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AT featured faculty

Barton Anderson, DHSc, AT, ATC is a Tenured Professor and Clinical Education Coordinator in the ATSU Athletic Training programs. As the residential program Clinical Education Coordinator, Dr. Anderson oversees all aspects of clinical education, including establishing and maintaining graduate assistantships, coordinating affiliated clinical sites and preceptors, and providing clinical mentoring to AT program students.

Naturally gravitating toward the field of sports medicine, the ability to be a healthcare provider who primarily works with active individuals got Dr. Anderson interested in athletic training. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine and Athletic Training from Missouri State University, his Master of Science in Sports Healthcare from A.T. Still University, and his Doctor of Health Science degree from Nova Southeastern University.

Prior to coming to ATSU, Dr. Anderson worked full-time clinically for 10 years as an athletic trainer in the collegiate, high school, and clinical settings. During his first job out of his professional program, he realized he didn’t know nearly as much as he needed to be a successful provider, so he decided to pursue a post-professional master’s in athletic training and attended ATSU’s residential post-professional master’s program from 2001 to 2003.

“I really look at my time as a student in the post-professional program at ATSU as forming my philosophy for healthcare, my approach to patients, and just my overall ability as an athletic trainer. I see the post-professional master’s program as providing the base framework and foundation for me to continue to grow and develop as an AT throughout my career.” – Dr. Anderson

As an alumnus of the program he’s now a faculty for, he jokes that ATSU has always provided exactly what he needed at each point in his career.

“ATSU gave me opportunity. It seems as I grow and develop as a faculty member and progress in my career, I adapt and change at the same time as the University. I love the fact that I can give back to the program and contribute to the education of our students and hopefully move the profession forward.” – Dr. Anderson

With extensive experience and training in therapeutic exercise prescription, fundamental movement patterns, and manual therapy techniques, he currently practices part-time at Park University in Gilbert, AZ, where he specializes in post-surgical rehabilitations.

As a primary faculty member at ATSU since 2008, his primarily teaching responsibilities are clinically oriented classes, teaching around 12 classes across the blocks, and was responsible for the initial development of many of the clinically oriented course curricula. He is an instructor for the Orthopaedic Track courses in the online Doctor of Athletic Training program and teaches the Advanced Clinical Practice course series in the residential post-professional master’s program. Dr. Anderson also advises master’s thesis projects and doctoral applied research projects in both programs.

Check out courses taught by Dr. Anderson:

• ATRN 6101: Advanced Clinical Practice V: Functional Movement Screening
• ATRN 6201: Advanced Clinical Practice VI: Manual Therapy Techniques
• ATRN 6301: Advanced Clinical Practice VII: Soft Tissue Rehabilitation Techniques
• ATRN 6310: Diagnosis of Orthopaedic and Sport-Related Injuries
• ATRN 6330: Foundations of Tissue Healing
• ATRN 6401: Advanced Clinical Practice VIII: Professional Development
• ATRN 7210: Foundations of Tissue Healing
• ATRN 7410: Orthopaedic Diagnostic Evaluation
• ATRN 8170: Applied Clinical Education and Mentoring (co-instructor)

Explore all out post-graduate AT courses >>

Currently, Dr. Anderson’s favorite course to teach is the Orthopaedic Diagnostic Evaluation course.

“It's a course where I have the opportunity to cover some advanced concepts and we really focus on students understanding and how to think about the evaluation process. We spend a lot of time helping students become more reflective as clinicians, to be more self-aware of their strengths and weaknesses as clinicians, and understand how to think through a patient case.” – Dr. Anderson

Dr. Anderson's research interests include the assessment and correction of fundamental movement patterns, the development of clinical reasoning skills and advanced clinical practice, and post-professional clinical education.

Dr. Anderson is the Chair of the CAATE Standards Committee, and a member of the CAATE Review Committee, the NATA Post-Professional Education Committee, and is the AT-PBRN EMR manager. Dr. Anderson holds a Level 1 Functional Movement Screen™ certification and is an accredited Graston Technique™ clinician. He has also been recognized as the Arizona School of Health Sciences Educator of the Year (2016), Distinguished Service of the Year (2019), and Scholar of the Year (2021). He was named a Distinguished Educator by the RMATA in 2019 and received the NATA Service Award in 2018.

AT featured faculty

Kenneth Lam, ScD, ATC, is a professor of clinical research within the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences for the athletic training programs at A.T. Still University (ATSU). In addition to his faculty responsibilities, Dr. Lam serves as the director of the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network (AT-PBRN) and as the vice chair of the Institutional Review Board at ATSU - Mesa campus.

