Meet Our
Faculty
Our network of faculty spans the country, from Florida to Texas to California—and beyond. USAHS boasts the country’s largest teams of OT and PT faculty-practitioners, who draw from their diverse expertise to develop our blended learning components—the online coursework and real-world lab activities. Our faculty members have vast experience as clinicians and researchers, and they share a passion for educating and mentoring the next generation of practitioners.
Select from the filter options below to find practitioners that are relevant to your area of interest.
C. Alex Bonhomme, PT, DPT, DSc
Dr. Bonhomme expertise includes kinesiology, manual therapy, orthopedics and sports medicine. As a clinician, educator and researcher, he specializes in orthopedic manual therapy to improve pain and enhance function in musculoskeletal conditions.
Caitlin Boyd, MOT, OTR, CBIS
With clinical experience in adult rehabilitation focusing on acquired brain injury and community reintegration, Caitlin Boyd specialties include neurological disorders and rehabilitation. She has conducted research on the effects of functional electrical stimulation for stroke survivors.
Kaelee Brockway, PT, DPT, EdD
Dr. Brockway has clinical and non-clinical experience in post-acute rehabilitation focusing on organ transplant and chronic disease management. Her specialties include cardiovascular and pulmonary care, geriatrics and chronic disease management.
Kim Broussard, PhD, OTD, OTR
As a therapist, researcher and educator, Dr. Broussard focuses on enhancing the lives of older adults. She has worked in a variety of settings and has clinical and research interests in low vision, balance, pain and psychosocial challenges. Specialties include chronic disease management, dementia care, geriatrics, mental health and vision rehabilitation.
Fernando Castillo, PT, DPT, PhD
Dr. Castillo has experience in outpatient orthopedic, acute care and inpatient rehabilitation settings. He also specializes in neurological disorders and rehabilitation, including anatomy, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries.
Rebecca Caudrillier, MOTR/L
Rebecca Caudrillier is an occupational therapist specializing in acute care, adult rehab, hand therapy, anatomy and clinical education. With diverse skills and experience, she has a background in lymphedema and breast cancer rehab.
Ellen (Ellie) Cooper, PhD, CCC-SLP, LSLS, Cert. AVT
With a specialty in pediatrics, Dr. Cooper is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist, Listening and Spoken Language Specialist and Auditory-Verbal Therapist. Her expertise is in interventions for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, having participated on cochlear implant and educational audiology teams.
Shannon Estes, PT, DPT
As a wheelchair and seating therapist, Dr. Estes is a skilled physical therapist with specialties in adult rehabilitation, neurological disorders and rehabilitation, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. She is a board-certified neurologic clinical specialist and a vestibular rehabilitation specialist, bringing expertise in balance and vestibular disorders.
Jennifer Eyer, MOT, OTR, CHT
Jennifer Eyer is an occupational therapist specializing in adult and neurological rehabilitation, as well as orthopedics. She has worked in multiple outpatient clinics and has experience mentoring and building hand therapy programs.
Justine Faghihifar, OTD, OTR, LSVT
Dr. Faghihifar is an Associate Professor specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorder, interprofessional education, pediatrics, school systems and sensory integration. With 20+ years of pediatric clinical practice, she focuses on OT care, interprofessional education and curriculum development.
Jennifer (Jen) Featheringham, OTD, OTR/L
With specialties in acute care, adult rehabilitation, cardiovascular and pulmonary, clinical education and neurological rehabilitation, Dr. Featheringham is an occupational therapist, educator and researcher who has served in clinical coordination, program development and interprofessional educator roles.
Jaimee Fielder, OTD, OTR, CLVT, CBIST
As a certified low vision therapist, Dr. Fielder’s clinical experience includes working with adults with brain injuries. Her specialties include community transition, neurological disorders, traumatic brain injuries and vision rehabilitation.
Rachael Fox, OTD, MSOT, OTR
Dr. Fox is an occupational therapist and educator passionate about higher education and preparing students for success beyond graduation. Her specialties include Autism Spectrum Disorder, mental health, pediatrics and sensory integration.
Brittani H. Freund, PT, DPT, PhD
Dr. Freund is a sports medicine expert with extensive experience in physical therapy, athletic training and clinical education. She serves as a United States Olympic team sports medicine volunteer and was head PT/ATC at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Gretchen Gabbert-Downs, PhD, CCC-SLP
Dr. Gabbert-Downs is a speech-language pathologist with 20+ years of experience specializing in dementia care, geriatrics and interprofessional education. She has worked with individuals with complex communication needs and helped develop training in assessing and treating patients with dementia.
Mary Jan Greer, PhD, OTR
As a pediatrics specialist, Dr. Greer has 20+ years’ experience in various pediatric therapy settings, including acute care, outpatient, NICU, home-based early intervention and schools. She has a particular interest in researching spirituality in occupational therapy.
