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. Agrawal is passionate about amputee rehabilitation and has spent 15+ years working with people who have had amputations. He is a global expert in evaluating prosthetic feet and has written multiple studies on the subject. His specialties are adult rehabilitation and interprofessional education.

With a specialty in kinesiology, Dr. Akef Khowailed has also taught courses in biomechanics, exercise physiology, women's health, clinical imaging and evidence-based practice. Her study focuses on the biomechanical and physiological components of human mobility.

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. Alshammari has authored 25+ research articles on physical therapy and spoken at numerous international PT conferences. He has 15+ years of clinical expertise working with neurologic patients. Specialties include geriatrics, neurological disorders, neurological rehab, and spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries.

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.

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.

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. Andrea specializes in pediatric and adult neurologic physical therapy. She is passionate working with individuals after brain injury and is experienced in acute care, outpatient, skilled nursing and inpatient rehabilitation settings. Additional disciplines include healthcare higher education and interprofessional education.

As a Certified Therapist in Neuro Developmental Treatment for pediatrics and adults, Dr. Ata’s specialties include neurologic physical therapy, acute care, and spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. With expertise in neurological disorders and rehabilitation, his studies focus on virtual reality applications, balance evaluations and treatment.

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.

Dr. Balakrishnan has expertise in mental health, neurological disorders and neurological rehabilitation. With a doctorate in Neurophysiology, she has done extensive research on maternal infection and fetal brain development.

Dr. Bayliss has extensive experience as a clinician and rehabilitation director in various settings, including wound care, lymphedema therapy and home health. She has a background in physical therapy education and has served as program director for a PTA program.

In addition to anatomy and higher education, Dr. Belleza specializes in interprofessional education (IPE) and simulation. He is one of only a few worldwide to receive advance credentialing as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator.

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. Bezkor has 15+ years of clinical care experience in orthopedics, neurology, vestibular, respiratory and hand therapy. He is a member of APTA and CPTA and has received awards for excellence in education and professional service.

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. Body is an expert in orthopedics, anatomy and healthcare higher education. She has experience in outpatient orthopedics and has worked in different clinical settings.

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.

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.

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. 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.

Dr. Bushnell is an experienced physical therapist with specialties in acute care, anatomy and higher education. She has 10+ years of clinical practice in acute care and more than five years in a hospital-based education position.

Dr. Byrne is a physical therapist with a focus on improving developmental outcomes in neonatal and cardiac intensive care units. She has a passion for neuromotor rehab with specialties in acute care, cardiovascular and pulmonary, neurological rehabilitation and pediatrics.

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.

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.

Dr. Chase specializes in cardiovascular and pulmonary and orthopedics. She has a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Exercise and Wellness and was part of the University’s second physical therapy graduating class prior to joining as faculty in 2000.

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. Crossen-Sills has 30+ years of clinical, instructional and administrative experience. Her research interests include fall prevention, geriatrics and performance improvement. She specializes in chronic disease management, end-of-life care and neurological rehabilitation.

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.

As an AAOMPT Fellow, Dr. Daugherty is an authority in higher education administration, manual therapy, orthopedics and sports medicine. He has presented his research at national conferences and published on several different subjects.

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.

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.

With specialties in geriatrics and orthopedics, Dr. Dickman is a physical therapist with more than 25 years of expertise in outpatient orthopedics, skilled nursing and acute care.

Dr. Disney is a board-certified orthopedic physical therapist with a focus on pelvic floor dysfunctions and orthopedic injury rehabilitation. She has experience working with both an adult and pediatric population. Her expertise includes higher education, manual therapy, pelvic health and sports medicine.

As an AAOMPT Fellow, Dr. Domenech is a specialist in orthopedic physical therapy and manual therapy. He has served in various positions in the U.S. Air Force, and he is an onsite reviewer for the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

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.

