Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residency

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Faculty

Cheri Hodges, PT, DPT, MAppSc, OCS, FAAOMPT
Program Director
chodges@atsu.edu

Cheri is the program director of the Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residency Program and is an Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy in the Arizona School of Health Sciences at A.T. Still University. She has over 25 years of clinical experience in orthopedic physical therapy, and has been teaching in the entry-level program at A.T. Still University since 2008. Cheri’s research interests are in the lumbo-pelvic region.

Amisha Klawonn, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
aklawonn@atsu.edu
Amisha is an assistant professor in physical therapy and is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist through the American Physical Therapy Association and a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Slippery Rock University and completed the Kaiser Hayward Physical Therapy Fellowship in Advanced Orthopedic Manual Therapy. Amisha has 10 years of physical therapy experience, is Pilates certified and incorporates spinal rehabilitation and Pilates in her current clinical practice. Her primary teaching areas are in the musculoskeletal curriculum. She joined the faculty at A.T. Still University in 2008.

Wayne Smith, PT, MEd, DPT, ATC, SCS
wsmith@atsu.edu
Wayne is an Associate Professor in Physical Therapy. He has over thirty years experience in Physical Therapy and is certified as both a Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer. He is an American Physical Therapy Association Board Certified Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy and certified in Manual Physical Therapy from the Institute for Physical Therapy. He is a graduate of the Physical Therapy Program from California State University Long Beach and holds an Advanced Masters from Temple University in Sports Medicine. He received his Doctor of Physical Therapy from ATSU. He is a retired officer of the United States Public Health Service and holds the Outstanding Service Medal for commissioned officers. In addition Dr. Smith was a member of the 1996 Olympic Track and Field Medical Staff and Assistant Trainer for USA Rugby. He serves on the Board of Directors for Manos de Ayuda, a free clinic in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. Currently, Dr. Smith teaches several orthopedic electives in the residential curriculum and in the transitional DPT program. He joined the Physical Therapy faculty in 1995.

Tim Fearon, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT
tfearon@atsu.edu
Timothy Fearon received his PT degree from The Ohio State University in 1978.  He completed the Musculoskeletal Sequence graduate program at Northwestern University.  He completed his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Northern Arizona University.  While doing extensive long term study with the Folsom Physical Therapy group he founded Phoenix Manual Therapy, which initially offered courses, based on the Nordic System of orthopaedic manual therapy. Phoenix Manual Therapy progressed to offering a long-term course frame for study of the Australian approach to orthopedic manual therapy and integration of Norwegian techniques.  The course has been running over the last 23 years.  He has participated as both a student and instructor through out those years.  He earned his Full Fellowship status in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Therapy by the challenge process in 1999.  He has been specializing in orthopedic manual therapy and spinal rehabilitation for the last 25 years.

Dr. Fearon is currently adjunct faculty at A. T. Still University where he teaches manual therapy of the spine and extremities.  He has been a guest instructor for NAU, Arizona School of Health Sciences, Langston University, and North Georgia College.  He has taught manual therapy courses over the last 15 years, spoken at numerous meetings for the Arizona Physical Therapy Association, and for the APTA.

Cory Manton, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
cmanton@atsu.edu

Cory is an assistant professor in physical therapy.  He is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist through the American Physical Therapy Association.  He specializes clinically in orthopedic manual therapy.  Dr. Manton received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from ATSU in 2001.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in exercise science.  Dr. Manton has over 9 years of physical therapy experience in the outpatient orthopedic setting.  His teaching areas include the musculoskeletal curriculum and therapeutic exercise.  He began as adjunct faculty at ATSU in 2008.

Robert J. Nee, PhD, MAppSc
rnee@atsu.edu

Bob is an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy in the Arizona School of Health Sciences at A.T. Still University. He has over 25 years of clinical experience in orthopedic manual therapy and over 10 years of experience in entry-level Physical Therapy education. Bob completed his Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy at Boston University in 1985 and obtained a Master of Applied Science in Manipulative Physiotherapy from the University of South Australia in 1993. He completed his PhD at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia in 2012. His PhD research focused on the value of neurodynamic techniques in examination and intervention for patients with peripheral neuropathic pain. Additional research interests include outcomes and mechanisms related to manual therapy interventions and development of models that predict patients’ responses to physical therapy interventions. Bob’s teaching interests are in musculoskeletal physical therapy and evidence-based practice. He joined the Physical Therapy Faculty in 2012.