Our Team

David Pakozdi

Physical therapist, OCS

David Pakozdi, PT, OCS graduated from the physical therapy school of S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook in 1980.  He began his career in physical therapy as a staff physical therapist at Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield. Shortly after, he joined Rexford-Wilshire Physical Therapy in Beverly Hills where he ran outpatient physical therapy services for respected orthopedists Ted Goldstein, MD, Charles Lane, MD, Barry Braiker, MD, Melvin Nutig, MD and Milton Ashby. MD.  He focused his practice on the Cyriax method of musculoskeletal evaluation and was one of the first therapists in Los Angeles to study with Robin McKenzie, PT andpractice his techniques for spinal diagnosis and treatment. Mckenzie's treatment techniques are now standard care for spinal pain and dysfunction.

When he decided to form his own physical therapy practice, he began seeing private patients on a part-time basis while working with Emmet Berg, DO at Healthline Medical Clinic in Sherman Oaks. He co-directed physical therapy services for Healthline with Vince Newman, PT.   In 1985, David's practice had grown so large that he opened his own clinic in Santa Monica.

In 1987, he founded Kinetic Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (KOPT) in West Los Angeles.  In 1992, David became one of the first therapists in Los Angeles to become a board certified specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy.   In 2002, KOPT incorporated Pilates and Gyrotonics with several instructors; most notably Barbara Wintrob of Retro-fit Pilates. David was re-certified as a board certified specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy in May 2003 and continues to attend yearly seminars and conferences to stay current with new treatment techniques and expand his understanding of orthopaedic care. In 2010, KOPT moved to its present location in West Los Angeles at 1950 Sawtelle Blvd, Suite 190. 

Besides patient care, one of David's great professional joys isteaching student physical therapists from New York University, Columbia University, Washington University in St. Louis and Utah State Universality as a clinical instructor. He has guided more than a dozen students through their clinical internships at his clinic. Many have gone on to also distinguish themselves in the field of physical therapy.

David has published many works on the practice of physical therapy and has guest lectured at area universities.  In a text book entitled Rehabilitation for the Postsurgical Orthopedic Patient, David co-authored the chapter "Lumbar Microdiscectomy and Rehabilitation" along with Rick B. Delamarter, MD and James Coyle, MD.  In 2002, he investigated the treatment of cervicogenic headaches and authored a case study.

Joshua Hawkins

Physical therapist, DPT

Dr. Joshua Hawkins, PT, DPT is a graduate of the physical therapy doctoral program at California State University, Northridge (CSUN Class of 2016), and has been a trusted associate of Kinetic Orthopaedic Physical Therapy for the past eight years. He first began his interest in the movement sciences when finishing his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Science at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) in 2013. His main focus has been evaluating and treating musculoskeletal disorders, but he also specializes in the evaluation and treatment of vestibular disorders, which he learned during his doctoral education under the guidance of the esteemed Dr. Peggy Roller, PT, MS, DPT. In addition to his extensive outpatient experience, he also has treated countless patients in the acute, home-based setting as a home health physical therapist over the past eight years.

When not treating at the clinic or performing home health physical therapy, Dr. Hawkins enjoys spending time with his wife, playing the electric guitar, and participating as a part-time instructor in the mixed martial arts system of Jeet Kune Do, which he has been a practitioner of for the past 15 years.