Dr. Early specializes in clinical education and has worked as a clinic director in private practice and outpatient clinics. Experienced as a travel therapist, she holds certifications in skilled dry needling, vestibular rehabilitation and human performance evaluations.

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.

Pediatric physical therapist Dr. Ennis is board-certified and has specialization in early intervention, aquatics and assistive technology. She has also presented on these themes and written journals about them in her private practice.

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.

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. 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.

Having authored/co-authored 40+ peer-reviewed manuscripts, Dr. Ganesan is a recognized authority in neurological rehabilitation who has a strong background in research and education. His areas of interest in study are balance and movement in older adults with neurological problems.

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.

Dr. Gonzalez-Cabrera specializes in community mental health and pharmacology. He co-reported fundamental discoveries that led to the development of a small molecule therapeutic approved in the United States and Europe.

Dr. Grant is a certified orthopedic specialist with 15+ years of experience in outpatient orthopedics and oncology. An AAOMPT Fellow, she oversees USAHS’ clinical residency and orthopaedic manual physical therapy fellowship programs.

Dr. Green specializes in neurological disorders and rehabilitation. With 10+ years of experience, she is passionate about neurologic recovery and continues to treat individuals with neurologic disorders while instructing in the neuromuscular curriculum.

Dr. Hanks is a practicing physical therapist with 25+ years of experience in acute care, outpatient (pediatrics to geriatrics), school-based pediatrics and home health. Certified in Mechanical, Diagnosis and Treatment, her specialties are acute care, clinical education, orthopedics, pediatrics and wound management.

Dr. Hanover has 25+ years of expertise providing children with outpatient treatment and early intervention. Her study focuses on therapeutic approaches those with Spina Bifida and Down Syndrome with a particular interest in neurological rehabilitation, pediatrics and school systems.

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.

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.

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. Herrera specializes in clinical education, manual therapy and orthopedics. As a physical therapist and athlete, she has a strong interest in sports medicine and is dedicated to promoting quality movement and empowering individuals on their health journeys.

Dr. Higgs specializes in clinical education, manual therapy, neurological rehabilitation, oncology and orthopedics. With a background in molecular and cellular pathology, he founded PATHCS, a non-profit organization focusing on healthcare access for underserved communities.

Dr. Hill is a board-certified clinical specialist in pediatric physical therapy and specializes in outpatient pediatrics. She has worked in a variety of pediatric settings including outpatient, school-based and acute care.

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.

Specializing in manual therapy, orthopedics and sports medicine, Dr. Ingstad brings experience in outpatient physical therapy, particularly in sport rehabilitation and preventing sports injuries. He is a certified athletic trainer and a member of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Sports, Orthopaedic and Education sections.

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. Jackson is an experienced physical therapist specializing in cardiovascular and pulmonary care, geriatrics, higher education, orthopedics and sports medicine. She has been teaching in physical therapy programs and practicing in outpatient orthopedics for 30+ years.

Dr. Jasper is a specialist in geriatrics and neurological disorders and has clinical experience in neurologic physical therapy. She is actively involved in various professional committees and is certified in multiple areas, including vestibular rehabilitation and balance-based torso weighting.

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.

With specialties in clinical education, cardiovascular and pulmonary, chronic disease management, geriatrics and pediatrics, Dr. Kamel is a physical therapist with 25 years of academic and clinical experience. With an interest in lifestyle and weight management, he is skilled in home health, outpatient PT, neurological rehabilitation and musculoskeletal PT.

Having served in the U.S. Navy for 26 years, Dr. Kane is an experienced physical therapist specializing in orthopedics, sports medicine, manual therapy, anatomy, kinesiology and clinical electrophysiology. He has worked with elite collegiate, national and Olympic sports teams.

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.

Dr. King is a physical therapist with specialties in manual therapy, orthopedics and sports medicine. Certified in Sports Physical Therapy, she was part of the host medical teams in the Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympics.

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.

