Meet The Team

Susan Ettinger

VP of Business Development

Southwest Suburbs

Rick

Geriatrics, Orthopedics, Neurology, Weight Loss, Personal Training, Parkinson’s Disease

Arthur

Orthopedics, Dry Needling

Downtown Chicago City

Jeff

Orthopedics/Neurology, Golf Fitness/Performance

Annie

Orthopedics, Vestibular Disorders, Dry Needling

Sam

Manual Therapy, Functional Exercises, Corrective Strategies

Northern Suburbs

Sunil

Geriatrics, Orthopedics/Neurology, Balance/Fall Risk, Vestibular

Emily

Geriatrics, Orthopedics/Neurology, Balance/Fall Risk, Post Covid Wellness

Deanna

Women’s Pelvic Health, Orthopedics, Balance/Fall Risk

Rick Tilquist, COPTA, CSCS

I graduated from Trinity Christian College with a Bachelors in Exercise Science and went to Fox College to specialize in the field of Physical Therapy. To further my expertise in outpatient physical therapy I completed a 2 year orthopedic certification through ACE and became a Certified Orthopedic Physical Therapist Assistant ( COPTA). I have an expertise in Orthopedics, Geriatrics, balance deficits, gait dysfunction, overhead athletes, weight loss, work related injuries, and Parkinsons patients.

I continued to expand my education and became certified in LSVT BIG to work with Parkinsons and balance deficit ( high fall risk) patients. My certification in Applied Functional Science (CAFS) through Dr. Gary Gray has better allowed me to work with all populations to not only return to prior level of function, but to go above and beyond to crush goals. Specializing in Rockblades has also allowed my patients to recover from injuries faster and have better outcomes.

My therapy techniques enhance my ability to provide the best quality of care, provide predictable long lasting outcomes. I take pride in providing the best possible care, dedicating my life to the profession, and promise an endless pursuit to help my patient to best achieve their goal. My CSCS and CPT certifications better allow me to pick individualized activities for my clients to reach their goals and provide the most up to date exercises in the field of healthcare.

Arthur

Arthur Cano earned his Bachelor of Science with Pre-Physical Therapy emphasis and Minor of Exercise Science from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. He then went on to earn his Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Northern Illinois University.

Since becoming a licensed Physical Therapist, Arthur exceeds the standard education requirements to maintain his license and prides himself in providing the most efficient treatments based on research for all of his patients whether they are working on balance or those that are tactical/professional athletes. He has special interest in treating patients experiencing pain for shoulders, spine, hips, knees, back and ankles. His goal is just improving overall health and fitness for life! Arthur has taken his learning further to implement Dry Needling and Blood Flow Restriction training into his treatments, boosting the results of all of his patients significantly.

Arthur grew up always having a desire to help others! Pair that with the dynamic field of physical therapy, and Arthur has made great use of his skills. He is helping his clients achieve their goals to improve their functional capability and earn a greater quality of life.

Jeff Bitter, DPT

Jeff’s career as a physical therapist started with a position at a large out-patient company with clinics across multiple states. In this environment, he had the opportunity to work alongside numerous skilled physical therapists in a bustling clinic setting. and This the experience allowed him to develop his clinical skills and gain insights into patient management. Following this, Jeff transitioned into a managerial role within the company, seeking opportunities for leadership and mentorship. However, he soon found himself overwhelmed by the demanding workload and long hours, which led him to reassess his career path.

Determined to refine his manual therapy skills and pursue specialized training, Jeff joined a small private practice in downtown Chicago. Under the guidance of a seasoned mentor proficient in various manual therapy techniques, he was able to provide personalized, one-on-one care to his patients, catering to a diverse range of age groups and injury types.

Additionally, Jeff explored opportunities in home health agency work, where he discovered a deep appreciation for the personalized approach of treating patients in their own homes.

These experiences inspired Jeff to establish CustomFit, a physical therapy practice specializing in concierge services primarily delivered in clients’ homes. By prioritizing individualized attention and comprehensive care, CustomFit aims to cater to patients of all ages and diverse injury backgrounds across the greater Chicago area.

Now, after over six years in operation, CustomFit boasts a team of eight dedicated physical therapists serving downtown Chicago and three suburban regions. Their collective expertise spans various specialty areas within physical therapy, reflecting their commitment to providing exceptional care tailored to each patient’s needs and preferences.

Outside of his role as a physical therapist at Away from CustomFit, Jeff loves traveling with his wife, Sherry, with Whom he has been happily married for over seven years. Recently, they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Brooklyn.

In addition to their family, Jeff and Sherry have two dogs named Mochi and Kona, both around seven years old. They reside in Mokina, Illinois. The and they family enjoys various outdoor activities such as running and hiking.

Furthermore, Jeff has a huge passion for golf, highlighting it as his primary hobby. He spends any available time away from work or family obligations on the golf course, trying to get better at the only sport I he currently plays that you can still improve as you get older.

