Our Team

Michael Silva, President & Founder
Carla Silva, MS , PT
Katherine Coster, Personal Trainer
Laurie Conners, LMT, PTA - Physical Therapist
Patrick Flynn, Administrator/Billing
Justin Millan, Administrator/Billing
Heather Bassett, PT, DPT - Physical Therapist
Jacqueline Oates - Physical Therapy Aide
Bill Nadeau, Nutritionist

Michael Silva, 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 a 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 through out 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. 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 Stonehill College, Mansfield High school, Bishop Hendriken High school, Oliver Ames High School, LaSalle Academy, HealthTrax Fitness & Wellness Clubs, TeamRI (triathlon group), Rhode Island Rhode Runners (running group), Camp Foss (Running Camp), and Running Times magazine.

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.

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.

Patrick Flynn, Administrator/Billing

Patrick joined the Foundation Performance team in April of 2009. His work history has included summers on Cape Cod and working as a personal concierge to Hollywood’s elite. After 12 years working in the hospitality industry, Patrick switched career paths and became an administrative assistant to some of Boston’s top orthopedic surgeons. This switch eventually led him to Foundation Performance. In his spare time, Patrick enjoys cooking for friends, theater, classic films, and traveling as much as he can.

Justin Millan, Administrator/Billing

Justin joined the team at FP in 2007. Originally from New Jersey, he moved to Rhode Island after graduating from college. His background includes an avid interest in long-distance running and track sports. He also enjoys reading and writing fiction.

Heather Bassett, PT, DPT

Heather Bassett 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 Bassett 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 Bassett 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.

Jacqueline Oates - Physical Therapy Aide

Jackie is a graduate of Stonehill College in 2009 where she majored in Health Care Administration.  She competed collegiality in cross country and track at Stonehill. Her future plans include pursuing a doctrate in physical therapy.  Jackie started as a patient at FOUNDATIONperformance as a freshman at Stonehill and utilized their PT services throughout her running career.  She joined the team after graduation.  In her spare time, Jackie enjoys running, reading and outdoor activities.

Bill Nadeau

Bill Nadeau, MS received his Bachelor of Science in biology from Bowdoin College in 1998. Bill has completed two Masters Degree programs; his first MS is in microbiology from the University of New Hampshire in 2001, and more recently his second MS is in nutrition from Boston University in 2008. Bill completed a seven-month dietetic internship at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, MA and is currently the Oncology Dietitian at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY.

Bill has extensive experience counseling professional and recreational runners and triathletes whose goals span from competing in their local 5-mile road race to racing Ironman. He brings both evidence-based nutritional guidelines and personal experience from years of competition to coach individuals who strive to acheive their athletic and nutritional goals.

Bill also has extensive experience working with larger audiences. In 2007, Bill was the sports nutrition intern for the nationally ranked Boston University Men’s Ice Hockey Team. During that year he also presented a sports nutrition workshop on healthy eating to the Boston University Women's Soccer Camp. Bill’s sports nutrition writing has been published in Triathlete Magazine, on Trifuel.com, and several other popular sites.
An extremely accomplished distance runner, Bill has competed regularly for the past 18 years in cross-country, track and field, and road racing. Bill was a member of a two-time New England Champion cross-country team in high school and was a 12-time individual All-State (CT) track runner. In collegiate competition, Bill served as a team captain of the Bowdoin College Division III national qualifying squad. Currently, Bill runs with the Boston Athletic Association and has a 3k PR of 8:51, half marathon PR of 1:15 (Philadelphia), and marathon PR of 2:50 (Philadelphia). Bill has started and finished 5 marathons.

Bill brings experience as an endurance athlete and a solid research background to the sports nutrition field and believes in an individualized and detailed approach to sports nutrition and athletic performance.  He has been working with clients at FOUNDATIONperformance since 2006.