Our Team

Michael Silva, MS, PT, CSCS - President & Founder
Carla Silva, MS, PT
Dr. Heather MacDonald, PT, DPT
Jesse Cloutier, CSCS, Personal Trainer
Jessica Gumkowski, LMT, Massage Therapist
Justin Millan - Medical Billing/Office Management
Penny Carrier, Front Desk Specialist
Dr. Kim Chula-Maguire, PT, DPT
Andrea Vigeant, MS, PT

Michael Silva, MS, PT, CSCS - President & Founder
mike@foundationperformance.com

Michael Silva, the president and founder of FOUNDATIONperformance, is a physical therapist, exercise physiologist, and certified strength and conditioning specialist. He has been training and creating exercise programs for people of all levels since 1994, and an orthopedic, sports medicine physical therapist since 1999.

A graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor's degree in exercise science, and the University of Massachusetts with a Master's degree in physical therapy, Michael is considered a skilled professional in his field.

Michael has been a certified strength and conditioning specialist since 1996, and has been personal training since 1994. He has worked with hundreds of clients and athletes at the high school, collegiate, Olympic, and professional levels.

Michael’s expertise and interests have made him a sought after clinician and consultant in the competitive running world throughout New England. He has worked with runners associated with the USA National Olympic team, Irish National Olympic team, New Zealand National Olympic team, Australia National Olympic team, Brown University, Providence College, Stonehill College, Wheaton College, Boston University, Tufts, Bryant University, Boston Athletic Association, and more. Some of his elite running clients include Molly Huddle, Roisin McGettigan, Kim Smith, Amy Rudolph, Marc Caroll, Keith Kelly, Amy Mortimer, Mary Cullen, and Sara Jameison. He is the strength & conditioning and rehabilitation consultant for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Team in Training” RI chapter.

He has consulted for dozens of organizations and schools including Alter G (makers of the anti-gravity treadmill, Arthrosurface, Stonehill College, Mansfield High school, Bishop Hendriken High school, Oliver Ames High School, LaSalle Academy, HealthTrax Fitness & Wellness Clubs, TeamRI (triathlon group), Fuelblet triathlon team, Triathlon Club of New England, Rhode Island Rhode Runners (running group), and Camp Foss (Running Camp).

As well as his clinical work, and his consulting Michael is a guest writer for New England runner magazine, beginnertriathlete.com, and ontri.com and offers instructional seminars on a variety of topics. He has also been featured in several magazines including: Triathlete, New England Runner, Running Times, and Men’s Journal.

Michael is supported, assisted, and inspired by his wife Carla and together they enjoy time with their two children, Jack and Morgan.

Carla Silva, MS, PT
cs@foundationperformance.com

Carla is a physical therapist, exercise physiologist, and group exercise leader. She has been working in the fitness field since 1995 and in sports/orthopedic rehabilitation since 1999. In 1996 Carla graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell with a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise physiology. She then went on to graduate from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell with a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy in 1999. It was here that she earned a clinical excellence award for her work in the field. Carla brings tremendous hands on skills as well as impressive exercise techniques to all her clients.

Carla's devotion to her career and her devotion to a healthy lifestyle allows her to lead by example. She has been competing in triathlons since 1998 and has been an aerobics instructor since 1995 (Carla spent time training with the Reebok step aerobics team). Since having her first child Jack Michael Silva on May24, 2003 and her second child Morgan Lily Silva on January 26, 2007, Carla and her husband Michael have devoted their time to their family at home and the growth of  FOUNDATIONperformance.

Dr. Heather MacDonald, PT, DPT
Heather MacDonald graduated Cum Laude from Quinnipiac College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy in January of 2000. Since graduating, Heather has focused her physical therapy career on orthopedic and sport rehabilitation while continuing her education to integrate evidence based practice into her vast knowledge of manual treatment and exercise techniques.

