Faculty

With specialties in acute care, adult rehabilitation, geriatrics, anatomy, cardiovascular and pulmonary, Dr. Ababneh brings expertise from a diverse career spanning clinical practice, education and advanced research.

Dr. Alameri has worked in outpatient, home health and inpatient physical therapy settings. With specialties in clinical education and manual therapy, he is a credentialed level II clinical instructor with the American Physical Therapy Association.

Dr. Alateeq specializes in neurological disorders, traumatic brain injuries and adult rehabilitation. Her research focuses on bilingualism, concussion, cognitive-communication abilities and how language skills are affected by neurological impairment.

With specialties in anatomy and neurological rehabilitation, Dr. Alshebber has a robust scholarship agenda in vestibular disorders. She has contributed to disseminations through peer-reviewed publications and scientific and professional presentations globally.

Dr. Anderson has experience working in hospital and outpatient clinic settings and enjoys outpatient orthopedics and incorporating general wellness and health promotion into her education. Specialties include acute care, adult rehabilitation, anatomy, orthopedics, pelvic health and professional ergonomics.

Dr. Atkinson is a physical therapist specializing in neurological disorders and rehabilitation, clinical electrophysiology and pediatrics. With a focus on spinal cord injuries, he is dedicated to promoting neurologic recovery through innovative therapeutic interventions.

Monique Aylor is a speech-language pathologist specializing in acute care and adult and pediatric rehabilitation. Her research interests include multilingual language development, evidence-based dysphagia treatment and mental health considerations for those with cognitive communication disorders.

With specialties in anatomy, orthopedics and sports medicine, Dr. Besselink’s expertise is in sport- and fitness-related injuries. He is a certified practitioner of the McKenzie Method, with a focus on applying it to a sports population.

Dr. Bizama is a pediatric specialist with more than 15 years of clinical experience. His areas of interest include motor learning, task attention and the effects of distraction on gait. Dr. Bizama has developed continuing education courses for development of clinical skills, critical thinking and professionalism.

Dr. Bjork is a Sports Clinical Specialist with expertise in orthopedics, manual therapy, population health and adult rehabilitation. Research interests include upper extremity return-to-sports testing and physical therapy practice influenced by trauma.

Dr. Blackwell's passion for occupational therapy centers around pediatric care and the promotion of important childhood occupations in authentic environments. Her specialties include pediatrics and school systems.

As a geriatrics and pediatrics specialist, Nicole Booher is an occupational therapist with experience working with children and the elderly. She has LSVT BIG certification for Parkinson’s Disease and is presently concentrating on pelvic floor and female health.

Dr. Bourgeois is a seasoned physical therapist specializing in adult rehabilitation, kinesiology, manual therapy and orthopedics. With a background as a firefighter, he established BB Physiotherapy & Wellness, providing comprehensive in-clinic and mobile outpatient services in Austin, TX.

Dr. Campbell is a skilled physical therapist with expertise including geriatrics, dementia care and acute care. As a state industry organization delegate, he participates in advocacy and policymaking. Delivering his findings nationally, research activities include clinical decision-making, self-efficacy and factors facilitating successful clinical experiences.

Dr. Hall Campbell specializes in geriatrics, traumatic brain injuries and neurological disorders and rehabilitation. Her clinical experience includes the neurorehabilitation of adult clients with Parkinson’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, vestibular dysfunction and brain injury. Interests include balance-fall prevention in the aging adult population.

With a background in speech-language pathology, Dr. Clark specializes in clinical education, higher education, higher education leadership and pediatrics. She brings expertise in multicultural issues in communication and healthcare and has held multiple leadership roles focusing on inclusion, equity and access.

Dr. Collins is an expert in concussion evaluation and treatment. As an instructor, he has worked as an athletic trainer and physical therapist, involving athletes at all levels. His specialties include manual therapy, orthopedics and sports medicine.

Dr. Crawford specializes in geriatrics and in neurological disorders and rehabilitation. This includes treating patients with Parkinson's Disease, vestibular dysfunction and movement disorders. She practices in home health and outpatient settings and conducts research on cognitive load in Parkinson's Disease.

Dr. da Silva specialties include acute care, adult and pediatric rehabilitation, dementia care and neurological disorders. Her expertise lies in post-stroke patients, muscle tone dysfunction, neuropsychomotor development in early childhood, and cognitive and behavioral neuroscience.

Cat Daniel has more than 10 years of experience as a civil servant in the public school system. Daniel is an expert in pediatrics and school systems. Research interests include integrative/classroom therapy and self-regulation/sensory modulation.