AT-PBRN is the only practice-based research network in athletic training recognized by HARQ, and offers a network of engaged professionals to improve the quality of care provided by ATs through research sharing, education, and practice-based research. In addition to post-professional education opportunities through the MS-AT or DAT, certified ATs are also welcome to join AT-PBRN to engage with other AT clinicians for life-long learning opportunities.

Dr. Lam received a BS in athletic training, a master of education in human movement, and a doctorate with a focus on movement sciences from Boston University, and is passionate about helping patients recover from an injured state back to play and achieve their goals. 

Prior to earning his doctorate, Dr. Lam practiced as a certified athletic trainer at Boston University, Rutgers University - New Brunswick, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Lam then completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship within the Center of Clinical Outcomes Studies at ATSU with a focus on patient-oriented outcomes research before becoming a faculty member at ATSU. 

“I wanted to come to ATSU because the faculty have an excellent reputation, they’re known as leaders who are advancing our profession. Coming to ATSU was a great way for me to learn from leaders within our profession and gave me to opportunity to change my line of research to focus more on patient and patient outcomes.” – Dr. Lam

In contrast to historical disease-oriented or commission-rated outcomes of AT research trends, Dr. Lam’s focus is on the assessment of patient outcomes, which highlights the wants and needs of the patient. His current line of research seeks to understand the overall impact of sport-related lower extremity injuries on patient-oriented outcomes such as health-related quality of life. 

Dr. Lam’s favorite course to teach is health information technology. “My focus is to help our students become data literate. I enjoy watching students gain understanding of the importance of data and demystifying how complicated it can get, we can do very simple things and learn very valuable information about our patient care.” – Dr. Lam

Check out other courses taught by Dr. Lam:

• ATRN 7140: Health Information Technology
• ATRN 8010: Research Methods & Design
• ATRN 8020: Methods of Data Analysis
• ATRN 8100: Practice-Based Research 
• ATRN 9013: Implementing and Evaluating the Solution (Course Facilitator)

Explore all our post-graduate AT courses >>

Dr. Lam will earn his NATA Fellow status in June, leading ATSU to be one of the only universities in the country that now has four faculty members with this distinction. He also serves as an editorial board member of the Journal of Athletic Training and Journal of Sport Rehabilitation and is the Chair of the Free Communications Committee of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainers’ Association.

AT featured faculty

As Director of Clinical Education, Dr. Clements has focused on providing extracurricular opportunities for students in the online MS-AT and DAT programs to advance their clinical practice. The primary mechanism is via synchronous online opportunities for students to participate in discussions about challenging patient cases, hear from alumni and other leaders in the profession on contemporary issues facing the profession, and other professional development and networking opportunities.

Dr. Clements completed his bachelor’s degree at the State University of New York at Cortland and his master’s degree at East Stroudsburg University. He recently completed his Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences from Seton Hall University. Tributing teachers who served as preceptors as influential mentors, Dr. Clements knew during his undergraduate program that he wanted to teach. While in grad school, he experienced a mixture of practicing clinically and teaching in traditional classroom settings and as a preceptor in clinical experiences.

Prior to ATSU, Dr. Clements served as the Faculty Director of Clinical Education in Boston University’s College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and as a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education for Boston University’s programs in athletic training. Dr. Clements also previously worked as an assistant athletic trainer at Seton Hall University, head athletic trainer at both Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ and Lasell College in Newton, MA, and served as a preceptor for students in the athletic training programs at Seton Hall University, Lasell College, and Boston University.

“I have known the faculty at ATSU for a long time, having the opportunity to work with them was really appealing to me. They’re really an outstanding group of faculty members who seek to push the profession of athletic training forward. They’re quite progressive, they’re leaders.”

Prior to joining the ATSU faculty full-time in July, Dr. Clements developed the content for and taught the Applied Clinical Education and Mentoring course as an adjunct faculty. As a new faculty member, Dr. Clements has also been co-teaching the Clinical Decision-Making foundational courses for the DAT program.

“Developing the content for the projects and assignments was really great. I’ve enjoyed the interactions with students as they learn more about how to use different strategies to be effective in that role as a mentor.”

