Faculty

Dr. Achon has experience as an occupational therapy practitioner in adult and geriatric settings, including inpatient acute rehab and skilled nursing/home health. With a spinal cord injuries specialty, she has certifications in stroke rehab and fall prevention.

As an Orthopedic Certified Specialist, Dr. Anderson has more than 25 years’ experience and is a recognized authority in movement science, performing arts medicine, chronic pain management, real-time ultrasound, manual therapy and manipulation. Additional specialties are family medicine and kinesiology.

With certifications in stroke rehabilitation and peer visitor training, Dr. Bayona is an expert in treating patients with neurological conditions and limb loss. She has 20+ years’ experience working in acute care, hand therapy, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, and school-based practice.

Dr. Bertran specializes in pediatrics, Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory integration and early intervention. As a certified fieldwork educator, she is passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration and promoting pre-linguistic skills in children.

As ab AAOMPT Fellow, Dr. Bray specializes in orthopedics and manual therapy. His experience includes teaching for an orthopedic manual therapy program in Kenya and lecturing on various topics related to occupational medicine.

Dr. Brim has extensive clinical experience in early intervention, pediatrics, acute care, home health and orthopedics, serving individuals across their lifespan. As a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist, his specialties include anatomy, kinesiology, professional ergonomics, sensory integration and wound management.

With concentrations and clinical expertise in geriatrics, mental health and long-term and rehabilitation nursing, Dr. Cox also specializes in healthcare higher education. She served in OT program leadership roles for several universities prior to joining USAHS.

In addition to neurological rehabilitation and professional ergonomics, Dr. DeFeo has expertise in acute care, clinical teaching, instructional design and interprofessional education. She is a pediatrics board-certified specialist and certified as an assistive technology professional with more than 10 years of clinical experience.

Dr. Domville is an occupational therapist with expertise in adult rehabilitation, community mental health, geriatrics, neurological rehabilitation and orthopedics. She has treated a variety of diagnoses in the rehab setting, including spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries.

Honored as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow, Dr. Donnelly is an expert in manual therapy and orthopedics, with more than 30 years of clinical experience. His areas of interest include musculoskeletal dysfunction, clinical reasoning, pain sciences, myofascial pain and dysfunction, and trigger point dry needling.

Dr. dos Santos is an expert in orthopedics, neurological rehab, kinesiology, clinical electrophysiology, adult rehabilitation and manual therapy. He has extensive clinical experience and has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles in the physical therapy, biomechanics and motor control fields.

With more than 15 years of experience as a physical therapist, Dr. Eberle is an expert in manual therapy and orthopedics. He is an AAOMPT Fellow and the creator of an orthopedic manual for the examination and treatment of orthopedic disorders.

Dr. Elbaum is a renowned expert in kinesiology, neurological rehabilitation, pediatrics and spinal cord injuries. He has published more than 150 research papers and serves as a clinical practitioner and consultant to various health care providers and regulatory agencies.

Dr. Fernandez has extensive clinical and leadership experience in rehabilitation services, orthopedics and geriatrics. She has worked in acute and post-acute care, inpatient and outpatient settings, and contributed to evidence-based programs for fall prevention in the geriatric community. Additional specialties include neurological rehab, spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, wound management and community transition.

Dr. Garcia is an Assistant Professor specializing in adult rehabilitation with a focus on cardiopulmonary, and neurological physical therapy. He has presented original research nationally and received certification in cardiovascular and pulmonary PT.

Dr. Garcia specializes in adult rehabilitation, neurological disorders and rehab, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. A primary interest is falls prevention with the adult population.

With specialties in anatomy, clinical education and hand therapy, Dr. Grijalba’s expertise lies in orthopedic rehabilitation. Having worked in acute care and home-health settings with adult populations, she is passionate about innovation in OT and created a role for OTs in the care of women in obstetrics and gynecology.

