also experienced in
treating musculoskeletal and orthopedic conditions and is certified in dry needling. She
enjoys creating bespoke exercise programs for her patients, whether it is for a pelvic health
issue or orthopedic problem, to help them achieve their goals.
In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband, young son, and dog.
She loves hiking in the mountains and exploring her community through a variety of outdoor activities. She is also a hobby potter and loves making functional pottery and ceramic art.
Dr. Jennifer Wright, PT, DPT, MTC
Jen earned her Bachelor’s degree in exercise science at Colorado State University and in the process worked as a physical therapy aide at the CSU health Network fueling her interest in working with athletes and active adults. She received her doctorate in physical therapy at the University of St. Augustine with a concurrent Manual Therapy Certification. Jen has also continued her education and is dry needling trained through Kinetacore with Level 1 and Level 2 certifications.
As a Colorado native she grew up running, biking, skiing, snowboarding, doing gymnastics, hiking, and showing horses. As a teenager she suffered an injury to her back that sidelined her from all her normal activities. She was seen and treated by many in the health community for 2 years with no real relief or changes. Facing a radical spinal surgery as a young teenager she finally found relief from a physical therapist with special education in the treatment of spine.
Her experience over the last 10 years in outpatient orthopedics has resulted in specialty work with the performing arts, specifically dancers. She is contracted with the professional dance company in town and treats dancers from all over the world. She works with women recovering from new and old breast cancer treatment including radiation, mastectomy, lumpectomy and anything in between. Lastly her passion lies in the treatment of the spine. Her doctoral and MTC (manual therapy certification) training provide a unique specialty in spine that allows diagnosing and treatment the root cause of back pain.
It has become my passion to treat individuals as an entire body and help them continue, maintain and improve in their activity of choice.
Conner Weeth, PT, DPT
Conner earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biomedical Sciences from Colorado State University, followed by his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Regis University in Denver.
As a powerlifter, Conner has a passion for helping barbell athletes and has had the opportunity to work with national-level powerlifters and Olympic weightlifters. With his passion for lifting, Conner helps others continue their training while rehabbing injuries with an exercise-based approach.
Conner has been the head powerlifting coach at Denver Barbell Club since 2022, and will remain a remote coach going forward. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking new recipes and playing board games with his fiancé whenever possible.
Some of Conner's Powerlifting Accomplishments
- 3rd in 2024 Colorado State Championship 90kg class
- Best Squat: 205kg/452lbs
- Best Bench: 157.5kg/348lbs
- Best Deadlift: 255kg/562lbs
- Best total: 617.5kg/ 1,358.5lbs
Dr. Stephanie Boyce, PT, DPT
Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, Steph attended Gannon University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport and Exercise Science and went on to graduate with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Growing up an athlete, she fell in love with physical therapy after tearing her ACL and meniscus, undergoing surgery, and experiencing the rehab process at a very young age.
Steph has over 8 years of experience working in the outpatient orthopedic and sports rehab world throughout Pennsylvania, Texas, Oklahoma and now Colorado! During school, she became interested in pelvic health rehab and started her journey towards becoming a pelvic health physical therapist through the Institute of Clinical Excellence with their Level 1 and 2 courses. She is dry needling trained through Integrative Dry Needling and values the importance of balancing manual therapy, exercise, nutrition, and education to improve overall function and wellness.
During her free time, you can find Steph in her local CrossFit gym (she got her L1 certification in 2022), doing yoga, and enjoying just about anything outdoors with her boyfriend and their two dogs. She’ll never turn down a good book recommendation!
Brooke Brinkman, M.S. Exercise Physiology, Performance Trainer
Brooke Brinkman holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology, both from Concordia University Chicago. With a passion for understanding physiological adaptations to various forms of exercise, Brooke specializes in athletic performance enhancement and building a strong foundation for sustainable, healthy exercise habits.
With seven years of formal education and three years of professional experience in the field, Brooke has dedicated her career to empowering athletes and individuals alike to achieve their fitness goals. She works extensively with athletes, including those in sport-specific training and barbell disciplines, as well as individuals striving to reclaim their health and fitness.
In addition to her academic and professional pursuits, Brooke has a keen interest in outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and paddleboarding. She finds inspiration in nature and enjoys exploring new trails and waterways whenever possible. Outside of the great outdoors, Brooke enjoys working out, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and immersing herself in music.
With a commitment to excellence and a holistic approach to fitness, Brooke Brinkman is dedicated to helping clients unlock their full potential and lead fulfilling, active lifestyles.
Alyssa Farris - Client Care Specialist
Bio coming soon!
Interested In Joining The Team?
In the next few months we’re looking to add another PT to our amazing team.
If you’re interested, please email AJ at aj@upandrunningpt.com with a resume and cover letter.