Check out courses taught by Dr. Clements:

• ATRN8170: Applied Clinical Education and Mentoring
• ATRN8130: Health Policy and Systems of Delivery
• ATRN 7110: Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (co-instructor)
• ATRN 7120: Evidence-Based Practice (co-instructor)
• ATRN 7130: Patient-Oriented Outcomes (co-instructor)
• ATRN 7140: Health Information Technology (co-instructor)

Dr. Clements is a founding member of the Association for Athletic Training Research Network. His scholarly activity has focused on the reliability and validity of real-time assessment of lower extremity movement patterns, interprofessional education and simulation, and immersive clinical experiences in athletic training clinical education.

“If their goal is to lead change, either as a clinician, educator, administrator, or researcher, the curriculum at ATSU is extremely well built to be able to foster exactly those abilities and to lead change.”

AuD featured instructor

Melanie Gibson, MA, is the instructional designer and program manager for the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Department at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS). Working with the department for almost 20 years, Mrs. Gibson worked her way up from answering initial inquiries from prospective students to working with adjunct faculty to help build and develop their courses. She now serves in a leadership role in developing creative strategies to teach faculty and students to use the University’s online learning management systems and chat platform as well as implementing best practices for teaching and learning in the online environment.

“When I first started working for the University, it was just a job to help me support my family. I did not see myself being where I am now. However, I grew to love working with the faculty, adjunct faculty, and students in the department. After finishing my bachelor’s degree, I decided to pursue my master’s degree in an area that would provide me with the skills to make our online courses compelling and enhance our students learning experience."

Mrs. Gibson received her bachelor’s degree in public administration in 2017 and her master’s degree in teaching and learning with technology in 2018 from Ashford University. During her time as a student at Ashford University, she designed content for adjunct instructors and content experts to improve how content is delivered in an online environment. She obtained knowledge of learning styles, best practices in online education, instructional design, using technology tools to support various learning styles, and strategies for increasing student engagement and retention of content.

“My goal is to make sure our courses are incorporating various learning styles. I like our instructors to use multiple methods of learning activities, such as discussion boards, mini-lectures, readings, or group projects.”

From developing to teaching to learning, she has experience working with multiple learning management systems, including Blackboard and Canvas. As a student, teacher, and developer, Mrs. Gibson has a unique insight into what is required to build captivating and engaging courses. She is a lifelong learner and continually researches and learns about other technologies to enhance teaching and learning.

As the program manager, Mrs. Gibson co-designed the orientation/training course for the content experts and course facilitators for the online Post-Professional Doctor of Audiology program and the template for all courses in the post-professional program. Working with faculty to create and update their online classes, Mrs. Gibson ensures courses are uniform, organized, and student friendly.

“In the training course for our instructors, I focus on the design elements that are really needed to foster student learning and collaboration within the class to make sure students feel they can communicate in various ways with their instructors and classmates.”

Additionally, Mrs. Gibson co-instructs AUDP 7000 Ethics, Leadership and Professionalism, the very first class students take in the post-professional program. In this course, she teaches students how to use the learning management system and has them identify their learning styles. She then offers strategies for learning when information isn’t presented in specific learning styles to empower students to be the most successful they can be.

DMSc featured faculty

Albert (Bert) Simon, DHSc, MEd, PA, is a professor and the associate director of the Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program. A faculty member at A.T. Still University (ATSU) since 2005, he’s held a variety of roles; he’s the former chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at ATSU’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) and founding vice dean at ATSU’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA), where he was also chief operating officer for ATSU-SOMA. He was an integral part of the leadership team that developed the most innovative medical school in the U.S. from 2007-2012.

As a PA faculty member since 1979 and PA Program Director since 1982, Dr. Simon has served as chair of physician assistant studies departments at three universities: Saint Francis University, Baylor College of Medicine, and most recently ATSU. His clinical practice experience includes internal medicine and occupational medicine.

“It is really interesting and exciting for me to work in the DMSc program. Students are by and large all colleagues; they have a lot of experience and interesting perspectives they bring to the courses. We try to make our courses very engaging, so there’s a lot of discussion. I couldn’t think of a better way to finalize my career.” – Dr. Simon

Being politically active in the physician assistant profession, he has served in a number of national leadership positions including president and vice president of the Association of Physician Assistant Programs (APAP). During his APAP presidency, he founded the Leadership-Training Institute as a vehicle to provide needed education to individuals entering into PA education. And, with the help of colleagues and the department, Dr. Simon was an integral part in developing the proposal for the DMSc program.

Always interested in leadership, it’s no surprise Dr. Simon’s favorite course to teach is Organizational Leadership Management & Behavior.

