PHYSICIANS AND STAFF
Physicians and Staff
The physicians and staff at Coastal Virginia Spine and Pain Center have over 30 years of experience in Pain Management servicing the Virginia Beach and the Coastal Virginia region.
We provide comprehensive treatment for spinal and musculoskeletal pain to help improve and manage acute or chronic pain.
The goal of treatment is to help our patients become empowered over their pain- to help reduce pain and increase function through intervention, therapy and education.
PHYSICIANS
Robert M. Spear, DO
Dr. Robert Spear founded Coastal Virginia Spine and Pain Center in January 2019, but has been helping patients providing care to patients with pain for over 30 years in the Virginia Beach/Coastal Virginia region.
Dr. Robert Spear earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the University of New England. He completed a three-year residency in Family Practice/Internal Medicine at Norwalk Hospital/Yale University Medical Centre in Connecticut. He then completed a three-year residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation and was chief resident at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. He was a partner and President of APM Spine and Sports Physicians for 19 years.
He is board certified in PM&R. He lectures nationally on headache and its treatment as well as locally on spine, spasticity and Myofascial Pain Management. He served on the National Advisory Panels for headache and spasticity. Dr. Spear has been an active investigator on multiple medical trials with emphasis on headache related research. Clinical areas of interest include head and neck pain, myofascial pain syndrome, spasticity, non-allopathic mechanical dysfunction, with conservative treatment emphasis of Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy, peripheral musculoskeletal procedures, botulinum toxin, and Interventional Pain Management, fluoroscopically guided spinal injections.
Bonnie J. Nock, DO
Dr. Bonnie Nock earned her Doctor of Medicine from the Health Science Center of North Texas. She completed her internship at Fort Worth Osteopathic Medical Center and then completed residencies in Internal Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. During her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation she served as chief resident at the MetroHealth Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University. Prior to medical school she obtained a degree in Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters degree in Physiology at North Texas University. She was on staff with APM Spine and Sports Physicians for 14 years.
Dr. Nock is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation since 1996. She served as the medical director for DePaul Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Unit for 9 years and is still affiliated with the hospital. Professional organizations include the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Virginia Society of PM&R and the American Medical Association.
She has lectured on topics related to stroke, head injury, spinal cord injury and pain management. Clinical areas of interest include Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Sacroiliac Pain, Discogenic Pain, musculoskeletal problems, Botulinum Toxin Injections, and Electrodiagnostic testing (EMG).
NURSE PRACTIONERS
Kristi Nixon-Cartwright, NP-C
Kristi Nixon is a board-certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and licensed by the state of Virginia. She is native to the Tidewater area and grew up in Virginia Beach. After graduation from Princess Anne High School, Kristi went to East Carolina University and James Madison University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Health Sciences and a minor in Substance Abuse Intervention. Kristi stayed active at both ECU and JMU as a member of the varsity softball team.
Kristi went on to receive her Associate Degree as well as a second Bachelor of Science degree, both in Nursing. She practiced as a Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) in the Intensive Care Unit for six years. She graduated with honors after receiving a Master of Science from Virginia Commonwealth University as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Initially after graduation Kristi worked in the cosmetic plastic surgery industry for nearly four years. In 2016 she transitioned into the spine and pain management field where she has been practicing since 2016 and her love for improving her patient’s quality of life has magnified.
Kristi joined Coastal Virginia Spine and Pain Center in July of 2021.
Abby Barney-Dunlap, PA-C
Abby Barney-Dunlap is a board-certified Physician Assistant and a Virginia Beach native. She graduated Eastern Virginia Medical School’s Physician Assistant Program and attended Virginia Tech for her undergraduate degree in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise. Abby is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and Pi Alpha National Honor Society.
She previously worked with Dr. Spear at APM Spine and Sports before pursuing her other interest, Dermatology, at Eastern Virginia Medical School’s Dermatology department from 2018 through June 2022 returning to again work with Dr. Spear and the team at Coastal Virginia Spine and Pain Center.
She competed on the Virginia Tech Swim Team and completed her field study in Virginia Tech’s athletic training room, which led to her interest in Sport’s Medicine. In her spare time, Abby enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to the beach or pool, reading, and exercising.
Eric Rymal, PA-C
Eric Rymal, PA-C, is a board-certified Physician Assistant. He has enjoyed working in musculoskeletal medicine since 2012. He is well versed in the treatment of acute and chronic injury assessment, diagnostic imaging review, and appropriate management. Early in his career, he studied the utility and application of ultrasound for interventional procedural guidance to assess and effectively treat musculoskeletal conditions.
