STAT® INC.

Cat Markosky, CEO & Founder of STAT® Inc.

Cat Markosky is a Developer of the equine assisted learning program called the EQuine AffectSM, which explores emotional intelligence "EQ" alongside horses. She is a certified Equine Specialist (ES) through EAGALA, O.K. Corral Series, and EquiLateral™, with 20 years' experience working with horses and humans utilizing and developing therapeutic alternative modalities. Cat is also the General Manager of the Ligonier Therapeutic Center and owner of Pleasant Meadow Farm LLC, along with being the Founder and CEO of STAT® Inc. (a 501c3 est. 2007). 

With two of her three children having special needs... Mason with an extremely rare syndrome called Costello Syndrome complicated with Cerebral Palsy from a birth injury, younger brother Maxwell is Autistic, she completely understands the struggles families have in finding valuable services, both therapeutic and recreational, that focus on and actually produce meaningful outcomes. 

Lisa Schartiger, MPT

Lisa is a licensed Physical Therapist with a Masters in Physical Therapy from Chatham University in Pittsburgh. Lisa received advanced training from the American Hippotherapy Association and has been providing Equine Assisted Physical Therapy services for over 25 years. Hippotherapy is a medical treatment that can only be provided by a licensed PT, OT, SLP, PTA, or COTA, with at least a Level I training. Lisa is Board Certified, which includes both Level I and Level II. She enjoys working in the outdoors and utilizing alternative strategies for her clients to include equine therapy, as well as aqua therapy, to reach a patients' treatment goals. Lisa has owned and operated her own private practice since 2000, Equine Magic Therapeutic Services, with great passion, to utilize equine movement to optimize patient performance capabilities, both mental and physical, with the ultimate goal to restore function and rehabilitate patients with physical impairments, social-emotional disabilities or profound injuries (such as loss of limb, TBI, stroke, concussion, cardiac, lymphoma and paralysis).   

Julie Kiehl, PT, DPT, MS, CES, PES

Dr. Julie Kiehl is a licensed Physical Therapist and is certified in Hippotherapy Level 1 through the American Hippotherapy Association. She obtained her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Saint Francis University in 2014. Prior to that, she obtained a Master’s degree in Exercise Science, a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training, and a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from California University of PA, and certifications as a both a Corrective Exercise Specialist and a Performance Enhancement Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Julie has worked in many different settings through Powerback Rehabilitation and Bethlen Communities Home Health and Hospice. In her youth, she took horseback riding lessons for many years and is passionate about combining her love for horses with her education in rehab services to improve the quality of life of her patients.

Stephanie Roberts, OT

Stephanie is a licensed Occupational Therapist since 2012 and she is certified in Hippotherapy through the American Hippotherapy Association. Stephanie graduated from Saint Francis University in 2012 with a Masters in Occupational Therapy, with a Bachelors in Health Sciences and a minor in Psychology. She has worked at the Laurel View Village, Allstar Therapies prior to taking a position at STAT, while maintaining her work in home health, hospice, at the Bethlen Communities in Ligonier, PA since 2014.  Stephanie was involved as a child and young adult in the Laurel Mountain Horse and Pony 4H Club for 5 years and is an avid equestrian. Stephanie is certified in Part 1A and 1B through the AHA and is a fantastic addition to our team at STAT®.

Mel Jenkins-Fernandez, PsyD

Dr. Jenkins-Fernández (“Dr. Mel”) is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with over a decade of experience helping adolescents, Veterans, and Soldiers heal from trauma. She values the equine assisted experiential approach that helps people discover creative solutions, make new insights, cultivate gratitude, and develop adaptive and more balanced ways of thinking, feeling, and doing. Dr. Mel also likes puns and encouraging people to "horse around intelligently." 

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Dr. Mel is a member of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association (PPA) and the American Psychological Association (APA). She earned her Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from APA accredited Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA and a Pre-Doctoral APA Internship in Clinical Psychology from Vanderbilt University-Dept of Veterans Affairs in Nashville and Murfreesboro, TN (2006) and a Psycho-Oncology Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University School of Medicine & Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO (2008). She is a Developer of the equine assisted learning program called the EQuine AffectSM, which explores emotional intelligence "EQ" alongside horses. She is a certified EAGALA mental health (MH) professional with an Individual Military Designation, and an MH in O.K. Corral Series. She is certified in Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Equine Assisted EMDR (EquiLateral™) therapy. Finally, she is also a third generation military Veteran and served honorably in the U.S. Air Force after enlisting as a teenager. 

Teresa Jerome MS, LBS

Teresa is a licensed Behavioral Specialist, with her MS in Developmental Psychology. Teresa has a background in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and holds more than 30 certifications from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, to include: Trauma-Focused CBT with Childhood Traumatic Grief, Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency (for Complexly Traumatized Youth), Family Resilience, Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma with Children to name only a few. Teresa is not only a professional in the field of pediatric mental health but she is also a mother of 4 with 2 of her children being adopted - children who have experienced severe childhood trauma; she has first hand parental perspective along with her clinical experience. 

​Allison Vasinko, LBS, BCBA

Allison is a LBS with a BCBA and a focused background in Applied Behavior Analysis and Early Childhood Education. Allison has a special interest in children and teens who are challenged with a variety of physical disabilities, cognitive impairments, and/or behavioral challenges, but specifically Autism Spectrum Disorders. She earned degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and Juniata College and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She is also a Certified Educator and works in the field of Mental Health at STAT® as a certified EAGALA Practitioner.