Dr. Hamilton specializes in kinesiology and pediatrics. A proponent of integrative health and wellness programs, she is board certified in pediatrics and holds additional certification in Neurosensory Structural Microcirculatory kinesiology tape application.

Dr. Herard is a physical therapist, educator and researcher with a focus on motor learning and control in neurological disorders. She specializes in adult rehabilitation, cardiovascular and pulmonary care, neurological disorders and pediatrics.

Dr. Ingegneri specializes in anatomy, clinical education and manual therapy. She brings extensive experience in inpatient and outpatient settings, and is a certified stroke rehabilitation specialist.

Dr. Lisa Jenkins is a licensed physical therapist specializing in clinical education. She has experience in management and healthcare education and is recognized as an expert in her field.

Dr. Kasyan-Howe is a highly skilled occupational therapist with expertise in a wide range of specialties, including acute care, adult rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation and spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. She is dedicated to improving fieldwork education, promoting leadership, and addressing legal and ethical concerns in occupational therapy.

Dr. Khan specializes in adult rehabilitation, geriatrics, mental health, neurological disorders, neurological rehabilitation and pelvic health. She has a deep understanding of psychoneuroimmunology and the interconnectedness of the immune, endocrine and nervous systems.

Kristian Llaca is an occupational therapist specializing in acute care, adult rehabilitation, mental health, neurological disorders, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and vision rehabilitation. He has expertise in neurological rehabilitation and assistive technology and has earned several certifications.

As a former tutor to children with learning and developmental disabilities, Dr. Loffredo’s specialties include Autism Spectrum Disorder, community mental health, pediatrics and sensory integration. Having worked in home health, outpatient, hospital and school-based settings, her clinical practice interests include parent education, telehealth and early intervention.

Dr. Mrabe is an occupational therapist and educator with a specialty in mental health, pediatrics, anatomy and kinesiology.

Dr. Hartsook specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorder, clinical education, pediatrics and sensory integration. As a certified fieldwork educator, her clinical practice and interests focus on early intervention and early identification of Autism.

Dr. Perez is a specialist in manual therapy and orthopedics. With a background in physical therapy and extensive clinical experience, he focuses on the treatment of tendon pathology, mechano-transduction and movement dysfunction.

Dr. Caprice Quinones has taught at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences since 2020 as a contributing faculty member and transitioned to core faculty at the Miami, FL campus in 2022. She began her career in 2018 as a physical therapist specializing in stroke and spinal cord rehabilitation at West Gables Rehabilitation Hospital

Dr. Carmina “Minnie” L. Rafael is a physical therapist with more than 25 years of professional experience. She has been a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy since 2012 and an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Geriatrics Certified Expert for Aging Adults since 2011. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy

Dr. Reed attended Tulane University in New Orleans and received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1997. Dr. Reed then attended the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) and received his Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) in 2000. He returned to USAHS to complete a transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2003

Dr. Romero received his Bachelor of Science from the Cuban University of Sports Sciences and his Master of Science from California University of Pennsylvania, and then received his Doctor of Physical Therapy from A. T. Still University of Health Sciences and his Doctor of Philosophy from University of Baja California. He is a practicing Physical

Dr. Christine Salmon has more than 11 years of combined teaching and clinical experience in physical therapy, including more than five years providing clinical instruction for students from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences and other institutions. Her clinical work focuses on evaluating and treating the geriatric, orthopedic, cardiac, and neurological patient population.

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

Dr. St. Germain received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Biology from Concordia College in Minnesota. From 1999 to 2005, he worked in an inpatient pediatric psychiatric mental health facility. Dr. St. Germain attained his Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Florida International University in 2005. He has clinical experience working in multiple

Born and raised in Iran, Dr. Tahayori studied physical therapy at Master’s level at Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. He did his PhD in Kinesiology and Neuroscience at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) examining spinal plasticity and its mechanisms in CNS diseases. At IUB, he did some basic science studies to better understand the