Check out all courses taught by Dr. Simon:

• Organizational Leadership Management & Behavior
• Community Assessment & Health Promotion
• Clinical Practicum 1, 2, 3, and 4

“That leadership role was something that I have always found to be engaging and exciting, and a way I could affect positive change. I’ve been involved in mentoring new PA program directors for years. That was a big interest of mine during faculty development.” – Dr. Simon

He has also served as an educational consultant to over 25 physician assistant programs across the U.S. He served as an author of the Annual Report on Physician Assistant Educational Programs in the U.S. and the co-editor of Appleton and Lange’s Q and A for the Physician Assistant, one of the best-selling board review books for physician assistants in the nation.

His advice for PAs looking to enhance their education is to really consider what they want to do with their education and what goals they want to achieve.

“Students have a much wider selection of opportunities to advance their education toward a doctoral degree. They have options within the curriculum for the direction they want to take their education. I think it offers a lot of choices for people to develop their skill set however they want.” – Dr. Simon

With three specialty tracks in clinical, leadership, and education, students have options to customize the DMSc to their interests and career aspirations. The DMSc can be completed while working full-time in two or three years.

DMSc featured faculty

Randy Danielsen, PhD, PA-C Emeritus, DFAAPA, has been with A.T. Still University for over two decades in various roles: PA academic coordinator (1995-1997), chair of physician assistant studies (1997-2004), dean of the Arizona School of Health Sciences (2004-2010, 2012-2018) and recently stepped down as dean to take on a new role with the Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program, of which he is now the director and a professor. He is also the director for the Center for the Future of the Health Professions.

Since graduating from the University of Utah physician assistant program in 1974, Dr. Danielsen has distinguished himself as a clinician, PA educator, author, and editor. He received his BS in Health Science (cum laude) from the University of Utah in 1978, his master’s in PA studies (MPAS) from the University of Nebraska with an emphasis in internal medicine in 1997, and his PhD from the Union Institute & University in 2003 with an emphasis in medical education. Working in primary care, emergency medicine, and occupational medicine clinical care for 25 years, Dr. Danielsen then entered education in 1995 when he helped debut the residential PA program at ATSU.

“The faculty and the administration really care about what you’re doing and the programs at the school. The second thing that’s kept me here is seeing what our alumni do. It just blows me away what a good job they’re doing and making a difference in the world.” – Dr. Danielsen

Dr. Danielsen has served on the board of directors of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and as a board member and chairman for National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Earlier in his career, he served as president of the Utah Academy of Physician Assistants (UAPA), the Arizona State Association of Physician Assistants (ASAPA), and as chair of the Arizona Regulatory Board for PAs. 

He also served as PA editor-in-chief for Clinician Reviews. Dr. Danielsen has published over nineteen peer-reviewed articles, twenty journal editorials, three book chapters, and his first co-authored book, entitled The Preceptor’s Handbook for Supervising Physician Assistants, published by Jones & Bartlett Learning. He is also a Senior Consultant with the Academy for Academic Leadership and a proud member of Rotary International.

Teaching at ATSU for over a decade, his favorite course to teach in the DMSc program is medical writing.

“I get an opportunity to teach PAs how to write for a professional journal and they do it. It’s really fun to see people blossom in professional writing. Now that the profession has proved itself, we really need PAs doing research on the profession and writing about cases they’ve seen, not only for our PA colleagues, but our students too.” – Dr. Danielsen

Check out courses taught by Dr. Danielsen:

• Medical Writing
• Quality Improvement in Healthcare
• Physician Assistants in Healthcare Policy

Explore all post-professional PA courses >>

Retired after 28 years of service in the U.S. Air Force and Army National Guard with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Dr. Danielsen is also a former president of the AAPA Veterans Caucus and was honored with the Caucus’ Civilian PA of the Year Award in 2003. Dr. Danielsen was named Outstanding PA of the Year by the AAPA in 1993 and by ASAPA in 2011. In 2012 he was honored by the University of Utah, School of Medicine, Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, Division of Physician Assistant Studies with the “Patron of the Profession” award for “unwavering dedication and service to the Physician Assistant Profession.” In May 2015 he received the Eugene A. Stead Award of Achievement by the AAPA. This is the Academy’s most prestigious award recognizing an individual for lifetime achievement that has had a broad and significant impact on the profession.

“My advice to PAs currently practicing who want to move upward is to decide what they really want to accomplish and to find their niche in education, leadership, or clinical practice.” – Dr. Danielsen

AuD featured faculty

Andrea Ruotolo, AuD, is an associate professor and program director of the Post-Professional Doctor of Audiology program at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS). Dr. Ruotolo received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Indiana University and her doctor of audiology degree from ATSU-ASHS.