Janis Henricksen, PT, DPT, ScD
Dr. Henricksen is an experienced physical therapist specializing in adult rehabilitation, geriatrics and neurological disorders. With expertise in manual therapy, traumatic brain injuries and interprofessional education, she conducts research on cervical spine/TMJ sensorimotor control, and health and wellness.
Lee Ann Hoffman, OTD, ATP/SMS
Dr. Hoffman is an accomplished occupational therapist with international experience and a focus on complicated rehabilitation technologies and assistive technology. Specialties include adult rehabilitation, geriatrics, neurological disorders and rehabilitation, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries.
Sarah Kelly, MS, CCC-SLP
Sarah Kelly is a bilingual speech-language pathologist specializing in higher education, pediatrics and school systems. With expertise in clinical education and a focus on culturally diverse populations, she brings a global perspective to her work.
Rebecca (Becky) King, OTD, MSOT, OTR
Dr. King is an occupational therapist, educator and researcher with 20+ years of experience, specializing in adult rehabilitation, chronic disease management, geriatrics, dementia care, end-of-life care and more. She’s dedicated to fostering evidence-based, patient-centered practitioners.
Neeraj Kumar, PT, DPT, PhD
Specializing in adult rehabilitation, geriatrics, neurological disorders, and spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, Dr. Kumar’s experience and research focus on improving balance, function and fall risk reduction. He is a board-certified specialist in neurologic physical therapy and a certified vestibular rehabilitation specialist.
Kathleen A. Luedtke-Hoffmann, PT, PhD, MBA
Dr. Luedtke-Hoffmann is an expert in acute care, wound management, health administration and healthcare higher education. She has conducted research on leadership, administration, management and professionalism in physical therapy education.
Robyn Martin, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-F
Robyn Martin is an accomplished speech-language pathologist specializing in clinical education and pediatrics. With a focus on fluency disorders, she has practiced as a SLP in public schools, hospital settings, pediatric outpatient clinics and university settings.
Keegan McKay, OTD, MOT, OTR
As an expert in adult rehabilitation, dementia care, geriatrics and health administration, Dr. McKay brings 10+ years of experience in serving older adult populations. His passion for leadership and collaboration drives his commitment to educating and mentoring aspiring occupational therapists.
Keith B. McWilliams, OTD, OTR/L, DRS
Dr. McWilliams is an innovative occupational therapist with experience in brain and spinal cord injury treatment and research, oncology treatment and management. He specializes in client-centered care, training/program development and family relations.
Ashley Bourque Meaux, PhD, CCC-SLP
With a specialty in pediatric speech-language pathology, Dr. Meaux concentrates on exploring the growth of language and literacy with a focus on caregiver contact. As an early intervention provider and school-based clinician, her research interests include early childhood language and literacy development.
Gwen Morris, OTD, OTR, CHT, CLT
Dr. Morris is a Certified Hand Therapist and expert in healthcare higher education, orthopedics and professional ergonomics. Her expertise focuses on upper extremity rehabilitation, lymphedema treatment and outcomes of upper extremity injuries.
Maeve Murtagh, MS, CCC-SLP
Maeve Murtagh specializes in acute care, adult rehabilitation and geriatrics. With experience in outpatient, skilled nursing and acute care settings, she has performed diagnosis and treatment of voice, swallowing and cognitive-communication disorders, progressive neurological disorders and head-neck cancer.
Cassandra (Kassi) Nelson, OTD, MBA, OTR/L, CNS, CEAS I
Dr. Nelson is an OT, researcher and educator focused on improving the lives of individuals through holistic, client-centered treatment. She holds numerous certifications in various specialties, with expertise in acute care, neurological rehabilitation, oncology, orthopedics and pelvic health.
Deann O’Lenick, PHD, CCC-SLP
Dr. O'Lenick specializes in adult rehabilitation and pediatrics, with a focus on autism, behavioral communication issues, swallowing impairments and complicated communication demands such augmentative and alternative communication. She has established nonprofit organizations to advance augmentative communication.
Gabriela Perez, OTD, MS, OTR/L
Holding multiple certifications, Dr. Perez specializes in adult rehabilitation, neurological disorders, spinal cord injuries and more. With a background in higher education and instructional design, she brings expertise in interprofessional education.
Ana Rivera, PhD, CCC-SLP
Dr. Rivera is an expert in neurogenic communication disorders, bilingualism and the brain within adult/geriatric populations. With experience in various medical settings, she specializes in neurologic disorders.
Chad Schmeeckle, PT, DPT
Dr. Schmeeckle is a sports physical therapist, educator and researcher specializing in anatomy, kinesiology, manual therapy, orthopedics and sports medicine. His expertise spans various sports rehabilitation areas, including return-to-sport protocols and post-operative rehab for athletes of all ages and skill levels.
Thomas (Thom) P. Werner, PT, MA, PhD
Dr. Thomas “Thom” Werner joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) in 2012 and has over two decades of experience in private practice. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in the School of Arts, Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin,