All physical therapy and chiropractic care is not the same. If you're looking for someone to give you exercises and be hands-off, then we're not the practice for you. If you're looking for a team of professionals who specialize in manual therapy, which is a clinical approach utilizing skilled, specific hands-on techniques to resolve pain, increase range of motion, decrease inflammation, and improve function, and who provides an integrated rehabilitation program with proven lifelong results, then call us today!
Each of our PTs and PTAs are proud members of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Virginia Physical Therapy Association (VPTA), and routinely take continuing education courses.
Erika Comber, PT, Founder and Owner
Erika is the founder and owner of Comber Physical Therapy and a practicing physical therapist. She brought her vision to life in November 2003 when she opened the doors of Comber Physical Therapy on Mooretown Road. After years of working in a corporate physical therapy environment, Erika ventured out on her own and never looked back. She has carefully crafted a team of PTs and PTAs who have diverse backgrounds, but have each arrived at Comber Physical Therapy with similar goals: to offer holistic, hands-on, highly-skilled physical therapy to patients who truly care about realizing results, and to work in a cohesive environment that values individuality while celebrating teamwork.
Erika received her physical therapy degree at Russell Sage College in New York. She soon relocated to southeastern Virginia and began practicing physical therapy. She quickly ascended the corporate ladder and was soon managing seven departments at Sentara Hospital in Hampton before crossing over into private practice and eventually opening Comber Physical Therapy.
Today Erika is the CEO of Comber Physical Therapy and oversees both locations as well as continues practicing physical therapy. Her passion to return people to the lives they want to live is evident in the many success stories she's had with patients who were given impossible odds to beat. Her specialties include manual therapy, orthopedics, vestibular, and women's health.
Erika is a busy mother of three children. Any free time she has is spent jogging, reading, and being an active member in her church.
Ben Howe, PT, DPT, CIMT, Clinical Director of New Town Office
Dr. Howe, or as he is often referred to by many patients as Dr. Ben, is the clinical director and lead physical therapist of the New Town location of Comber Physical Therapy. He specializes in manual therapy and his expertise encompasses orthopedic, neurological, geriatric, and pediatric physical therapies and he is our resident dry needling expert.
He received a master's and doctoral level degree in physical therapy from Ithaca College in New York. During his graduate year at Ithaca, Dr. Ben worked in the research laboratory and center for foot and ankle research at the Rochester campus. He received the faculty research award and co-authored a journal article about shoulder impingement in the Physical Therapy Journal.
His treatment philosophy aligns perfectly with Comber's mission to treat patients in a holistic manner - mind, body and soul. Dr. Ben believes in a one-on-one approach to care. He enjoys listening at length to his patients' needs, customizing a health plan, and monitoring progress in a hands-on manner each and every visit. His manual therapy techniques include energy techniques, myofascial release, various mobilizations, and normalization of muscle control.
Dr. Ben has been accepted as a contributing writer to LiveStrongSM, the widely-respected, thought-leading organization dedicated to health, fitness, and lifestyle. His personal interests include golf, running, cycling, competing in triathlons, traveling, and following hockey and college basketball. He most recently completed the official Ironman triathlon event in Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Dr. Ben is also an aspring brewmaster!
Michelle Booth, DC
Dr. Michelle Booth helped launch Fusion Chiropractic. The establishment of Fusion Chiropractic, Comber Physical Therapy's sister company, has allowed us to offer the only integrated chiropractic and physical therapy rehabilitation in all of Hampton Roads.
A Hampton Roads' native, Dr. Booth received her B.A. in Biology from the University of Virginia and graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic - Florida. Her special training includes and is not limited to utlizing the Activator, Flexion/Distraction, and Graston techniques. Dr. Booth is FAKTR-PM certified (Functional And Kinetic Treatment with Rehabilitation, Provocation and Motion), which is a type of manual therapy combined with rehabiliation to aid patients recovering from musculoskeletal/myofascial conditions.
Dr. Booth has practiced primarily in the Tidewater area with the exception of clinical work abroad in Bahia, Brazil. She is well-versed in chiropractic techniques for immediate relief, corrective care, and maintenance. Dr. Booth's philosophy is based on the three cornerstones of holistic treatment, gentle techniques, and results-oriented, patient-centric approach.
When not practicing, Dr. Booth is actively engaged in the local community. She is often supporting community events and organizations, such as civic groups, promoting small business success, and sharing her skills such as training the College of William & Mary athletic trainers on soft tissue/myofascial techniques for their continuing education. Dr. Booth enjoys traveling, running, soccer, and the great outdoors. Dr. Booth and her husband, Tom, also enjoy winemaking and as a nod to that they have recently adopted a dog named Malbec.
D. Russell “Russ” Mosher, PT
Russ is the leading physical therapist of our Mooretown Road location. He specializes in manual therapy and is well-known for treating the spine and pelvis, and osteoarthritis joint injuries.
Russ has an associate’s degree in radiation therapy, a bachelor’s in kinesiology (special major), a bachelor’s in physical therapy (honors program), and is set to embark on a doctorate of physical therapy program. He is licensed in Texas, Maryland, and Virginia, where his profession has taken him over the year. Russ has a long background in leadership positions to include assignments as director of physical therapy, clinic coordinator, and chief therapist.
Patients are drawn to Russ because of his long history of successful, permanent results for patients as well as his approachability, engagement and compassion. He enjoys challenges and is the go-to person for thinking outside of the box. Russ’s approach to treatment is similar to Erika Comber’s. He believes that through the hands-on, skilled treatment delivered through manual therapy, the dysfunction must first be corrected by retraining and restoring functionality to the affected muscles followed by strengthening and support as well as exercises for follow up.
Russ is a gentleman of many talents. He created the popular Sensi Cream that patients enjoy and purchase at our Mooretown Road clinic. He’s also developed and sells a massage cream, which like the Sensi Cream, has healing elements and is 100% natural. He has four martial arts Black belts in Jiu-Jitsu, Kenjutsu, and Aikido. He is a constant dabbler and inventor of gadgets big and small and is never at a loss for solutions to challenges. He is currently a sword instructor for Blackbeard’s Crew and in the past was a member of the Royal Chessmen as a stunt man, which led him to pursuing physical therapy as a profession. Russ and his wife, Gayle, have three dogs and are actively involved in the art world on the Southside.
Danielle Soukup, DPT
Bret Schaller, DPT
Kate Mushinsky, PTA
Christy Herron, PTA
Christy first arrived at Comber Physical Therapy for clinical experience during her physical therapy assistant (PTA) schooling. Upon graduation Comber was pleased that Christy wished to return here and launch her physical therapy career. Her creative path to being a PTA is marked with being a photographer and studio manager, military volunteer work, assistant work at a behavioral medicine clinic and drug and alcohol abuse clinic, and even a stint as a store manager. Christy's devotion as a military wife allowed her to gather such experiences in Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Maryland, Kentucky, Germany, and ultimately Virginia.
Christy received her bachelor of science degree in psychology from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia followed by her associate of applied science as a physical therapist assistant at the Medical Careers Institute – School of Health Sciences in Newport News, Virginia.
Patients note that Christy exudes quiet confidence. Her dedicated, consistent manner puts them at ease during their rehabilitation process. Her specific physical therapy interests include orthopedics and balance programs. Christy particularly enjoys the geriatric population and working with current and former members of the armed forces and their family members.
Outside of work, Christy holds accolades for her volunteer activities. After years of military moves, Christy and her husband have settled into Williamsburg. They have two teenage children.
