St. Luke appoints director of rehab therapy services

Chuck Besa

Physical therapist Chuck Besa has been appointed as the new director of the rehabilitation therapy department at St. Luke Health Services in Oswego.

Besa will oversee a staff of physical, occupational and speech therapists at the healthcare facility who provide comprehensive sub-acute services.

Besa is a Montero-certified skilled nursing facility manager with over 19 years of experience as a physical therapist from acute care to long term care. He also had the experience of managing an out-patient clinic in memory care, independent living and assisted living facilities.

“We are pleased to welcome Mr. Besa to lead our rehab team here at St. Luke,” said Shelly Youngs, St. Luke’s administrator. “Chuck brings a wealth of experience and will share his expertise with dedicated professionals who share his philosophy of person-centered quality care, by treating everyone with compassion and respect.”

A 2004 graduate with a Bachelor of Science in physical therapy from the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, Besa went on to earn his doctorate in physical therapy in 2018 with geriatric certification from the Evidence in Motion Institute of Health Professions, San Antonio, Texas.

A member of the American Physical Therapy Association and its New York Chapter since 2008, Besa is also a certified lymphedema therapist since 2015 from the Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy, where he passed both the written and practical exam held at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo.

Currently, Besa is pursuing on renewing his certification in vestibular therapy from the American Institute of Balance, Tampa Bay, Florida.