Rita is a sports physical therapist and an athletic trainer practicing in a civilian role with the U.S. military. She is passionate about keeping high performance teams up and running and enjoys the challenge of working in fast-paced environments.

As a perennial student of the FMS system, Rita has learned that career longevity for her clients is heavily influenced by eliminating unnecessary injury risk and targeting pains before they become problems. The FMS treatment continuum of Screen, Assess, Correct, and Develop continues to provide a robust yet flexible framework to serve her dynamic client population.

Since graduating from Coventry University, Stuart has developed a clinical focus on injury prevention and screening. In his previous role as a First Team Physiotherapist with West Bromwich Albion Football Club, Stuart was part of a leading sports medicine department, priding themselves on player availability and career longevity. Stuart pioneered a process of functional screening to the club to fully appraise a players physical status, identifying assets and risks neuro-musculoskeletally in full time athletes.

Ryan Grube is a Regional Director and Physical Therapist for Drayer Physical Therapy Institute, a brand of Upstream Rehabilitation. He’s been practicing for 27 years in orthopedic rehabilitation, fitness, and sports-medicine. He started his career as a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Penn State University in 1994, and this experience fueled his passion for learning and interest in human performance, sports-medicine, and rehabilitation.

He earned a degree in Physical Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University in 2000 and has spent the last 21 years continuing to look for opportunities to grow as a practitioner in rehabilitation, health and fitness, mindset, nutrition, and leadership. His passion for learning has drawn him to Functional Movement Systems to enhance his depth of knowledge in systematic testing, screening, and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

David is a practicing physical therapist in Alaska with a board certification specialty in orthopedics and special interest in vestibular rehabilitation as well as the complex pain patient.

He has been integrating FMS principles into practice since starting his career in 2013 after graduating from the DPT program at University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. These principles have been uniquely assistive in navigating cases surrounding the complexities that Alaska affords, but also allows for encouraging its population to move well, then move often in the rugged northern region.

His interests include carpentry, archery, triathlon and strength training, and hunting/fishing (what Alaskan doesn't?). He also loves hanging out with his wife (also a PT) and 3 kids skiing and generally enjoying the outdoors.

David is excited to solidify FMS principles and integration into practice through tutelage and mentorship of the core FMS team members. He feels blessed and privileged to be a part of this curriculum and process and looks forward to what the future holds with this new guidance.

Amanda is a 2012 graduate from Slippery Rock University with a B.S. in Exercise Science and her Doctor of Physical Therapy. Her specialized training includes kinesio taping, SportsmetricsTM, and manual therapy programming with NAIOMT. Her clinical areas of interest include general musculoskeletal conditions, post-operative care and joint replacements, fall and injury prevention, sports medicine, and wellness programming.

She recently has made a transition into academia where she is now a full time faculty member in the Penn State Mont Alto Physical Therapy Assistant program. Amanda enjoys the outdoors where she spends most of her free time hiking and biking.

Chris has over 20 years of experience in Orthopedics, including the last 10 in Industrial Health. He has served as a leader in both the for profit and non-profit settings.

Chris earned his doctorate in physical therapy from A.T. Still University, is a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Specialists, and is a board-certified orthopedic specialist. He also holds certifications in Functional Dry Needling, Vestibular Rehabilitation, and the Selective Functional Movement Assessment.

Being an active Clinical Instructor (CI), Chris has served as a CI to nearly 30 doctoral students in the past 5 years. He received the University of Colorado Clinical Instructor of the Year award in 2020 and was nationally recognized as a CI in 2021. He has also logged thousands of hours as a manual therapy mentor for the Manual Therapy Institute. The Colorado Specialist in Workers Compensation nominated Chris for “Specialist of the Year” in 2016.

Chris has been married to his sweetheart, Chantelle, for 22 years. They have 3 sons, ages 11-18. In his free time, Chris enjoys his family, hiking, music, and writing.

Joan Vicente earned her Bachelor’s in PT in 2004 in the Philippines and her DPT in Des Moines University in 2013. She is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She also completed the Clinical Fellowship in Movement System at Washington University in St. Louis and became one of the regional mentors in the program. Joan is currently working as an outpatient PT and as the Rehab Clinical Educator at UCLA Health in Santa Monica, California, where she is involved in mentoring experienced therapists.

As a lifelong learner, she decided to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Orthopedic Sports Science at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. Her research interest is how thoracic spine mobility affects shoulder pain and mobility.

Dr. Kiesel is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Evansville, a co-founder of the Functional Movement System, and is currently the FMS Fellowship Director. During his 21 years in academics, he has spent 9 of those years directing programs in Athletic Training and Physical Therapy. His areas of research include motor control of the core, breathing, and functional movement testing and training. Because of his long-standing interest in athletic performance, injury prediction, and recovery, his research has also led to significant work related to functional movement screening, testing, and assessment for athletes. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and regularly presents his work nationally and internationally as well as reviewing manuscripts for a variety of journals. He serves as a consultant for professional and college sports teams as well as the military where he assists with injury prevention and implementation of the functional movement systems model. He has extensive experience teaching lecture and lab courses emphasizing core training and functional movement assessment and intervention including both the FMS and the SFMA and has taught in approximately 20 different countries.