With multiple certifications, Dr. DeLuca-Berg focuses on dementia care and geriatrics. She has more than five years of clinical experience in adult and geriatric settings, including home health, skilled nursing facilities, veterans affairs and inpatient psychiatric hospitals.

As an orthopedic specialist, Dr. Demers has experience diagnosing and treating mobility limitation diseases, repetitive strain injuries and women's health issues. She is qualified in Pilates and integrates wellness and holistic health into her work.

In addition to being an expert in manual therapy and orthopedics, Dr. Denny has years of experience working as an outpatient orthopedic surgeon in Texas, New Hampshire and Alaska.

Christopher Ebner, a medical professional with 15+ years’ experience, specializes in orthopedics, low vision rehabilitation and outpatient therapy. With expertise as an OT in the Department of Defense, active-duty U.S. Army officer and Army civilian, he is passionate about working with individuals with sustained amputations and poly trauma.

Dr. Fayed specializes in kinesiology, adult rehabilitation, and cardiovascular and pulmonary. With 10+ years of experience in education, she has served in administrative roles and has a special interest in pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases related to geriatric patients.

Dr. Fiestas’ clinical specialty areas include assessment and treatment of developmental language disorders, fluency disorders and assessment of language-based reading disorders. She has published research in the areas of dynamic assessment and bilingual early literacy screening measures.

Laura Finkel is a Clinical Coordinator with specialties in higher education, interprofessional education, pediatrics and school systems. Her interests in speech-language pathology include human-centered authentic assessment and treatment practices for bilingual individuals.

As a certified healthcare simulation educator, Dr. Frank has held academic leadership positions focused on curriculum design, interprofessional education initiatives, healthcare simulation and faculty development. Her areas of expertise are higher education leadership, adult and neurological rehabilitation, and population health.

Dr. Gerardi is a retired Lieutenant Colonel with a 33-year career in the U.S. Army. He is a certified hand therapist with experience working with clients with upper extremity neuromusculoskeletal conditions and mental health conditions.

Dr. Hellman has expertise in pediatrics, clinical education and acute care. With a background in physical therapy and educational leadership, she focuses her research on DPT student mental health and interprofessional education.

Specializing in kinesiology and vision rehabilitation, Dr. Hicks possesses extensive clinical experience and research interest in low-vision rehabilitation, assistive technology and cultural diversity.

Dr. Jaber is an expert in kinesiology, orthopedics and sports medicine and is dedicated to bridging the gap between biomechanics and psychosocial dimensions of musculoskeletal disorders. He focuses on sport-related injuries, musculoskeletal disorders and biopsychological factors in spine rehabilitation.

Dr. Julbe-Delgado is a bilingual speech-language pathologist with diverse academic and clinical experience. With expertise in acute care, adult rehabilitation, interprofessional education, and neurological disorders and rehabilitation, her areas of clinical specialty include working with adults with neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders.

With expertise in neurological rehabilitation, Dr. Khallaf has conducted research on task-specific training for stroke rehabilitation and utilized new technology to analyze posture in patients with Parkinson’s disease and herniated lumbar discs.

With a specialty in orthopedics, Dr. Khan-Farooqi has extensive experience working in various healthcare settings and has served on the board of the American Society of Hand Therapists.

Beth Lambert is an occupational therapist specializing in adult rehabilitation, geriatrics, dementia care, end-of-life care and neurological disorders and rehab. With experience in various healthcare settings, she is a certified practitioner in Lee Silverman Voice Treatment-BIG and a Certified Dementia Practitioner.

Dr. McAdams is a dynamic physical therapist, healthcare consultant and educator. As a probationary firefighter and EMT, he dedicates time to community improvement, highlighting his commitment to specialized areas, including emergency medicine, end-of-life care, interprofessional education, geriatrics and pediatrics.

With 10+ years of experience, Dr. Morretta is a recognized orthopedic clinical specialist with a passion for therapeutic alliance and clinical reasoning. His specialties are manual therapy and orthopedics.

Erica Ortiz specializes in pediatrics and has experience in providing speech-language pathology services to children in various settings including home health, outpatient and public schools.

Dr. Parten is an occupational therapist specializing in geriatrics, neurological disorders and rehab, dementia and traumatic brain injuries. With 20+ years of clinical experience, she has worked in a variety of adult settings including inpatient rehabilitation and long-term acute care.

Dr. Perez has 15+ years of clinical experience working with pediatric populations in outpatient, home health, early intervention and school-based settings. His specialties include Autism Spectrum Disorder, interprofessional education and school systems.