As a recognized physical therapist, educator and researcher, Dr. LaRosa’s specialization includes orthopedic residency and manual physical therapy fellowship. He teaches musculoskeletal components of the program, and his research interests are clinical reasoning and orthopedic physical therapy.

Dr. Layne specializes in anatomy, manual therapy, orthopedics and sports medicine. He obtained the Manual Therapy Certification through USAHS and is also a Titleist Performance Institute Level 2 Certified Medical Professional.

Dr. Logan is a board-certified clinical specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy with specialties in kinesiology and orthopedics. With her undergraduate degree in sports medicine, she has extensive experience working with collegiate wheelchair athletes and Paralympic athletes.

Dr. Love has a diverse background and specializes in acute care, adult rehabilitation and anatomy. He holds multiple degrees and has expertise in joint degeneration following lower limb amputation.

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.

Specializing in orthopedics, Dr. Mandel’s expertise includes manual therapy and extensive experience in outpatient care. He spends time annually providing physical therapy services pro bono to individuals in underprivileged countries.

Dr. Marcin specialties include acute care, healthcare higher education and wound management. Her expertise extends to curriculum development and education assessment.

With a specialty in geriatrics, Dr. Mathews is dedicated to preparing students for clinical practice by fostering critical thinking and creating safe learning environments.

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.

Dr. Menefee is a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist with expertise in orthopedics and movement science. She joined the University as contributing faculty and moved to a full-time faculty position in 2022.

As a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, Dr. Miller focuses on orthopedics. With experience in outpatient orthopedic settings, she is dedicated to orthopedic rehabilitation and biomechanics.

As a board-certified Geriatrics Clinical Specialist, Dr. Miller specialties include orthopedics, adult rehabilitation, healthcare higher education, interprofessional education, neurological rehabilitation and wound management. She has worked in multiple areas of physical therapy including military hospital clinics and Veterans Administration hospitals.

Dr. Moore is an orthopedic board-certified physical therapist specializing in adult rehabilitation and orthopedics. With a background in the U.S. Army and extensive clinical experience, she has expertise in amputation and polytrauma.

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.

Dr. Nichols specializes in clinical education. With a teaching career spanning more than two decades, she has taught a wide range of courses in occupational therapy and physical therapy programs.

Dr. Parker specializes in manual therapy, neurological rehabilitation, orthopedics and sports medicine. With a passion for sports and teaching, his career has included helping others as a CrossFit trainer, where he developed skills in functional movement with proper load and form.

An AAOMPT Fellow, Dr. Parrish specializes in manual therapy and orthopedics. Her expertise focuses on interprofessional education, best practice simulations and online education in the field of orthopedics.

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. Peters-Brinkerhoff joined the University in 2008 and specializes in neurological rehabilitation and pediatrics. She has advanced certificates in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, neurodevelopmental treatment, hippotherapy and a vast experience in treating neurologic diagnoses for pediatrics and adults.

With specialties in adult rehabilitation, clinical education, kinesiology and orthopedics, Dr. Phung’s experience includes delivering concierge PT care to adult populations. She is an advocate for community development and health education and is a mentor and speaker in various capacities regionally and internationally.

Dr. Pucillo specializes in anatomy, healthcare higher education, neurological disorders and neurological rehabilitation. He is actively engaged in research on physical therapy education, interprofessional collaboration and global health.

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. Madeline Ratoza has diverse clinical experience in various settings, including outpatient pediatrics, outpatient orthopedics, acute care and adult and pediatric home health. She joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences fulltime in 2021 after serving as contributing faculty for physical therapy practice courses for two years. She currently teaches and works with

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

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.

Dr. Rice joined the University in 2017 as contributing faculty in the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Biophysical Agents, Integumentary and Analytical Anatomy courses. She became a full-time faculty member as Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education in November 2021. She is the Director, Physical Therapy Clinical Education Coordination. Dr. Rice graduated with a Bachelor of Science in

As a board-certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy, Dr. Rodriguez has expertise both in the classroom and clinical practice. His specialties include traumatic brain injuries, chronic disease management and neurological disorders and rehabilitation.

