meet the faculty

Dr. Ron Pavkovich, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, CDNMT, Cert. DN, Cert. SMT, CIDN, & Owner

Dr. Ron Pavkovich is a graduate of Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY and Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy. Dr. Pavkovich spent the last several years as a senior fellowship faculty instructor for one of the largest Fellowships in the USA, teaching dry needling and differential diagnosis before deciding to create AOPT Seminars based on his extensive manual therapy background. He has trained through AAMT, Myopain Dry Needling, and Integrative Dry Needling, and taking all of that training and experience, has created the Credential in Comprehensive Dry Needling & Manual Therapy (CDNMT) 54-hour DN & Manual Therapy program combining the best of his knowledge to provide an extensive evidenced-based program aimed at making dry needing & manual therapy for MSK conditions easy to learn and apply immediately upon course completion.

Dr. Pavkovich was appointed to the Kentucky State Board of Physical Therapy 2018, and was considered the dry needling “go-to” for questions specific to dry needling and manual therapy for his duration while serving on the Board. Dr. Pavkovich lectures, trains, and certifies providers including MD, PA-C, DC, ATC, Acupuncture, and PT in dry needling and manual therapy techniques across the nation.  Dr. Pavkovich has published and co-authored four case reports/ series and interventional papers in peer-reviewed journals on the topic of dry needling for various conditions.   He has served as peer-reviewer for the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy specific to dry needling and spinal HVLAT, and served on the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy’s 2020 task force on dry needling, which is a rare honor to be asked to serve upon. 

Dr. Pavkovich trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and served the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a State Trooper prior to attending Bellarmine University for PT school. He and his wife own Advantage Orthopedic Performance & Training in Lexington, KY, and has a broad base of clientele/ experience including nationally ranked high school and collegiate athletes, NFL players, Special Operations/ tactical athletes, and professional fighters in the UFC.

Dr. Estee Pavkovich, PT, DPT, CDNMT, Cert. DN, Cert SMT, CIDN, CF-L1 & OWNER

Dr. Estee Pavkovich, PT, DPT, CDNMT, Cert. DN, Cert SMT, CIDN, is a graduate of the University of Louisville and University of Kentucky (MsPT & DPT) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy. Dr. Pavkovich is a former high level bodybuilding & figure competitor at the state and national level, and has spent 20 years as an NPC (National Physique Committee) state level judge. She has multiple top competitive placing’s, and divisional and overall wins, making her expertise in the areas of fitness, exercise, nutrition, and prevention/rehabilitation of injuries associated with athletic competition among the most elite in the nation.

She has also incorporated evidenced-based personal fitness training activities into her therapy practice, making her one of the most sought-after personal fitness coaches in central Kentucky. She earned her Crossfit Level 1 Trainer certification in 2017. Her tireless pursuit of excellence in the field of orthopedic Physical Therapy and exercise/ nutrition has helped her to rise as one of the elite PT’s and competition preparation coaches in the nation. Dr. Pavkovich holds dry needling certifications/ training from various international high-ranking organizations including AOPT Seminars, which is owned and taught by her and her husband, the Dry Needling Institute of the American Academy of Manipulative Therapy, Integrative Dry Needling, and Myopain Seminars, Inc. and is certified in spinal manipulation. Dr. Pavkovich and her husband purchased Advantage Physical Therapy in October of 2012, and changed the name to “Advantage Orthopedic Performance & Training” to better reflect the level of specialization that Doctors of her level and experience/ expertise possess.

She has treated nationally ranked high school and collegiate athletes, NBA players, and high-level athletes in the bodybuilding and fitness arenas. She has a specialty interest in shoulder, knee, and ankle conditions, along with personal fitness training aimed at prevention of disease and injury. She is a specialist in the preparation of athletes for competition, and for improving the general fitness of anyone who has an interest in exercise and nutrition to improve their quality of life. Dr. Pavkovich and her husband are the proud parents of twins and triplets, and attend Southland Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky.