Doctor CJ Mimee, PT, DPT, RYT

Owner and Founder

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Registered Yoga Teacher

CJ always loved to move. From a young age, she used to disappear into trees for hours on end, climb door-frames, and clothing line posts four stories high. Later, movement took on a more structured expression in the form of sports and yoga. Raised by her Greek grandparents in Montreal, Canada, she loves languages and understands the importance of access to quality health professionals who take the time to dissolve such barriers. She speaks English, French, and Greek, and is working on Spanish. Because she cares so deeply for people, it is difficult for her to choose a favourite area of the body to treat, however, she feels most fulfilled while taking care of the whole person at the same time. She states that she adores watching people fall in love with themselves again, once pain and difficulty with movements can be addressed.

She attended MGH Institute of Health Professions and lived in Boston, MA, before moving to Chicago. There, she was lucky enough to be the last cohort to perform their own dissections on people who donated their bodies to science and went back for several years to assist with preparing the bodies in advance for future classes of doctor of physical therapy students.

Her dream is to build a community resource where people can come and learn about their bodies, how to advocate for themselves, and feel safe and like family in their healthcare.

Chris Washington, PTA

physical therapist assistant

(pictured here with Chris-Ray Bonaparte)

Born and raised in the South Side of Chicago, Chris found his way in the field of service through fitness. As a kid, some of his biggest heros and physical aspirations were LL Cool J, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and of course, Batman. 

Through his course of being the next cape crusader, he soon realized that, to be the hero he wanted required helping others outside of doing 100 pushups a day. He soon became a personal trainer. To his surprise, he found that not many of his clientele sought to become a comic book character. In fact, they were battling injuries, pain, and even neurological problems. These clients inspired him to seek further knowledge in addressing these life-changing boundaries and he soon found Physical Therapy. Chris soon decided to commit in becoming a full time Physical Therapist Assistant, attending Malcom X College here in Chicago.

Chris has been a service to his community since, through healing and changing lives through assisting his clients, turned patients, turned extended family via therapeutic measures.

As far as his aspirations of becoming Batman, no one can confirm or deny. But ask yourself, have you seen Chris and Batman at the same place at the same time? 

Doctor Gauri Pawar, PT, DPT

doctor of physical therapy

pelvic floor specialist

Gauri is an foodie and a detective at heart. From reading mystery novels to reverse engineering recipes from her favorite restaurants in the kitchen,  Gauri likes to sleuth. 

Gauri is a chronic pelvic pain survivor who truly believes her physical therapist “gave her her life back”. On her own healing journey, she began to study (think: sleuth) the effects of trauma/stress on the body and strategies towards healing. This led her to study Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, and she went on to pursue her clinical doctorate in physical therapy at Andrews University.  She is passionate about: pelvic health, the mind-body connection, the influence of stress on the body, and the adaptability of our nervous system and its effect on our movement! 

Gauri utilizes visceral and osteopathic manual therapies to treat bowel/bladder dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, low back and pelvic pain, and pregnancy/postpartum rehabilitation

Gauri is passionate about education and has attended courses through the APTA, Barral Institute, Herman & Wallace, and Great Lakes Seminars. She is devoted to patient education and empowering patients on their health journeys.

When she's not working, Gauri can be found in the kitchen! She is an avid foodie who enjoys cooking foods from global cuisines and especially enjoys touring cities with her belly.

Things that bring Gauri the most happiness in her day to day life include, but are not limited to: listening to NPR, watching Columbo, vocal jazz, watching bollywood movies, walking/hiking, a good cup of coffee, and making a successful meal (efficient and tasty!), and sharing.

DOGtor Kala Mimee

Quality control

HR & morale manager

package inspector

Kala lives to people-watch, particularly if they are doing something brand new that she has never seen before. She worries about people when they are having difficulty walking or moving around in public and will look to Dr. CJ Mimee for insight and reassurance that they are going to be ok. She has the memory of a computer and will remember something forever, including her friends. She will never share your medical history, but if she sees you in public, she will let on that she knows you.

Kala is a problem-solver by nature and does not tire with difficult projects, often returning to them later with fresh eyes. Self-driven, she takes on new tasks and loves to keep busy. She is a hostess at heart and may offer to carry patient’s hats/gloves/umbrellas into clinic for them from the hallway, while also respecting a patient’s independence and autonomy.

Although only born in June of 2019, Kala assists in clinic with patients who enjoy her company; if someone makes a noise from pain, she will walk up, watch and listen for the person’s breath to normalize, and then return to her resting spot.

If you see her in the community, she enjoys good conversation over cuddles.

Doctor Lauren Fleming, PT, DPT

doctor of physicacl therapy

Pelvic floor specialist

Lauren is excited to provide individualized care as part of the Velona Health team. Her physical therapy philosophy is centered on listening, encouraging engagement, and empowering patients through understanding. She believes these aspects allow her to build strong relationships and guide patients on their individual paths to betterment.

Lauren graduated from UIUC in 2013 and pursued work in various healthcare settings prior to deciding to return to school to pursue her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2022 from Governors State University. In addition to her clinical internships, she has taken continuing education classes from the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute and plans to continue further training in pelvic, musculoskeletal, and related conditions.

Lauren is a resident of the city of Chicago and currently resides in the Pilsen neighborhood with her partner, cat (Eggo), and dog (Pancake). She enjoys staying active via rock climbing, running, and sometimes golfing. She also loves cooking/baking, reading, and playing video games.

Stefanie Mueller

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Stefanie was born and raised in Germany and obtained her MA in Cultural and Southeast Asian Studies from Humboldt University in Berlin.

Her professional background is in event planning and academic administration. Her studies and her work took her to exciting journeys throughout the east (South and Southeast Asia) before she moved to the Southside of Chicago where she has been raising her three active kids.

From experience, Stefanie understands the transformative power of physical therapy and other forms of bodywork and the importance of finding the right professionals to guide through recovery. Therefore, she is thrilled to work with and support such a great team of therapists at Velona Health.

Outside her work, Stefanie is highly engaged with her kid’s education as a Board member at their school. She enjoys running across Jackson Park and the lake front and can often be seen supporting her kids at their various sports practices and games.