Programs in Physical Therapy

Core Faculty and Staff

Faculty Photo - 2025

Core faculty has direct responsibility for teaching, student advising, and supervision of independent student learning and critical exploration. You can find more specific information on the core faculty on each individual faculty member’s page.

Faculty

Admin Support Staff

  • Gina Frassetto, MPA

    • Administrative & Business Manager

    Gina keeps our finances and administrative matters in order. She is responsible for the overall administrative and business management of the physical and occupational therapy programs including finance and budget, human resources issues, and contract review for clinical education.

     

    Headshot of GIna Frassetto

  • Jason M. Bachan

    • Program Affairs Coordinator

  • Stephanie Henkin Buraczewski

    • Administrative Coordinator, Clinical Education

    Born and raised in Manhattan, Stephanie attended Indiana University's Sports Medicine/Athletic Training Program and has a background in many sports. Over the years she sustained several injuries that sent her to physical therapy. She uses her experience to assist students with their clinical choices and always offers an ear and sense of humor should they need to talk. Stephanie is an avid equestrian and proud mom of a 24-year-old-horse named Pony Danza, aka Skyler and Spidey Sense aka Peter Parker is 8. She also has a rescue dog named Benny who is studying to be the DPT program's first therapy dog! She is a die-hard Broadway fanatic and is always ready to recommend a show.

    Headshot of Stephanie Henken

  • Aimee DeGrazia

    • Admissions Coordinator, Executive Assistant

    As a proud New Yorker, with Dominican roots, Aimee was raised in Queens and has called Manhattan and Brooklyn home. She graduated from UMASS Amherst with a major in Spanish and minor in Communications. After dedicating 22 years to working at a plastic surgeon’s office, she brings her strong work ethic, deep compassion and knack for witty banter to her role as an admissions coordinator. A knee injury led her to physical therapy which inspires her commitment to supporting the next generation of PT’s in their educational journeys. Outside of work, she loves to read, especially Jack Reacher novels, enjoys salsa dancing (where she met her fiancé) and meal preps weekly to stay healthy.

  • Nicole Lockwood

    • Administrative Aide

    Nicole Lockwood is an experienced administrative and financial professional with over 13 years of experience supporting academic and clinical teams in higher education. She currently works in Columbia University’s Programs in Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, where she supports faculty and leadership with scheduling, travel management, financial coordination, onboarding, and day-to-day operations. Nicole is known for her organized, dependable, and collaborative approach and takes pride in being someone her colleagues can always count on.

  • Rachel Scott

    • Health Professions Education Learning and Assessment Specialist

    Rachel is the Health Professions Education Learning Specialist for the Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy programs at Columbia University, and she supports students through evidence-informed learning and test-taking guidance. Rachel is British and has over 25 years of experience in secondary and higher education internationally. She has worked closely with hundreds of health professions students to strengthen academic skills, professional identity, and communication confidence. Rachel holds an MA in Digital Technology and Communication in Education, a DELTA in teaching English language, and she is engaged in PhD research focused on the assessment of Professional Identity Formation in the health professions. When she’s not supporting students, Rachel enjoys the city’s arts scene, Columbia athletics events (Go Lions!), and she is relishing life in NYC along with her daughter, Gabi, and their fluffy orange cat, Katsuki.