Todd Arnold is a sports medicine physician practicing in Indianapolis, In. Todd has been working with the SFMA team since the early 2000s when a conversation with Gray shined a language on the way he thought about his athletes. Over the last decade he has applied the SFMA to athletes of all levels ranging from scholastic to Olympians. Todd serves as the team physician for the Indianapolis Indians (AAA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates) and served as a consultant to the Indianapolis Colts for more than a decade. As a sports performance scientist on the staff for USA Track and Field he has spent years looking at the movement patterns of the worlds elite track and field athletes preparing them for the Olympics games.

Ellora Weston is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. She has full body certification in, and is an instructor for Active Release Technique. Ellora is also certified in the Graston Technique, Kinesiology Taping, and TRX. Ellora graduated with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northeastern University. She competed her Master of Science in Physical Therapy at the University of California San Francisco and San Francisco State University and received her Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her research in the field has included Total Hip Arthroplasty Anterior Approach (DPT), Classification of Cervical Spine Disorders (MSPT), and the Effects of Musical Practice on Neuronal Structures (BA).

Greg is an Australian Sports Physiotherapist who completed a Bachelor of Science (1996) and a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne in 1999, competing for the university as a track sprinter. As a consultant clinician and injury prevention advisor to the Australian and British Defense Forces in Australia and Europe, Greg refined tactical and sporting injury management. To transition to national and international level sports physiotherapy, Greg completed a Masters degree in Sports Physiotherapy out of Latrobe University in 2008. He worked full time in football for 2 years before being recruited to the position of Sports Medicine Coordinator at the Northern Territory Institute of Sport in Darwin, Australia. Greg's experience in this and other roles, as well as training in the Functional Movement Screen and Selective Functional Movement Assessment, was seen as an asset in international sport, so he was recruited, in 2014, to head the Performance Physical Therapy service for EXOS at the Shanghai Research Institute of Sports Science, Shanghai, China. In 2015, he was recalled to China to help manage the China Women's Volleyball team as they prepared for the 2015 World Grand Prix tournaments, culminating in victory at the 2015 FIVB World Cup. He returned to Australia for a short break in 2016 and is currently practicing out of the tropical north of Australia before embarking on future international sports duties.

Rod is a practicing Osteopath in the Southern Highlands of NSW in Australia. He has a broad range of experience treating everyone from professional athletes to the general population, adolescents to senior citizens. Additionally, Rod has been an active competitor in Mixed Martial Arts events as both an amateur and professional fighter and is currently an MMA coach. He has also taught advanced hand to hand & weapons combat tactics and techniques to police, prison tactical response groups, and security guards, as well as self-defense for all populations. It was his experience in traditional martial arts that had Rod look more closely at how fundamental human movement underpins elite athletic performance. Rod uses the SFMA & FMS in daily Osteopathic practice, personal training and group fitness settings. In addition, Rod also uses the FCS and YBT in MMA coaching. Rod also holds certifications as a personal trainer, sports coach, a kettlebell instructor and nutrition coach.

Dr. Jenna Gourlay is a board-certified sports physical therapist for ProRehab and serves as the team physical therapist for the women’s basketball and volleyball at the University of Evansville. Dr. Gourlay is a faculty member and mentor in the ProRehab and University of Evansville’s Sports Residency Program. Additionally, she serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Evansville DPT program teaching in the musculoskeletal and clinical and professional issues content areas. She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Rutgers University and went on to complete a residency in sports physical therapy. She is a performance coach for youth athletes, has been featured on the Strength Coach Podcast, and has assisted in the development of the FMS Physical Education Program. Jenna has published research on the ankle mobility testing and published a book chapter on performance monitoring in baseball.

Behnad is a practicing clinician and strength and conditioning coach having worked at several sports therapy clinics in British Columbia, Canada. He was a program coordinator and consultant at the University of British Columbia's (UBC) School of Human Kinetics as well as UBC's Varsity Athletics. Behnad continues to consult with various sport teams and individual athletes at all levels, including national and professional level athletes. Behnad is passionate about teaching and continues to combine his diverse clinical skills and years of experience with lecturing in the fields of rehabilitation, injury prevention and performance enhancement. Behnad has a special interest in movement assessment and training and has been involved with the Functional Movement Systems since 2001. He is an instructor for both the Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) and Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA™) courses. Behnad graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Human Kinetics (BHK) in Exercise Science, a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT), and a degree in Osteopathy Manual Practice (DOMP) from the Canadian School of Osteopathy. He is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association, has completed a graduate certificate in Orthopedic Manual Therapy at Curtin University (Perth, Australia), certified through the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute (CAFCI), and trained in Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) through the Institute for the Study and Treatment of Pain.

