Our Team

Rachel Welch PT, owner and treating therapist at Gateway, grew up in Lenox, MA and began her career at a fast-paced sports medicine and orthopedic center in California in 2003.  Since then, she has practiced in various outpatient clinics from Hawaii to Boston before returning to the Berkshires to bring the benefit of her experience to the community.  She has a passion for learning and has made continuing education a priority in her career and pursuit of excellence.  At Gateway, Rachel has built a team of like-minded, talented and curious individuals with whom she collaborates daily to provide the highest quality physical therapy in the region.  Between treating patients, running gateway and sips of coffee, Rachel spends her free time with her husband and their three daughters.
 

Jennifer Dort, MPT Started her PT career in Berkshire County in 2003, And has worked alongside Rachel Welch for nearly a decade. Jenn specializes in vertigo and Vestibular rehabilitation but has diverse experience in PT fields of pediatrics, aquatics, acute rehabilitation, neurology, and orthopedics. She earned a Masters in Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac University in 2003. Jenn is an avid runner, happy traveler, active mother of two!

Elizabeth Joppru Fowler, a 2012 Sage graduate in Physical Therapy.  She originally became interested in physical therapy while in high school, thanks to love of dance and yoga.  She has attended numerous continuing education courses on adult and pediatric orthopedics, women's health, as well as The McKenzie Method Part A.  She has a passion for treating conditions associated with pregnancy and postpartum. She values being part of a team of therapists who are passionate, driven, and dedicated to excellence in patient care.  Originally from Hinsdale, MA, Liz now resides in Lenox with her husband and two children.

Heather McDonald is a 2016 graduate of Naugatuck Valley Community College Physical Therapist Assistant Program and winner Outstanding Clinical Performance Award from NVCC.

She enjoys working with balance patients and helping people better care for their bodies. Along with her clinical skills, Heather has a wealth of knowledge about nutrition and is passionate about snowboarding with 10 years experience coaching (AASI level 2).

A Berkshire a resident for 20 years, Rachel Philp PTA has been a practicing therapist in the outpatient orthopedic setting for more than 10 years. Rachel received her bachelors degree in fine arts but later found her way to the field of physical therapy as a patient. After successful physical therapy rehabilitation for a back injury, Rachel trained to be a therapist herself.

Rachel also has a background in yoga practice and specialized training in womenʼs health pelvic floor strengthening.

Stephanie Merwin PT graduated from Northeastern University in 1999. She has been practicing in the Berkshires for over 20 years in outpatient clinics. With the combination of clinical and continuing education experiences she has developed a strong foundation for treating a variety of orthopedic injuries in all ages. Stephanie grew up in East Longmeadow Massachusetts and moved to the Berkshires after graduating from college. Here she met her husband and together they are raising their three sons. When not treating patients, she spends her free time taking pictures, watching her boys play baseball and traveling her family.

Bio coming soon!

Crystal Townsend, PTA earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Anthropology in 2018 and always knew she wanted to help people. She worked with Rachel Welch at Gateway as a PTA student and graduated from Berkshire Community College in 2023. In her free time, Crystal enjoys painting, spending time with her younger siblings, and traveling.