Our Team

Mary E Drost
PT, DPT, CEEAA

Dr. Drost has been practicing physical therapy for 30+ years. She attained a Bachelor of Science degree in physical therapy from Texas Woman’s University and her doctoral degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston. Mary’s focus while attending UTMB was in geriatrics and vestibular rehabilitation. She was awarded Scholar in Aging for Physical Therapy by the UTMB East Texas Geriatric Education Center Consortium. Mary received a certificate of achievement from Kinetacore® in Functional Dry Needling. She has also attained Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults from the American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Geriatrics Physical Therapy. Mary is certified in LVST-Big® (training for people with Parkinson’s Disease) and is a PWR! Moves® certified therapist (a Parkinson’s Disease specific skill training program.) Mary is a certified fall prevention specialist.

Victoria Ortiz-Sheffel

Born and raised in Victoria, Tx, Victoria Ortiz-Sheffel is a 2001 graduate of Stroman/Memorial High School. Shortly after graduating, Victoria left for Marine Corps boot camp in Parris Island, SC followed by Marine Combat Training and then schooling at the Armed Forces School of Music in Little Creek, VA. Victoria was then stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA with 1^st Marine Division where she completed two tours of duty in Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Over the span of 15 years, she was stationed with Marine Corps Forces Pacific in Kaneohe, HI, 2^nd Marine Aircraft Wing in MCAS Cherry Point, NC, and Ill Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, before returning to and retiring from 1^st Marine Division.

Once retired, Victoria returned to Texas where she completed her Bachelor's of Exercise and Sports Science and Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. Upon graduation in 2020, she worked as a Physical Therapy Technician at VPT until she was accepted into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Tx. In 2021, she married Mathew Sheffel and became stepmother to five wonderful children. Then in April 2024, Victoria graduated as a Doctor of Physical Therapy and returned to VPT excited to be part of the team.

Staff

April Flores
Accounting Clerk and Authorization Specialist

Melissa Cisneros
Administrative Assistant and Receptionist

Sonya Gomez
PTA