Annie Hennessy

Annie’s passion for injury prevention and rehabilitation stemmed at a young age from her own experiences as a competitive dancer for 17 years. She currently treats all Orthopedic and Vestibular disorders and emphasizes looking at the patient as a whole to optimize function. With her certification in Dry Needling, she believes in the importance of manual therapy in addition to exercise to reach the most successful outcomes. 

In her free time, Annie’s favorite activities are going to workout classes, trying new restaurants around the city, and playing in intramural leagues with her friends. She also loves going to all Chicago sporting games with her friends and family.

Sam Elkins

Sam is a dedicated and compassionate physical therapist whose treatment plans are centered around reaching client-specific goals. Specializing in strength techniques and injury prevention, Sam works closely with clients to recover from injury and prevent future setbacks. With a deep understanding of biomechanics and human movement, Sam integrates evidence-based methods into each treatment plan, ensuring every client receives the highest level of care tailored to their unique needs. Whether it’s through manual therapy, functional exercises, corrective strategies, or education, Sam strives to empower individuals to regain their strength and live pain-free, active lives.

Sam is from Omaha, Nebraska where she grew up playing basketball competitively. She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Saint Louis University and has lived in Chicago ever since. When off the clock, Sam enjoys lifting, playing recreational flag football and basketball, trying new restaurants with friends, singing karaoke, playing guitar, and watching the Minnesota Vikings every Sunday.

Sunil Thomas, DPT

Sunil Thomas is a firm believer in the movement system. Physical therapists are movement experts, and each patient has a unique circumstance that calls for an individualized treatment plan. Rather than just treating knee or shoulder pain, Dr. Thomas looks at the body as a whole to see where movement faults occur to optimize a patient’s outcomes. The vision for the Physical Therapy profession is “Transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience.” Dr. Thomas desires to improve his patients’ experiences so they can be the best versions of themselves.

When he is not working you can find him spending time with his wife, who is also a physical therapist, and two kids! They love to travel around the world (ask him where he has gone or where he wants to go next!). When they are not traveling, they love to go hiking, explore Chicago and the surrounding areas, exercise, play competitive sports, and spend time with friends and loved ones. They are foodies and always welcome recommendations!

Emily Kocanda, DPT

My philosophy is movement equals health. We are meant to move, and as a Physical Therapist it is my goal and passion to address limitations to make each of us move a bit more easily. I started in the world of massage therapy and decided to go back to school to learn even more about how the body works inside and out. As a PT, I have loved learning how mobility through both manual treatments and targeted exercises can progress someone from illness to wellness.

​My experience has focused on fall prevention and lifestyle modifications to assist with maintaining an active lifestyle for the older adult population. I am also building experience with post-COVID syndrome and COVID long haulers, and I am passionate about the recovery process from this unprecedented and novel virus. Every body has unique needs, and I am driven to address these specifically to create customized plans for each and every client.

​When I am not working, I love spending time outside as much as possible, either reading a book, biking, or taking long walks through forest preserves. I also love being active by trying new adventures, such as climbing or taking new yoga classes. Listening to music is definitely another huge passion of mine, and I’m always looking forward to seeing new shows or discovering my new favorite song.

Deanna Wallace, DPT

Deana received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. While attending St. Ambrose was named to the All-American team for volleyball and competed overseas representing Team USA. She then earned her Doctoral Degree in Physical Therapy from Midwestern University in 2008.

Deana has been a practicing physical therapist in orthopedics and women’s health conditions for over 15 years. During her orthopedic clinical experience, she recognized a largely underserved population in pelvic health – specifically in peripartum and postpartum individuals. Deana believes postpartum individuals are nothing short of performance athletes and deserve to be treated as such!

Deana emphasizes that for some, pelvic health can be difficult to talk about, share with others, and/or seek treatment for. She prides herself on prioritizing the comfort and needs of her client, and aims to foster a space for everyone to come as they are, without judgment, to ensure that all questions are answered and every goal is addressed. She loves to work with all orthopedic injuries as well as all the pelvic-related things: incontinence, pain with sexual activity, pre/postpartum care, constipation, pelvic tension – you name it. Whether you’re trying to improve your bladder control, return to exercise after baby, or jumpstart your core and pelvic floor fitness plan, her aim is to help you reach your health goals and in turn improve your quality of life, all through the convenience of your own home.

Deana lives in Chicago with her husband, two children and super lovable Goldendoodle. When she is not in a freezing hockey rink with her two travel hockey players, she enjoys reading, concerts, and spending time with friends & family!

Susan Ettinger

Two of my passions in life are medicine and shoes! After owning my own shoe store for 14 years (every woman’s dream), I started a new career path. After losing my mother to cancer at a far too young age, I began managing and building medical practices and volunteering at the hospital as a way to honor her and give back to the medical community. This was my calling!

I try to make a difference with everyone I encounter. It might mean a little extra smile, a sympathetic ear or rearranging to make an appointment easier for them… not us.

Meeting Jeff and working with him at CustomFit has been such a highlight for me. I have combined my managerial and marketing skills with a professional who matches my passion for care and concern.