Our New Jersey massage school faculty is composed of experienced, caring massage therapists who
are devoted to sharing their knowledge and skills with students in a holistic
educational setting. They bring a rich diversity of backgrounds to their
classrooms. Lead instructors are Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage
and Bodywork (NCTMB 
) and meet
the educational requirements of the
NJ State Board of Education . Our lead instructors have, on average, five years
teaching experience, and several of them have tenure exceeding 10 years.
Our faculty has been trained in the TIPP™ Learning System. TIPP
analyzes a student's individual learning style and suggests approaches
to enhance their ability to learn. This knowledge also allows instructors
to understand and teach to diverse learning styles.
- Asta, Adrienne F. NCTMB
- Beck, David M.
- Borsuk, Kathy D. NCTMB, CMT, CD (DONA)
- Chan, Andria
- Curnan, Kristen
- Degeorge, Jon
- Finnegan, John
- Garbowski, Michele
- Garrity, Coreen
- Lombardi, Denise NCTMB
- Resnick, Portia
- Roche, Karen
- Smith, Brian
- Teal, Debra NCTMB
Adrienne F. Asta, NCTMB
Adrienne F. Asta has been an instructor at Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy since March of 2002 and is currently serving as the Director of Education. She sees about 10-12 clients per week in her private practice which consists primarily of Myofascial Release , Neuromuscular Therapy and Swedish Massage . Adrienne is Nationally Certified and a professional member of the AMTA . She also holds certifications in Neuromuscular Therapy and Prenatal Massage. She is a graduate of Somerset School of Massage Therapy.
David M. Beck
David has been a N.Y. licensed massage therapist for 15 years. He has worked in private practice and in chiropractic/rehabilitation settings in both N.Y. and N.J. He is certified by two organizations in pre/perinatal massage treatment. David has attended Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences in the early 90s and in 2003/04. He has also trained at New York College of Health Professions . He began teaching the martial arts in the late 80s followed by massage therapy, A&P and pathology in 1996. He has worked as a N.Y.C. emergency medical technician, and is in the process of publishing an A&P manual for massage therapy students. David is currently pursuing teacher training/certification at the Body Therapy Institute. He has been teaching at our New Jersey massage school since July 2008.
Kathy D. Borsuk, NCTMB, CMT, CD (DONA)
Kathy is a 2004 graduate of the Somerset School of Massage Therapy , and has been a member of the faculty since 2005. She co-founded a therapeutic and sports massage business with four other business partners where she specializes in prenatal and postpartum massage. In 2005 she became a DONA certified doula to provide labor support to her pregnant clients. She is also the website editor for the NJ AMTA .
Andria Chan
Andria Chan has been working as a massage therapist since she graduated from Somerset School of Massage Therapy in 2001. Shortly after graduating she started teaching massage therapy. She continued her studies and is a practicing White Light Reiki Master. She has been trained by the Center of Living Light Reiki and White Light Reiki. She is currently building her private practice, teaching Reiki Classes, and working as an instructor at Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy.
Kristen Curnan
Kristen graduated academic valedictorian from the Somerset School of Massage Therapy in June of 1998 and became a member of the faculty immediately after graduation. She is a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and Certified Neuromuscular Therapist. She teaches Anatomy, Physiology, Massage Therapy Technique and the Spa Foundations course in the base program as well as the Neuromuscular Therapy and Stone Massage continuing education programs at Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy. Kristen also maintains a private practice dealing mostly with chronic pain complaints.
Jon Degeorge
BA Mercyhurst University , Graduate of our massage school in New Jersey, Nationally Certified, Neuromuscular Certified, Professional member of the AMTA .
John Finnegan
BA in Spanish and Linguistics 1995; Phi Beta Kappa - Rutgers chapter 1995. Valedictorian in both academic and practical studies, Somerset School of Massage Therapy 1999. Developer and instructor of Self Massage for Clients, 2001 Somerset School of Massage Therapy. Co-developer of the volunteer program in hospital-based massage therapy at St. Peter's University Medical Center , New Brunswick NJ, 2006. Private practice since 1999; educator since 2000.
"Although I was originally drawn to massage therapy out of a desire to find a career that supported a healthier way of life, I soon realized that I was passionate about teaching and witnessing the process of discovery that everyone goes through in this type of curriculum. I've found that the process of education extends into my private practice as clients self-understanding increases and they become empowered in their own journey of healing."
Michele Garbowski
Michele has been employed with Somerset School of Massage Therapy since 1993 and has been instrumental in curriculum development and compliance. She has an AAS in Massage Therapy from Thomas Edison State College and has been teaching for over 10 years. Michele has a private practice and is currently the Director of the School.
Coreen Garrity
Coreen graduated valedictorian from our massage school in NJ and joined the staff of Cortiva as a teaching assistant immediately after graduation. She has been a member of the National Ski Patrol , a volunteer First Aider, EMT, Paramedic and Licensed Practical Nurse in New Jersey, and a Phlebotomist and Health Care Technician in Georgia. She has a small private massage practice and has attained the First Degree attunement in White Light Reiki .
Denise Lombardi, NCTMB
Prior to graduating from our NJ massage school, Denise graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Mass Communication. She worked as a television producer for years until a career change led her to Massage Therapy. Upon completion of the professional program at Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy, Denise was hired as an assistant and is now a lead instructor. In addition to her private clients Denise has worked with a physical therapist and at various onsite events.
Portia Resnick
Portia is a 2004 graduate of Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy. She has a BS in Exercise Science from Penn State University and an MA in Counseling in Higher Education from Montclair State University . In addition to being a certified Massage Therapist, she is also a Certified Athletic Trainer and worked with the 1999 NCAA champion softball team from UCLA and the 2002 Washington DC Professional women's volleyball team that attended the Salonpas Cup in Fortaleza, Brazil. Portia has taught all aspects of massage and is an American Red Cross CPR/First Aid instructor. In 2007 and 2008 she was the massage therapist for the Columbia University Women's Swimming and Diving Team at the Ivy League Tournament. She co-founded a practice with 4 other partners which specializes in Sports and Therapeutic Massage.
Karen Roche
Karen graduated from Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy in June 2005 and has been teaching for Cortiva since her graduation. She specializes in Spa Modalities including Hot Stone , Aromatherapy and Raindrop Therapy .
Brian Smith
Brian Smith has been a massage therapist for 15 years. He has worked with performance athletes including 10 college and university swim teams, NCAA championships, Olympic Team trials, and professional athletes of the NY Knicks and NJ Devils. He has been the staff therapist for the NY Giants and the NJ Repertory Ballet Company . Brian is currently the staff therapist of the Rutgers Swimming and Diving Team, and an Instructor at the Cortiva Institute in Piscataway, NJ.
Debra Teal, NCTMB
Debby graduated valedictorian from Cortiva Institute SSMT in July of 2007 and joined the staff of Cortiva as a teaching assistant, and clinic supervisor immediately after graduation. She is both a NJ State and Nationally Certified Massage Therapist. She is a professional member of the AMTA .