Bios

John DeBitetto, PT, MSPT
Owner and Clinical Director

John graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. While pursuing a career in advertising in New York City, he injured his knee and received Physical Therapy which sparked his passion to pursue Physical Therapy as a profession. John soon left the corporate world and moved to Boston to attend Simmons University. After graduating, he opened a Physical Therapy practice in Hawthorne, New York, which he successfully operated for twelve years prior to moving to Vermont with his family. John opened Alpine Physical Therapy & Sports Care in Manchester Village in 2019.

John played NCAA football at Ithaca College and continues to enjoy competition by participating in mountain bike and road cycling races. When not at work or spending time with his family, John can be found mountain biking or road riding during the milder months or making Telemark turns at Bromley or Stratton in the winter. In August 2018, he successfully completed the most challenging mountain bike race in the world, the Leadville Trail 100-Mile Mountain Bike Race in Leadville, Colorado. He increased his training regimen and returned to Leadville in 2022 to beat his original time by 34 minutes. John is also a regular competitor in the annual Kare Andersen Telemark Sprint Classic Ski Race at Bromley.

Sindy Hassig, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist

Sindy has been practicing Physical Therapy for over 35 years since graduating with her Masters of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Boston University in 1988.  She emphasizes the word “practice,” as healthcare is a work in progress. Her desire for lifelong learning led to her Doctorate of Physical Therapy, which she completed in May 2022 at The College of St. Scholastica.

Health, wellness, and prevention of injury and disease have always been Sindy’s passions. She has learned and worked in many different settings which has given her a broad perspective and better understanding of how we develop and age and the challenges we face.  Her passion is working together with patients to get them back to activities that are important to them.

Personal well-being through regular exercise, conscious breathing, proper diet, and healthy sleep habits are her goals for everyone. She wants her patients to return to their normal lives and learn how to better take care of themselves. Everyone is unique in their rehabilitation process, and Sindy is dedicated to helping each individual find their own path.

Sindy’s life has been blessed by two wonderful children, Carson and Julia, her soulmate, Bob, and her faithful dogs and cats. Life in Vermont for over 30 years has been a gift, and she enjoys outdoor activities of all types year-round. Sindy has been a ski patroller at Mount Snow for several years, and in 2024, celebrated 40 years of service. She also loves to sing and play guitar and is learning to play the piano.

Paola DeBitetto
Practice Manager

Paola has been the Practice Manager at Alpine Physical Therapy since the outpatient clinic opened in 2019. While John has the knowledge and expertise to treat patients, it is Paola’s job to keep the office running smoothly. Her passionate desire to help patients and give back to the community are what make her perform at a high level everyday.

Paola graduated from Boston College with a BA in Economics and Romance Languages. She started her career in banking, but after a couple of years, moved to Rome. While living in Italy, she worked for Alitalia Airlines which gave her the incredible opportunity to travel extensively.

After ten years abroad, Paola moved back to the U.S. and shortly after met her husband, John. They have two amazing children, Sofia and Luke.

When not working, Paola enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking, walking, traveling, and sharing her love for the Italian language and culture with others.

Carissa Bellando, MFA, RYT, RPYT
Administrative Assistant

Carissa is a Dance Professor/Instructor and Choreographer who also teaches Yoga, specializing in Prenatal and Vinyasa, and Zumba. Dance has been her life since taking her first ballet class at the age of three. By the time Carissa was in high school, she was training 30-40 hours a week and had her eyes set on a professional career in performance and teaching. 

Carissa holds a MFA in Contemporary Dance from Case Western Reserve University and a BA in Theatre and Speech with a Musical Theater concentration and a minor in Dance from Wagner College. She performed and choreographed for thirteen years in musical theater and concert dance, both on land and at sea, in the U.S., Taiwan, and Germany. After living and working in Germany for a year and a half, Carissa returned to the U.S. to begin working as an Adjunct Professor of Dance at her undergrad alma mater for four and a half years before moving to Vermont in 2021.

In the Fall of 2021, John and Paola welcomed Carissa to assist Paola in the office. Her work at Alpine PT. has allowed her to sharpen her administrative skills and to learn the inner workings of a small business.  

Carissa loves spending as much time as possible with her Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (PBGV) pup, Tuli. She also enjoys English paper piecing, creating beaded jewelry, and crocheting everything from earrings to blankets.