Dr. Lisa M.M.Hayes joined the Department of Physical Therapy at Mary Baldwin University as an assistant clinical professor in March 2025. Dr. Hayes received her BS from California State University, Fresno and DPT from Boston University. She is a board certified cardiovascular & pulmonary clinical specialty certification from ABPTS. Dr. Hayes’ clinical career path in the acute care & intensive/critical care settings has spanned many populations, including physical therapy in the emergency department. She has piloted several quality improvement initiatives involving rehabilitative ECMO mobility, early mobility for all critical care populations, and cardiac rehab programming in various hospital systems. She was also a founding lecturer and mentor faculty member for the advanced CVP rotation of the UCSF Medical Center Acute Care Physical Therapy Residency. She has held leadership positions in the Northern California Clinical Education Consortium and is currently serving the Academy of Acute Care in the APTA as the Acute Care PT State Advocate of Virginia. She started in academia in 2021 serving the UCSF/SFSU DPT program for 4 years as Director of Clinical Education and faculty educator related to CVP content. While in California, she also enjoyed being a facilitator in the interprofessional education series in the UC School of Medicine. As an MBU fighting squirrel at Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences, she now is part of the coordination team of the interprofessional seminar series, and a core faculty member of the DPT program. She is passionate about contributing to the healthcare education topics of cardiovascular & pulmonary management as well as patient management in the acute care & critical care settings. While she has many research interests from both her clinical and academic experiences, a developing one stems from her current pro bono collaboration with Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc related to physical therapy consults for human clients with visual impairments and supporting their exercise and mobility goals when they return to their homes across the North American continent. Collaborative learning is an education topic that Dr. Hayes experienced as a PT student, supported & used as a clinical instructor and championed as a DCE. This topic has been presented with Sutter Institute in California as well as various clinical partners during her role as the UCSF/SFSU DCE and NCCEC consortium member to mentor other clinical instructors and students to succeed in this learning model. 

Dr. James P. Crick, Jr., PT, DPT, PhD, is a clinician-scientist with broad health services research interests including understanding variations in healthcare service delivery, enhancing health outcomes through quality improvement, and optimizing peri-hospital care, including hospital care and post-discharge transitional care, for older adults. Dr. Crick received his PhD from The Ohio State University in 2024 and his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Bellarmine University in 2015.

Gillian Gulley, SPT is a second year doctor of physical therapy student at Northwestern University. She graduated in 2022 from American University with a bachelor of science in Health Promotion. Shortly after graduation, she received her NASM certification for personal training and has most recently worked with patients at a clinic for weight loss. Currently, she is interested in neuro physical therapy. She is now working under Jennifer Ryan, PT, DPT, MS,CCS in the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences with research regarding the impact of changing oxygen tube length on the flow rate.

Kathryn Rutledge, SPT is a second year Doctor of Physical Therapy Student at Northwestern University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology with a concentration in movement science from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2024 where she assisted in research in Shingleton Laboratory under Alexander Shingleton and Carlos Molina. She researched the genetic architecture of hierarchical size traits, including body size and sex-specific plasticity, in Drosophila melanogaster. Currently, she is now working under Jennifer Ryan, PT, DPT, MS, CCS in the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences with research regarding the impact of changing oxygen tube length on the flow rate. 

Emma von der Linden, SPT is a second year Doctor of Physical Therapy student at Northwestern University. She received her Bachelor of Science in kinesiology at Miami University in 2024 where she took part in gathering research about factors that influence exercise testing. Currently, she is now working under Jennifer Ryan, PT, DPT, MS, CCS in the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences with research regarding the impact of changing oxygen tube length on the flow rate. Emma is interested in neurology and orthopedic physical therapy.

Jennifer Marie Ryan, PT, DPT, MS graduated from the Physical Therapy program at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1990 and went on to complete both a Master of Science in Physical Therapy and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. In July 2006 and 2016, she was awarded board certification as a Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialist by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialization.

Throughout her physical therapy career, she has specialized in physical therapy care for critically ill patients and their families. In her current position at Northwestern University, she is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences where she teaches in the areas of cardiovascular and pulmonary and acute care, and has presented over 20 peer-reviewed lectures at national conferences.

Dr Ryan was the recipient of:

• the IPTA Physical Therapist of the Year award in 2008
• the Mary Sinnott Award for Excellence in Acute Care Physical Therapy in 2012
• the 2014 Acute Care Section Lecture Award
• the Babette Sanders Leadership and Service Award in 2023.

Dr Ryan presently serves:

• the American Physical Therapy Association as a member of the Nominating Committee
• the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as the Practice Analysis Coordinator for Acute Care Specialization, Residencies and Critical Care Fellowships
• APTA Acute Care as the Vice President
• the Illinois Physical Therapy Association as an Assembly Representative

Erin Thomas, PT, DPT, Clinical Associate Professor, co-assistant Director of Clinical Education within the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS), division of Physical Therapy, at The Ohio State University. She is a founding member of the Eclipse Group (Education for Clinical Interprofessional Simulation Excellence) and serves as the Interprofessional Program Liaison for the physical therapy division. She serves on the university wide BUCKIPE calendar workgroup as co-head representative for all programs within SHRS. She serves on the SHRS Interprofessional Education Committee that is responsible for development and strategic planning for interprofessional activities within SHRS. Dr. Thomas is primary author of an article related to an interprofessional simulation for occupational and physical therapy students. She has presented nationally and internationally on interprofessional education and simulation. She has served on the ACAPT board of the Simulation in Physical Education Consortium that is developed an interprofessional simulation training certification course targeted for rehab professionals as well as currently serving as the secretary for the APTA Acute Care Academy.  