Dr. Kyle Matsel is the Assistant Director of the FMS Fellowship and faculty at the University of Evansville where he teaches in the physical therapy program. He earned his PhD from the University of Kentucky where his research emphasis was related to movement screening and arm care exercise implementation in baseball players. He is a board-certified Sports Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. He specializes in sport and orthopedic rehabilitation with an emphasis in injury prediction and prevention in athletes. Dr. Matsel is the director of the ProRehab and University of Evansville Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program where he develops physical therapists in acute sports management and enhances clinical skills and decision making with the Functional Movement Systems model.

Dr. Plisky is an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Sports Residency Program Director at the University of Evansville and ProRehab, where he practices as a physical therapist. He also serves as a consultant for collegiate, professional, industrial, and soldier athletes to transform their performance and injury prevention systems. He is passionate about changing lives by optimizing performance and preventing injury using a practical, researched based approach to musculoskeletal health. He received his Master of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Evansville and his Doctor of Science degree in Orthopedic Physical Therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. He is a board certified clinical specialist in orthopedics through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, a Certified Athletic Trainer, and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He developed the Y Balance Test - a simple yet thoroughly researched way to identify motor control deficits. His peer-reviewed articles have appeared in numerous scientific journals and he serves as a manuscript reviewer for several publications. His current research is focused on comprehensive movement testing and interventions in athletes, military personnel, and school-aged children.

Daisuke “Dice” Uematsu received his BS in Athletic Training from University of Pittsburgh and his Master Degree with an emphasis in athletic training from Ohio University. He received his Doctorate Degree from Waseda University (Tokyo, Japan) with an emphasis in Sports Medicine. He is a Certified Athletic Trainer for the National Athletic Trainers Association. He works with various levels of athletes from youth to professional athletes. He has extensive experience teaching lecture and lab courses on functional training and rehabilitation. Daisuke also serves as a part time conditioning coach for FC Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan) where he coordinates rehabilitation and return to play as well as instructs strength and conditioning program. Dice is the current president of the Japan Athletic Trainers’ Organization.

Dr. Jimmy Yuan is a practicing Chiropractor in Phoenix, Arizona for Warrior Restoration. He also currently serves as a consultant for the Arizona Diamondbacks training staff and works personally for several professional and elite athletes. In addition to FMS/SFMA, Jimmy is also an Active Release Techniques (ART) presenting instructor, StrongFirst Level 2 Kettlebell – Barbell – and Bodyweight Instructor, and Titleist Performance Institute Medical 3 – Fitness 3 – and Juniors 2.

Eric received his Master of Science degree in physical therapy from the University of California, San Francisco. He received extensive training in the Australian approach to manual therapy, as well as sports medicine. He practiced for nearly 10 years in orthopedic and hospital based care in the U.S., and later moved to Spain, where he has been teaching in both a physiotherapy undergraduate program, and a chiropractic school in the Madrid area. He is currently incorporating concepts and practice of Functional Movement Systems into the physiotherapy and chiropractic programs and clinics at both schools.

Craig Phifer is the CEO and owner of Rehabilitation & Performance Institute (RPI). He is an instructor in the University of Evansville and RPI Orthopaedic Residency. He also serves on the editorial board for Impact – the magazine of the Private Practice Section of the APTA. Craig received his Master of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Evansville and his Master of Health Administration degree from the University of Southern Indiana. Craig specializes in developing business systems that allow clinicians and companies to provide remarkable, individualized care to patients.

Robert Butler currently serves as the Director of Performance for the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Organization overseeing athlete care and physical performance training. Dr. Butler received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Marietta College in 1999 and his Master of Science degree in Movement Science with a concentration in Biomechanics from Springfield College in 2001. He then received his PhD in Biomechanics and Movement Science from the University of Delaware in 2005. Following his PhD study, he completed a post-doc at UNC-Chapel Hill before completing his DPT at the University of Evansville. Prior to joining the Cardinals, Dr. Butler spent five and a half years as an Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy in the School of Medicine at Duke University and was a Clinical Researcher for Duke Health Systems. He has presented over 160 abstracts at national and international conferences and has contributed to over 85 peer-reviewed manuscripts in physical development, medical and biomechanical journals. Dr. Butler serves as a movement based outcomes consultant for a number of orthopedic and sports medicine groups nationally and internationally with patients ranging across the lifespan.

Mat earned his Masters of Physical Therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine, FL and is the owner of Physical Edge, Inc., a physical therapy and fitness center in Davis, CA. He has extensive advanced training in orthopedic manual therapy. Mat participated in the first SFMA internship and has been an instructor for Functional Movement Systems since 2009. He specializes in orthopedic rehabilitation, spine care, injury prevention and movement assessment and correction. Mat works with his community by providing educational talks, movement screens and organized programs to various groups, including local sports teams as well as the City of Davis, Fire department. In addition, Mat is a clinical instructor for several doctorate programs in physical therapy throughout California.

Anthony currently practices as an outpatient orthopedic and sports medicine physical therapist. In his clinical practice, Anthony treats a patient population that extends from professional athletes to active young adolescents. Anthony received his strength and conditioning specialist(CSCS) certification from the NSCA in 2003, a year prior to graduating with his master’s degree in PhysicalTherapy from Quinnipiac University in 2004.