Meet our dedicated team of physical therapists and specialists who are committed to helping you achieve your wellness goals.

Doctor of Physical Therapy | Clinical Director | Certified Health & Wellness Coach

Dr. Ilana Cartun Tunca, PT, DPT is a San Diego–based Doctor of Physical Therapy at My Physio for Life. Originally from the Bay Area, she earned her Bachelor's degree from UC Santa Cruz and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in San Marcos, CA. She began her career in San Francisco before relocating to Oceanside, bringing a strong clinical foundation shaped by diverse inpatient and outpatient training across Utah, Maui, and Southern California.

Dr. Ilana specializes in working with active adults, pickleball players, cyclists, endurance athletes, and busy professionals dealing with orthopedic injuries, post-surgical recovery, and persistent pain. As a Certified Health and Wellness Coach, she is committed to clear communication, individualized care, and patient education, and is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of traditional physical therapy through innovative, forward-thinking treatment approaches.

Outside the clinic, Dr. Ilana lives the active San Diego lifestyle she supports in her patients—spending time at Dog Beach with her dog Coconut, strength training, road cycling, skiing, paddle boarding, shopping at Costco, cooking whole foods, and enjoying local coffee shops and breweries.

Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Barre Instructor

Dr. Brynn Ayala, PT, DPT grew up in Portland, OR and began her PT journey at a very young age. Born with nerve damage in her left shoulder, she spent many hours of her childhood working on her strength and mobility and has grown with an understanding of how to persevere despite physical limitations. She attended Northeastern University in Boston, MA for both her undergraduate degree in Rehabilitation Sciences, and for her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She, her husband, and their two dogs recently moved to CA from HI where she was working in an outpatient orthopedic clinic. There, she enjoyed treating people both in the clinic with a focus on manual interventions, and in the aquatic setting allowing for increased exercise with less pain. Her hobbies include travel, hiking, fitness, trying all kinds of new food, and baking. She is excited to explore the area and settle into life in CA.

Doctor of Physical Therapy and Orthopedic Certified Specialist

Dr. Will is from Encinitas in North County San Diego. Growing up, he developed a love for the outdoors and an interest in studying the human body. He earned his Bachelor's degree from UC Santa Cruz, where he studied Biology and spent time hiking, trail running, and rock climbing in the coastal redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Saint Augustine, where he focused on Orthopedics and took advanced coursework in the assessment and treatment of Cervical and Lumbar Spine pain. During his career he has gained extensive experience in fall prevention, neck pain and low back pain, and pre-operative/post-operative care for orthopedic surgeries.

In 2023, he became Board-Certified as a Specialist in Orthopedics by the American Physical Therapy Association. His goal is to provide effective, personalized care and he emphasizes the use of hands-on manual therapy techniques, current evidence based practice, patient education, and fun, engaging exercises.
On his time off, you can find Will rock climbing, hiking, fixing up old BMWs, and cooking with his wife Tasha.

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Dr. Emilee was raised in the small town of Sultan, Washington, nestled in the Cascade Mountain Range. Her passion for physical therapy began in high school after sustaining an ACL injury while playing basketball.

She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Concordia University Irvine, where she was also an athlete on the Track & Field team. She later earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in San Marcos, California. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, taking Pilates classes, playing a variety of sports, and spending time at the beach with her husband, usually with an iced coffee in hand.

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Dr. Katie Booth is originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Shippensburg University, with minors in Biology and Psychology. While at Shippensburg, Katie was a competitive athlete, participating in cross country, track, and cycling, and was also involved in the ski and snowboard club.

She went on to earn her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University. After graduating, Dr. Booth began her career as a travel physical therapist, gaining diverse clinical experience while working in Vermont, Virginia, Montana, Washington, California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Through this journey, she discovered her love for California and ultimately chose to settle down in Oceanside, which she now calls home.

Outside of the clinic, Katie lives an active lifestyle and enjoys running, strength training, cycling, dancing, skiing, paddleboarding, yoga, camping, hiking, surfing, and exploring new restaurants. Her love for movement and adventure fuels her passion for helping patients return to the activities they love.

Patient Experience Specialist

Born and raised in Vista, Andrea Santiago brings a deep-rooted connection to the local community and a genuine passion for helping others. She holds a degree in Child Development with a minor in Kinesiology, reflecting her strong interest in health, movement, and overall wellness.

Andrea enjoys supporting patients and creating a welcoming environment from the moment they walk through the door. Outside of work, she stays active through regular workouts, enjoys spending time outdoors, and loves relaxing with her dog and close friends—always with a cup of coffee in hand. She believes in finding balance between wellness and enjoyment in everyday life.

Co-Owner | Patient Engagement & Operations Lead

Sancar Tunca is the operational and patient-experience backbone of My Physio for Life Physical Therapy & Wellness, bringing a rare blend of engineering precision, entrepreneurial vision, and genuine human connection to the clinic. Originally from Izmir, Turkey, Sancar holds a degree in Engineering and brings a systems-driven mindset to business management, clinical operations, and administrative excellence. Since moving to the United States in 2017, he has played a key role in building a practice that runs efficiently behind the scenes while feeling warm, personal, and elevated on the front end.

As Patient Engagement Specialist, Sancar is deeply involved in shaping every touchpoint of the patient journey—from first contact and scheduling flow to communication systems, follow-ups, and overall clinic experience. He is highly focused on organization, responsiveness, and consistency, ensuring patients feel supported, informed, and valued at every stage of care. His dedication to operational excellence allows the clinical team to focus fully on what matters most: delivering exceptional, one-on-one physical therapy.

Outside the clinic, Sancar is an avid traveler and kite-surfer, having explored much of the world before settling in Southern California. He enjoys cycling, skiing, health and fitness, barbecuing, and spending quality time with close family and friends. Known for his approachable energy and genuine interest in people, Sancar brings the same enthusiasm and care to the clinic that he brings to life—making patients feel welcomed, remembered, and excited to be part of the My Physio for Life community.

Insurance / Contracting & Credentialing Specialist

Carolyn has 30+ years of experience in the medical field and has worked in the greater San Diego area since 2012.

Carolyn is a Mom to 4 beautiful children and a wife to an amazing husband of 29 years. She loves spending time with family and friends. Carolyn enjoys living in Southern California because of the beaches, hiking trails and paddle boarding but also the amazing sunsets.

I am honored to work with My Physio for Life. Sancar and Ilana Tunca are amazing people and very professional in their fields. You are in good hands with My Physio for Life.