Doctor of Physical Therapy
Rodrenna Dacus
Front Desk Coordinator
My name is Rodrenna Dacus, born in New York and raised in South Carolina. Growing up, my family continued to visit New York, which blessed me with an opportunity to experience the interesting differences between the two places. It was a fun experience, to say the least, and it has allowed me to live my day-to-day life with an open mind, as everyone and every place is different. I have worked in customer service for over five years, and I enjoy the interactions that come with it because it’s a new adventure every day. My main hobby is working with photography because it allows me to capture the moments I cherish. In addition to that hobby, a few things I like to do with my downtime are traveling, trying new food, and spending time with my loved ones.
irmo@vertexpt.com
Dr. Mara Argyriou
PT, DPT, CSCS, RRSC
Clinic Director
Mara grew up in Limassol, Cyprus – a small island in the Mediterranean. She started playing tennis at the age of five and represented Cyprus on the international junior tennis circuit and the Fed Cup team before moving to the U.S. to play Division I tennis at the College of Charleston. During her collegiate career, she earned CAA All-Conference honors all four years and was named Team MVP twice. Mara graduated magna cum laude in 2017 with a B.S. in Exercise Science. She went on to earn her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2020.
Mara is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA-CSCS) and a Certified Running Rehabilitation Specialist through the Institute for Athlete Regeneration. Her passion lies in working with athletes, runners, and active individuals — helping them return to sport, build strength, and perform at their highest level.
A lifelong athlete herself, Mara has developed a love for endurance sports and long-distance running. She completed Ironman Maryland 140.6 and achieved a longtime goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. Outside of coaching and training, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Tom, and their dog, Chuck — a local icon, clinic mascot and certified good boy.
mara.argyriou@vertexpt.com
803.973.1717
Check out Dr. Mara’s instagram @marasportsphysio to see her treatment approach!
Dr. Stephen Bailey
PT, DPT, CSCS
Stephen Bailey was born and raised in Lexington, South Carolina. He started playing soccer at the age of four and quickly fell in love with the sport. Stephen played four years of NCAA Division II soccer at Cedarville University in Ohio and competed in the USL League II for the Dayton Dutch Lions. During his junior year, he experienced a significant Achilles tendon injury that required extensive rehabilitation. This period sparked his interest in the rehabilitation process, leading him to pursue a career in physical therapy with the hope of helping others through challenging times, building relationships, and aiding in their recovery.
Stephen attended physical therapy school at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. While in PT school, he worked as a personal trainer at a local gym and provided private soccer training for youth players in the Charleston area. He also became involved with Medical Campus Outreach (MCO) and participated in his first medical mission trip to Romania in the summer of 2023. He is looking forward to another mission trip to Costa Rica in the summer of 2024.
In his free time, Stephen enjoys running, working out, visiting Charleston to go to the beach, and spending time with family and friends. He is a big Arsenal supporter and can often be found at the British Bulldog supporting his team on the weekends. His parents still live in Lexington, and he has one sister who is currently a student at Bob Jones University in Greenville.
stephen.bailey@vertexpt.com
803.973.1717
Dr. Kristen Cherry
PT, DPT
Kristen grew up in Santee, South Carolina, and attended the College of Charleston, where she earned her degree in Biology while competing on the cross country and track teams. It was during this time that she developed a passion for treating runners and young athletes.
She went on to receive her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. While in PT school, Kristen worked with students and faculty to develop and implement injury prevention strength programs for local athletes.
Kristen enjoys treating a wide range of patients, including active older adults looking to return to the hobbies and activities that bring them joy and independence. Her lifelong participation in sports has fueled her love for movement and her commitment to helping others stay strong, healthy, and injury-free.
Outside the clinic, Kristen enjoys running, surfing, exploring the outdoors, and spending time at the beach or lake with her fiancé, friends, and family.
kristen.cherry@vertexpt.com
803.973.1717
Dr. Kailyn Horn
PT, DPT
Kailyn was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Though she was raised in Greenville, SC, she remains loyal to the St. Louis Cardinals and Blues! She completed her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at North Greenville University in 2016. During her time at NGU, she used her passion for nutrition and fitness to develop the Women’s Fitness Club providing and instructing classes for women across campus to create a space for them to become comfortable and confident in the gym.
Following her time at NGU, Kailyn moved to Columbia, SC and completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy at the University of South Carolina. Fueled by a growing passion for teaching, Kailyn is currently continuing at USC to pursue her PhD in Exercise Science with a concentration in Rehabilitative Science. She hopes to use this experience and research to help her patients and teach physical therapy students in the future.
In her free time, Kailyn enjoys volleyball, being involved with her church community, traveling the country to hike National Parks, and spending time with friends and family.
Kailyn has been fortunate to gain experience in vestibular rehabilitation and is passionate about providing and raising awareness about vestibular physical therapy. She also finds great joy in helping patients of all populations recover and retain the highest level of function and quality of life so that they can do the things they love for a very long time.
To schedule an appointment with kailyn, please email kailyn.horn@vertexpt.com or call 803.973.1717.