Traci Norris, PT, DPT, GCS, CEAA is a physical therapist and Rehabilitation Clinical Specialist for Evidence-Based Practice and Clinical Practice Change at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis, Missouri. In this capacity, she is responsible for translating empirical evidence and adopting best practice initiatives at her facility. She has over 18 years of patient care experience and has demonstrated a deep commitment to the clinical and academic needs of the Academy members. She is a board-certified geriatric clinical specialist.

Dr. Barbara Smith is an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy at the University of Florida. She completed her entry-level degree from the University of Pittsburgh, followed by a PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Florida. A clinician-scientist with >25 years of experience in the ICU setting, Dr. Smith focuses her expertise on respiratory motor control and rehabilitation effects of respiratory strength training in people with breathing insufficiency. Dr. Smith serves as the Co-Chair of the Research Committee for the Academy of Acute Care Physical Therapy. 

Laura Chevreaux, a physical therapist licensed for 16 years, specializes in lymphatics and wound care, focusing on lymphedema and geriatric patients in rural Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. Now based in St. George, Utah, she works full-time at Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital, a Level 2 trauma center. An active APTA member, she pioneered high-acuity interventions like the ED initiative, occasionally staffing the unit. She instructs for ILWTI and supports VA clinical operations for Koya Medical. Laura co-presented a top award-winning poster at SAWC Fall 2023 and another at APTA Houston 2025. She holds the advanced home health competency from APTA, is a board-certified lymphatic specialist (CLT-LANA), and is a member of NAWCO and AVLS. Graduating in 2009 with a Master’s in Physical Therapy from CSU Sacramento, she credits her alma mater for her clinical success.

Dr. Russ L’HommeDieu has been a practicing physical therapist for over 35 years. 

He began his career after earning his master’s degree in 1990 and has since worked across virtually every clinical setting you can imagine, including acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing, home health, outpatient orthopedics, and pediatrics. 

He went on to earn his Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2007.

Dr. L’HommeDieu is also a certified Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist, a wellness coach, and a Certified Age in Place Specialist. He recently completed the Harvard Bok Higher Education Teaching Certificate and is currently finishing his Doctorate in Healthcare Education and Leadership at Nebraska Methodist College. 

His doctoral research focuses on how compassion training can reduce burnout and improve well-being in healthcare professionals, which is a topic that could not be more timely or more important.

He is also the owner of a rehabilitation staffing company, giving him a rare perspective that bridges both clinical practice and the business realities of healthcare. 

Scott Capozza, PT, DPT, MS works as an outpatient physiotherapist dedicated to oncology rehabilitation at Smilow Cancer Hospital at the Yale Cancer Center in Connecticut, USA. He is among the first class of board-certified clinical specialists in oncologic physical therapy in the United States.  He holds several leadership positions within the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). He is also the United States of America’s representative on the planning committee for the biannual International Conference on PhysioTherapy in Oncology (ICPTO) Programme Committee of ICPTO 2026.

Scott has taught as an adjunct professor in Oncology Physical Therapy for multiple universities in Connecticut and has delivered lectures to physiotherapy programs around the United States educating students, physiotherapists and oncologists about the benefits of oncology rehabilitation. He has presented professionally on the local, state, national and international level including the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Combined Sections Meeting, the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) Annual Meeting, and the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer’s (MASCC) Annual Meeting. He has been a co-author on several peer-reviewed publications, and is also the co-author of several textbook chapters, including ‘Young Adult Survivors’ in the textbook Oncology Rehabilitation: A Comprehensive Guidebook for Clinicians.  

Dr. Chris Wilson is the Associate Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Associate Professor at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. He is a licensed physical therapist active in clinical research in the areas of Oncology, Hospice/Palliative Care, and Geriatrics. Dr. Wilson received his Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy from Oakland University in 2015.  He received his transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy from University of St. Augustine with a Primary Care Certification in 2005 and his Masters in Physical Therapy from Oakland University in 2001.  He has been Board Certified as a Geriatric Clinical Specialist physical therapist since 2008. Dr. Wilson has been awarded the Darnell Research Award from APTA Michigan in 2024, the Flomenholft Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy in 2022 and the Brunnström Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching in 2015 from the American Physical Therapy Association. He practices clinically as a physical therapist at Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital in the area of acute care oncology and palliative care and was the founding Residency Program Director for the Beaumont Health Oncology Residency, the first accredited residency program for physical therapists in the United States.

Dr. Wilson is a prolific writer and researcher.  He has published the book entitled Physical Activity and Rehabilitation in Life Threatening Illness by Routledge in 2021 and is the co-editor of the textbook entitled Oncology Rehabilitation: A Comprehensive Guidebook for Clinicians published by Elsevier in Fall 2022.  He has published over 55 full-length peer reviewed articles and many invited publications. Dr. Wilson is the President of the Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association and the co-founder of the American Palliative Rehabilitation Alliance.