His clinical interests include diagnostic imaging review and clinical use, evidenced based medicine, and the clinical application of regenerative medicine. He strives to provide the best available evidence based clinical care to every patient.
Eric received his training from Pennsylvania College of Technology PA program in 2012 and subsequently earned his Master's of Physician Assistant Studies through PACE University in 2014. He has studied musculoskeletal ultrasound techniques at DUKE University. He is a member of American Academy of Physician Assistants, and American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine.
Prior to becoming a PA, he served eight great short years active duty in the USN, where he specialized in munitions, instruction, and specialty repair. He was known to some jokingly as the “Gun Doc.” He is now honored to provide excellent care to many of his fellow veterans, military families, and the rest of Hampton Roads community members as a Physician Assistant.
Outside of the clinic, he spends his time with his wife and 2 children. He also enjoys watersports, golf, and dabbles in woodworking when he can.
PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
Kathryn Bragg, PT
Kathryn Bragg has been practicing physical therapy for over 40 years, and was been with Coastal Virginia Spine and Pain Center since 2019. She received her Bachelors Degree in Physical Therapy from Old Dominion University in 1982. After graduation she was involved in Pediatrics with the Virginia Beach City Public Schools for two years, before moving to an acute care program with Sentara Leigh. While at Sentara Leigh she specialized in Work Hardening and Rehabilitation, as well as becoming more involved in manual therapy. She started specializing more in Myofascial Release/manual techniques in 1986. She was Director of Rehabilitation Services at DePaul Medical Center from 1990 through 1993 and Site coordinator with HealthSouth from 1993 – 1997 before coming to work at APM Spine and Sports Physicians.
Mrs. Bragg has been specializing in manual Therapy for over 30 years, primarily focusing on Myofascial Pain and Soft Tissue Dysfunction. She has been trained in Myofascial Release, Strain/Counterstrain, TMJ Dysfunction and Craniosacral Therapy and has taken numerous courses focusing on Postural Restoration. She works with chronic pain issues, as well as any other problems associated with soft tissue restrictions that adversely affect posture. Emphasis of therapy is on decreasing the soft tissue restrictions, increasing postural awareness/retraining, and helping patients learn self-management skills leading to independent management of symptoms.
Scott Burch, MA-PT
Scott Burch received his Masters degree in Physical Therapy from D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York in 1991. He also received a Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Lock Haven University, Lock Haven Pennsylvania in 1985. His clinical experience includes Director of Spineworks from 1996 through 2010, Clinical Director at Peninsula Physical Therapy and Associates, Inc from 1993-1996 and physical therapist from 1991 – 1993. He served as an Adjunct Faculty member at Old Dominion University in the School of Athletic Training from 2002 – 2003.
He has been a continuing education instructor for the American Physical Rehabilitation network since 2003. He is the co-developer and instructor for the instructional course, “The Pelvis, the First Link in the Chain”. He has attended over 30 continuing education seminars. The focus of his education has largely been on manually based approaches to treatment. This has included the School of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University.
Other areas of focus have been in Craniosacral and Myofascial techniques, Adverse Neural-Dural Tension, as well as Neuromuscular Stabilization through the Praque School of Medicine.
He resides with his wife and child in Chesapeake, Virginia. When he is not spending time with his family, he continues his quest to perfect his golf game.
Robin Levine, PT
Prior to Coastal Virginia Spine and Pain Center, Robin was a staff therapist with APM Spine and Sports Physicians from 2010. Prior to that, Robin worked as a staff physical therapist at Spineworks Physical Therapy from 1997 to 2010. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Boston University, Sargent College in 1988. She has also worked at Peninsula Physical Therapy Associates, initially as a staff physical therapist and then as Director of Physical Therapy from 1992 – 1997, and as a Staff Physical Therapist at Ballston Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Associates in Arlington, Virginia.
Robin has over 30 years of experience as a manual physical therapist. She uses many treatment strategies and techniques to help her patients change their function, decrease their pain, and improve their quality of life. Using a variety of treatments such as myofascial release techniques, osteopathic manipulation, neurokinetic techniques, postural restoration, McKenzie method (she is McKenzie Certified), and soft tissue mobilization, she is able to treat patients with various musculoskeletal problems. Robin resides in Virginia Beach and has three daughters. In her spare time she enjoys yoga, running, and the beach.
