From a small, southern town to CEO/owner of a physical therapy empire in Hampton Roads, Dr. Allen R. Jones, Jr., PT., DPT, was raised by parents who inspired his dogmatic approach to success. The Mississippi native gained his business acumen from his father, Allen R. Jones, Sr., working in their family-owned supermarket.
“My mother obtained her doctorate degree at the age of 70, setting the benchmark of excellence for our family,” Jones says.
Jones fell in love with Hampton Roads as a Norfolk State University underclassman. He earned his physical therapy degree from the University of Connecticut in 1987 and moved to Virginia where he worked for a private practitioner. In 2014, he earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Rocky Mountain University School of Health Professions. He holds postgraduate certifications in Clinical Management of Head, Facial and Neck Pain; Ergonomics; and TMJ Disorders.
Founded in 1990, Dominion Physical Therapy (parent company of Dominion Pediatric Therapy & Associates [DPT]) has since expanded to Hampton, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg. In 1997, Jones opened the pediatric office in Newport News, also acquiring Riverside’s pediatric therapy practice in 2002.
DPT’s professionally trained staff of licensed physical/occupational therapists and speech pathologists has extensive experience in treating children (ages 0 to 21). They offer early intervention developmental services designed to meet infant/toddler needs in areas including gross and fine motor skills, physical, cognitive and language. DPT provides outpatient and school-based services for physical, occupational and speech therapy.
The Newport News practice is the only pediatric location. Among DPT’s long-term employees of 15 therapists and administrative staff are Yvonne Caudle, director of operations; Kristin Largena, OTR/L; Mara Dupuis, COTA/L; Dr. Lauren Arrington, PT, DPT; Karen Nettemeyer, MS, CCC-SLP; Beverly Khabo, MS, CCC-SLP (Jones’s sister); and Gail Jones, LPTA and Jones’s wife. Dr. Jones’s father also works in the practice, assisting Caudle with human resources.
“The longevity of many of our employees and therapists is something that DPT values,” Jones says. “It sets us apart from others.” This warm and caring environment provides higher likelihood for success and for encouraging patients to meet goals they and their families believe important.
“We tailor treatments and sessions to connect with each child,” Largena says. “We use empathy, creativity and insight with our kids to foster success.”
Licensed by the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy, Jones has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 1988. DPT is a state-approved Outpatient Rehabilitation Center and a Medicare/Medicaid-approved provider of rehabilitative services.
“I love our small clinic feel and making relationships with my children and their families,” Arrington says. “I love having occupational therapy and speech here so we can co-treat together.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff quickly moved to virtual telehealth appointments. When occupational therapy assistant, Mara Dupuis, first saw a young patient’s reaction on a virtual appointment, she was touched.
“He was almost in tears asking about the other kids and staff,” Dupuis says. “I didn’t realize how much our patients would be affected by not coming into the clinic.”
“My satisfaction is walking into a room and seeing children who weren’t walking walk, weren’t crawling crawl, weren’t talking talk or using their hands in a dexterous manner,” Jones says.
DPT maintains a strong referral base, stellar reviews and high patient satisfaction. Its proudest achievement was a 2014 collaborative effort with ODU’s PT program. DPT provided financial support and staff to create a training module for working with individuals with autism. Onsite training was done with the center’s physical therapists and occupational staff in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Working on this effort were Largena; Cathie Barker, RPT; Michele Donnelly, COTA/L; and Khabo.
“Dr. Jones has compassion for patients and staff,” Khabo says. “He is interested in the well being and growth of both patients and staff.”
“My daughter has received services from toddler to teen stages,” Tanya Daniels says. “As her needs changed, DPT changed its approaches to better meet her needs. The staff has been integral to the success of our daughter’s accomplishments.”
DPT supports American Cancer Society, Transitions Family Violence Services, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. It has provided 12 Doctorate of Physical Therapy Scholarships to both ODU and Hampton University’s second-year physical therapy candidates. In 2014, Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed Jones to the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy, and he is chairman of the Virginia Board of Health Professions. This year the Virginia Peninsula Chapter of 100 Black Men honored Jones as Role Model of the Year. And, DPT received The Patriotic Employer Award from the office of the Secretary of Defense.
Jones enjoys yachting and vacationing in Hilton Head and Vermont. He and his wife Gail have 19-year-old twin daughters, Lauren and Lindsey, and sons, Scott, who has a Bachelor of Arts degree in public policy from Duke University, and Allen III, who is attending University of Colorado Law School this fall after working with Congressman Bobby Scott for the past three years.
DPT looks forward to expanding its pediatric practice to the Southside and continuing telehealth services, possibly on a national level.
“We endeavor to collaborate with leading universities to provide early diagnosis for autism,” Jones says. “At Dominion we dream big dreams.”
TO THE POINT:
Dominion Pediatric Therapy & Associates
Address: 729 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Ste. C, Newport News, VA 23606
Phone: 757-873-2932
Website: www.dompt.com/pediatrics
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