With a specialty in clinical education, Rossana Ramires has worked with children and adults as a speech-language pathologist for 20+ years. Fluent in three languages, her interests include bilingualism and multiculturalism, speech and language disorders, orofacial/craniofacial development and function, feeding disorders and orofacial myofunctional therapy.

Specializing in clinical education and population health, Dr. Ratoza is a dynamic physical therapist who serves on multiple committees, boards and associations. She has diverse clinical experiences, including outpatient pediatrics, outpatient orthopedics, acute care, and adult and pediatric home health.

With certifications in orthopaedics and sports medicine, Dr. Reese specialties are clinical education, kinesiology and manual therapy. Her research interests include exercise prescriptions for post-concussion syndrome, advanced exercise prescriptions for return to sport and motor learning for exercise selection.

Heather Rennerfeldt completed her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, SD in 2005. Following a year as an adjunct instructor in the Exercise Science department at the University of Sioux Falls, she earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of South Dakota in

Kelly Roy joined University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2019. Her clinical and research interests include speech sound disorders, literacy and clinical education. Before focusing on full-time clinical education, she worked in various settings, including public and private schools, outpatient clinics and private practice.

Dr. Robert (Bob) Salvatori joined the Austin, TX campus Doctor of Physical Therapy program core faculty in 2022. He possesses more than 40 years of clinical experience specializing in general orthopedics, spinal dysfunction, persistent pain management and vestibular rehab. Dr. Salvatori has served in a variety of clinical settings including acute care, rehab, home health

Meghan Savage, PhD, CCC-SLP is the Senior Program Director and an Associate Professor in the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program. Dr. Savage, who is located on the Austin, TX campus, was previously the Program Director and served as core faculty, Clinical Director and Assistant Program Director since joining the University of St.

Dr. Sawtelle is a board-certified clinical specialist in neurologic physical therapy specializing in adult rehabilitation, spinal cord injuries, higher education, and neurological disorders and rehab. She is a national board member for the Stroke SIG within the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy.

As a clinician-scientist and educator, Dr. Schaffer Mendez specializes in adult neurogenic communication disorders and focuses her research on psychosocial factors in aphasia/primary progressive aphasia. She values interprofessional practice and is an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Lacey Sims earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. Sims began her career in acute care at a level one trauma center and later transitioned to outpatient working with both neuro and orthopedic patients. In 2015, she earned her

Dr. Kunal Singhal joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2021. He is a licensed physical therapist, active researcher and passionate educator who has taught in Doctor of Physical Therapy program for more than five years. He completed his physical therapy education in India, followed by Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (Biomechanics)

Dr. Gabriel Somarriba joined the faculty in 2009 as a contributing faculty member on the St. Augustine, FL campus and moved to core faculty in 2015. His area of clinical specialization is pediatrics, with a focus on cerebral palsy. Dr. Somarriba has more than 10 years of clinical experience. As an assistant professor of clinical

Lacey Spark attended the University of Oregon and Pacific University for her undergraduate career before earning her Master of Occupational Therapy from Pacific University in 2010. After graduation, she worked in community mental health practice and presented at the annual American Occupational Therapy Association conference on occupational therapy groups for early intervention and treatment of

Dr. Rudie Spigarelli has practiced in several outpatient clinical settings including multi-disciplinary, mobile, orthopedic and vestibular clinics. She has experience and certification in concussion management, manual therapy, visual-vestibular functional integration training, clinical instruction and practice management. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, Texas Physical Therapy Association and Vestibular Rehabilitation Special Interest Group

Dr. Peyton Sykes has worked primarily in the Austin community as an outpatient orthopedic clinician, where he also garnered experience in various acute care hospitals as a travel physical therapist.

Dr. Tu is a former high school math teacher turned occupational therapist who specializes in adult rehabilitation, clinical education and mental health. With experience in various healthcare settings and military service, he now focuses on clinical education.

Amy Walters graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Psychology in 1996. She then went on to physical therapy school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. She moved to Seattle after graduation and worked in sports medicine with a focus on treating adolescent athletes. She received her sports

Brooke Weber is an experienced occupational therapist with a specialty in Autism Spectrum Disorder, pediatrics and sensory integration. She is dedicated to serving populations dealing with sensory-processing differences and learning disabilities.

Ryan Wooley, PT, DPT is a physical therapist (PT) and educator who is passionate about delivering individualized, evidence-based physical therapy care to diverse populations. Dr. Wooley received his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2015. He has completed the Evidence in Motion’s Orthopedic Residency program and

Dr. Zadnik has extensive clinical experience with specialties in trauma care, orthopedics and rehabilitation. Her current research is focused on evaluating program implementation and dissemination for injury programs in trauma facilities.