About Stark Performance Physical Therapy

Hunter Stark is a physical therapist, strength and conditioning coach, and consultant to physical therapists across the country. His career spans supporting athletes at every level, from youth and recreational competitors to professionals, Olympians, and members of the United States Special Forces and other tactical and civilian branches.

Hunter has worked with athletes across the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA in their reconditioning processes. The athletes he has supported have gone on to earn multiple NFL Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro selections, a top-10 NFL Draft pick, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Super Bowl MVP honors.

From 2011 to 2017, Hunter served at the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, FL, working alongside Dr. Andrews and a team of physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and performance coaches. He later served as Executive Director of Physical Therapy and Performance for the San Francisco 49ers Performance PT clinics in Monterey, CA, and throughout the Bay Area before returning to Pensacola in July 2020.

Hunter is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Mississippi State University and his Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2006. He specializes in sports medicine, orthopedic injuries, return-to-sport reconditioning, and performance training, particularly for athletes with extensive injury histories or post-surgical recoveries.

Bekah Calhoun is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with a Master's degree in Athletic Training from the University of West Florida. She returned to the Pensacola area after working as an athletic trainer at the University of Louisiana Monroe and, most recently, as an athletic trainer and professor at Bethune-Cookman University, where she also taught Nutrition and Strength and Conditioning courses.

Bekah has worked primarily with football, baseball, and indoor and beach volleyball programs. Her specialty is designing customized training protocols built around specific injuries and performance goals, making her the go-to provider for clients ready to transition from physical therapy back into the gym.

Dr. Samantha Valdez, PT, DPT, is a licensed physical therapist with experience across outpatient orthopedics, sports medicine, pelvic health, and rehabilitation settings. As a former collegiate soccer player, she understands firsthand the physical demands of sports and the importance of helping athletes and active individuals return to the activities they love.

Prior to joining Stark Performance Physical Therapy, Samantha worked in a cash-based physical therapy practice in Colorado Springs, treating a wide range of athletes including ultramarathon runners, trail runners, climbers, skiers, CrossFit athletes, and Olympic lifters. She also provided specialized care for active pregnant and postpartum women.

Samantha earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Shenandoah University and utilizes a combination of hands-on treatment, dry needling, movement assessment, and individualized exercise programming to help clients reduce pain, improve performance, and achieve their goals. She is passionate about providing personalized care that empowers people to move better, feel better, and stay active for the long term.

Outside of the clinic, Samantha enjoys staying active and participating in a wide range of outdoor activities including surfing, climbing, and biking. She especially loves sharing these adventures with her young children and helping foster an active lifestyle for her family.

Dr. Charlotte Stark specializes in tennis injury rehabilitation, injury prevention, and performance. A tennis athlete since age 6, she played through college and continues to compete in USTA and recreational leagues.

As a TMJ dysfunction patient herself, Dr. Charlotte developed a treatment protocol combining home exercise, manual therapy, and dry needling to reduce symptoms and improve range of motion. Her message to every patient is the same: pain is not permanent, improvement is always possible, and a clear path forward exists.