In March of 1995, Heather joined the United States Army Reserve as a Combat Medic. In December of 2002, Heather was the only physical therapist commissioned into the Specialty Corp of the United States Army Reserve for fiscal year 2002. Once commissioned, she was appointed Company Commander for Headquarters of the 405th Combat Support Hospital in West Hartford, CT. In February 2005 she was mobilized and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 1/34th Brigade Combat Team out of Minnesota. Heather was deployed to Tallil, Iraq for 18 months as the brigade physical therapist serving over 2000 soldiers in her brigade as well as 9000 soldiers on the forward operating base. While deployed Captain Heather MacDonald served as a consultant to the area commanders on injury prevention and strengthening techniques to preserve the fighting force. She also provided level II orthopedic rehabilitation to US Soldiers and level III rehabilitation to coalition and Iraqi soldiers/civilians. She spent her free time as a Spinning Instructor to provide daily classes to Soldiers as stress relief and intense cardiovascular exercise. While deployed Captain MacDonald was awarded the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal for her accomplishments and service to the 1/34 BCT.

Since returning home, Heather has finished her Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from Boston University. Her Academic Practicum integrated research she conducted during her deployment into evidence based practice to provide Soldiers with a comprehensive low back injury prevention program. She continues to provide leadership to her Soldiers of the 405th Combat Support Hospital as the Bravo Company Commander and initiated a running program to assist her Soldiers in surpassing army requirements in running. In her free time, Heather enjoys running, camping, hiking and reading literature updates.

Jesse Cloutier, CSCS, Personal Trainer
Jesse graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). The NSCA is recognized as a leader in the certification of health and fitness professionals. Since graduation, he has held positions as a Physical Therapy Aide, personal trainer, and Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

He enjoys helping people of all ages and abilities toward achieving their goals whether it be rehabilitation, fitness, or sports specific training. He continues his education by continually attending many functional training and nutritional seminars. He is currently taking courses toward a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies. Jesse is joining the staff with a mutual goal of providing the highest quality fitness services.

Jessica Gumkowski, LMT, Certified Orthopedic and Sports Massage Therapist
Jessica graduated with honors from the Boulder College of Massage Therapy’s (BCMT) 1000-hr massage therapy certificate program in June of 2006. She holds an Associates of Occupational Studies in Massage Therapy degree and a Certificate in Orthopedic and Sports Massage. Jessica has experience working with chronic pain sufferers, expectant mothers, children, everyday Joes and athletes of all levels, from professional to beginner.

Jessica has a unique ability to relate to athletes on an experiential level as she has completed every distance of triathlon and running races, including Ironman and several marathons. She maintains a holistic foundation in her practice and believes in the body’s innate ability to heal. Jessica is a skilled therapist offering relief to her clients from many common ailments plaguing our society and is not afraid to get in there. She believes in the power of massage and attributes much of her success in this world to receiving regular bodywork.

Justin Millan, Administrator/Billing
Justin joined the Foundation Performance team in 2006. His hobbies include running, writing, and emergency medicine.

Kim Chula-Maguire, PT, DPT, MA
Kim Chula-Maguire is a physical therapist who joined the FOUNDATIONperformance team during 2011 after graduating with a Doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Rhode Island. While in school, Kim’s research focused on testing VO2 max in runners in an effort to determine contributing factors in overtraining.

Kim graduated Summa Cum Laude from Regis College with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She continued her focus in Psychology by earning a Master’s degree in Clinical Health Psychology from Connecticut College in 2002, and then worked for the Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center in Providence, RI. At the center, Kim served as Project Director for an NIH-funded research study on the role of home environment in weight loss as well as designed and taught courses on nutrition and exercise.

Kim has published several articles including “The two faces of Prozac,” (Connecticut College Psychology Journal, 2002), co-authored “Decreasing household television time: A pilot study of a combined behavioral and environmental intervention,” (Behavioral Intervention, 2006), and presented at conferences including the Eastern Psychological Association and the New England Psychological Association.

Kim’s has a keen interest in athletics and was a Div 1 MAAC All-Conference soccer player at Fairfield University as well as a Commonwealth All-Conference performer in soccer and track and field while attending Regis College. Kim is a member of USA Track and Field and was a 2010 Master’s Champion in the mile and 800m. She also serves as an Executive member of the Providence Ronald McDonald House Running Club.

Kim takes her love and motivation for health, wellness, and running and uses it to help the clients of FOUNDATIONperformance.