Southern-Orthopaedic Specialist

Christopher J. Cronin, M.P.T. received his physical therapy training at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2000. He has twelve years of experience specializing in orthopaedics. Mr. Cronin has extensive experience working with all age groups with the exception of pediatrics. He has also served as a clinical instructor for physical therapy students associated with the University of St. Augustine, University of South Alabama and LSU. He has worked in close association with Destrehan High School athletics while their football team won back-to-back state championships in 2008 and 2009. He served as Clinical Director of a physical therapy private practice clinic in Destrehan for more than three years. Mr. Cronin is a graduate of Brother Martin High School in 1991 and the University of New Orleans in 1996 where he received his Bachelor of Science degree.

Holly Holmberg Javier, M.P.T. received her Masters in physical therapy from Nova Southeastern University in 1996. (She was a graduate of Emory University School of Business in 1993.) Holly has concentrated her physical therapy career in orthopaedics. (She worked as the director of PT at an outpatient facility and Director of PT at Lakeside Hospital.) Her career with Southern Orthopaedic Specialists began in 2004 as Physical Therapy Program Director. She is certified in Pilates, FCE’s and ASTYM. Holly is a TPI Certified Golf Instructor Level 1. Holly has instructed seminars in ergonomics and lift training. She has conducted ergonomic assessments for Lakeside Hospital and other local companies. She has assisted physicians in local high school physicals. She was a speaker for LSU medical students in the field of women’s health PT from 1997 to 2004. Holly wrote a thesis on the effectiveness of foot orthotics in reducing lower extremity pain in 1995. She has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 1994. Holly treats patients of all ages with orthopaedic conditions.

John L. Moran, D.P.T. received his Bachelors degree in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University in 2003, where he was an NCAA swimmer with the Tigers. John then completed his Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) in 2005 from the University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences in St. Augustine, Florida. While at St. Augustine, he completed specialized training in orthopaedic manual therapy techniques and sports rehabilitation. He joined Southern Orthopaedic Specialists in the summer of 2005. He has trained in industrial and office ergonomics with the Matheson System. John has extensive pediatric physical therapy experience that he gained from his clinical experience at Shriner's Hospital in Shereveport and Children's Hospital of New Orleans. John has received advanced Sports Medicine Training at the Andrews Institute in Pensacola and Birmingham. John has completed specialized training with the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) for preventing and treating baseball injuries. He has studied clinical practice management at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.  John has presented seminars with Dr. Claude Williams, Dr. Michael McNulty and Dr. Mackie Shilestone. John provided an international webinar with AlterG and the benefits of unweighted training. Publications include - Advanced Technology: The Alter G Anti-Gravity Treadmills Impact on One Physical Therapy Clinic, and co-authored a website artice on injury prevention for the Jazz Half Marathon. John has provided volunteer medical services at the Disney Marathon and Jazz Half Marathon finish line medical tents. John has training in foot and ankle orthotic assessment and fabrication training. In 2010, John was named "Best Physical Therapist in New Orleans", by Gambit Magazine. He is a 2006 New York Marathon and 2010 Half-Iron man finisher. John has treated patients of all ages and  athletes at the recreational, high school, collegiate, and professional levels at Southern Orthopaedic Specialists since 2005.

Jean Puissegur Thomas, LOTR/CHT is a Certified Hand Therapist who received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Louisiana State University Medical Center School of Health Sciences. She completed her internship in Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation at Tulane University Hospital and Clinic. Jean was among the first to receive national recognition as a Certified Hand Therapist from the National Hand Therapy Certification Commission. Jean has more than 26 years of clinical expertise in Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation where she has worked closely with several board certified hand surgeons. She has a longstanding active role in clinical education with various teaching universities. She is also actively involved at both the national and State Chapter levels of the American Society of Hand Therapists where she has served as past president of the Louisiana State Chapter of American Society of Hand Therapists. Her interests include treatment of traumatic wrist and hand injuries, flexor and extensor tendon injuries, and custom fabrication of hand orthotics.

Jean's Mission is to "provide quality, comprehensive upper extremity and hand rehabilitation services to individuals whose lives have been affected by injury, illness, and/or disease processes". The most common types of conditions treated by our Occupational Certified Hand Therapist at Southern Orthopaedic Specialists include: Arthritis, Amputations, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cumulative Trauma Disorders of the Upper Extremity, Fractures/Dislocations of the Wrist/Hand, Flexor and Extensor Tendon Lacerations/Repairs, Nerve Lacerations/Repairs, Pain Related Disorders, Post Surgical Care, and Soft Tissue Trauma.

Lara Heyliger, MPT received her Master of Physical Therapy from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in August 2001. Lara has over seven years of experience working with patients of all ages and activity levels. She joined Southern Orthopaedic Specialists in September 2009.