Dr. Bonnie L. Rogulj completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia, graduating with honors, and her Doctor of Physical Therapy at Old Dominion University. Presently, Dr. Rogulj is an assistant professor at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences and a licensed staff physical therapist in Florida and Virginia. She completed an

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. Danielle Rosenzweig is a physical therapist, educator, mentor and researcher focused on neurological rehabilitation and National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) success. She is passionate about helping students launch their careers. She uses creative, unique and innovative techniques to individualize her approach for each student. Dr. Rosenzweig is the NPTE Success Specialist for the University

Dr. Rot graduated from Shenandoah University in 1993 with a Masters in Physical Therapy. He completed the Institute of Physical Therapy’s Manual Therapy Certification program in 1996. In 1997, he completed a one year Orthopaedic/Manual Physical Therapy Residency/Fellowship program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USHAS) under the mentorship of Dr. Stanley

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. 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

Dr. Summer San Lucas received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology degree from Westmont College in 2001. She graduated from Loma Linda University with her Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2005 and Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy in 2012. She is an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) board-certified clinical specialist in neurologic and pediatric

Jorge Sarmiento joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in the spring of 2013 as a contributing faculty member teaching Administration and Management. He became a core faculty member in fall 2017 teaching Therapeutic Exercises, Biomechanics, and Administration and Management. He also assists in gross anatomy lab. Prior to joining the university, he

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.

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.

Dr. Megann Schooley graduated Suma Cum Lade with a Bachelor of Arts from Lynn University where she was captain of the Women’s National Championship Soccer Team, twice an Academic All-American and recently inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Exercise, health and wellness have always been one of her personal passions. She began pursuing health

Shimko earned her Master’s in Physical Therapy 1996 at Barry University. She has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association/Florida Physical Therapy Association member since 1990 (PTA 1992-1996). Shimko has 10 years’ experience serving in elected and appointed positions for the FPTA Board of Directors. She served on the FPTA Board of Directors

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. Siviter specializes in manual therapy, orthopedics and sports medicine. Her clinical experience includes outpatient manual therapy and neurological settings and in treating high-level athletes. She holds manual therapy and dry needling certifications from USAHS.

With 25+ years of experience in orthopedic PT, Dr. Smith specializes in adult rehabilitation, manual therapy and orthopedics. She holds certifications in manual therapy, manipulative therapy and orthopaedics.

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

In addition to sports medicine, Dr. Soper specializes in manual therapy for adults and health administration. She has more than 30 years of clinical expertise, and both her clinical and research work focuses on interventions that are supported by the best available scientific evidence.

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.

Loren Szmiga, PT, DPT received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and earned her doctorate in Physical Therapy and Manual Therapy Certification from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS). She worked in outpatient orthopedic clinics and then began to specialize in the upper extremity.

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

A graduate from the University of Maryland in Baltimore in 1984, Dr. Viti received his Manual Therapy Certification from the Institute of Physical Therapy in 1991. He completed his manual therapy fellowship training in 1996 and received a Master of Science degree in 1997 from the Institute of Physical Therapy. He received his OCS certification

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

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,

Dr. Margaret Ann Wicinski is an assistant professor in the Flexible Doctor of Physical Therapy program on the St. Augustine campus. Before joining the university full time, she worked as a physical therapist in outpatient and acute care settings. Dr. Wicinski is an active member of the APTA, the FPTA, and the AAOMPT. She previously

As a certified strength and conditioning specialist, Dr. Witkin expertise includes acute care, orthopedics and sports medicine.

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. Zborovsky is a Lymphedema Certified Therapist with a special interest in treating patients with Lymphedema disorders related to cancer. Her specialties include cardiovascular and pulmonary, chronic disease management and geriatrics.