“When I went online to get my AuD, I really saw that it rounded out my experience. I loved being an online student at that time, even with all the challenges of juggling work and a family. The faculty and Dr. Parent-Buck were incredibly supportive.” – Dr. Ruotolo

An audiologist for 34 years, Dr. Ruotolo has provided academic and clinical instruction at Portland State University and ATSU, where she has been recognized for teaching excellence. She has an extensive background in adult and pediatric assessment, amplification, and aural rehabilitation. Her professional experience includes hospital and medical settings, school settings, and private non-profit facilities. She has participated as an off-campus preceptor supporting local programs throughout her career and has frequently in-serviced nurses, physicians, and support staff on audiology-related issues. She served as a board member and Educational Committee chair for the Oregon Academy of Audiology.

As the director of the Post-Professional Doctor of Audiology program, her role is focused on curriculum development and implementations, hiring, recruiting, and mentoring. She continues to teach her favorite course, Counseling, Aural Rehabilitation and Assistive Devices.

“I feel very passionate about counseling; how are we listening to our patients? Until we get to that underlying emotional message, we can’t move them forward in the testing, diagnosis, and rehabilitation process. The course engages our post-professional students in learning about those counseling skilling, and how they can apply those skills to create aural rehab groups in the clinical environment they’re in, whether that’s private practice, an ENT setting, hospitals, VA, etc.” – Dr. Ruotolo

Dr. Ruotolo has also taught in the residential AuD program, where she presented courses on hearing science, amplification, pediatric audiology, vestibular disorders, educational audiology, professional issues, adult amplification, adult aural rehabilitation, and embryology and genetic conditions.

Check out the course taught by Dr. Ruotolo:

• AUDP 8220 Counseling, Aural Rehabilitation and Assistive Devices

At the core design of the post-professional program is the connection with global colleagues. In every course, students are interacting with each other across the globe. With 29 global adjunct faculty and approximately 14 additional guest contributors sharing their expertise, information in the post-professional program is explored through a global perspective. This program truly looks at the temperature of where the audiology profession is going from a global perspective.

“Post-professionals may be a bit hesitant as they are considering the balancing act between work and family and school. My advice is if you’re considering the AuD, just make the leap. You will see the benefits across the board!” – Dr. Ruotolo

By going the extra mile in their education to increase their skills, the post-professional AuD graduates are opening doors in their careers across the globe. Those selecting the post-professional AuD program want to be leaders in the profession, esteemed academic faculty, more marketable for administrative and clinical positions, and to broaden their reach in their communities.

AT featured faculty

Alison Valier, PhD, ATC, FNATA, serves as a professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and assistant director in the Department of Research Support through the Division of Research, Grants, & Scholarly Innovations at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS).

“I came to ATSU for the opportunity to work with great people and be involved with something valuable and important to the profession. I’ve stayed for a long time because I love the work and what the school and program are all about, and the collective contributions that we make to the profession.” – Dr. Valier

Dr. Valier received her bachelor of arts in psychology from Whitman College in Washington. Initially interested in athletic training when she saw an AT on the job, she didn’t have any initial guidance on becoming an athletic trainer, but found herself engaged with the athletics department and the head athletic trainer at Whitman College. That’s when she found her passion for the profession.

She then received her masters and doctorate in exercise science from the University of Toledo, where she majored in applied physiology and completed a minor in human anatomy. Dr. Valier completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Clinical Outcomes Research, awarded to her by the NATA Research and Education Foundation.

Finding a fulfilling role as the athletic trainer for a few local high schools while completing her education, she then had a wonderful opportunity to come to ATSU as faculty, which changed the trajectory of her professional career.

“I got to see firsthand the value of post-professional athletic training education. That was eye-opening to me, how valuable and important it was. I was in this interesting spot where I got to be a part of delivering that curriculum and teaching students, but then, I hadn’t experienced a program like that myself. In some ways I was a little envious just because it really offered something I wished I had as a student in some of my learning.” – Dr. Valier

Dr. Valier’s teaching emphasizes the assessment of clinical outcomes and evaluating the end result of healthcare services, sports injury epidemiology, and quality improvement. She instructs students in the post-professional Doctor of Athletic Training (DAT) program, Master of Science in Athletic Training (MS-AT) program, and clinical decision-making graduate certificate.

Check out courses taught by Dr. Valier:

• ATRN 7110: Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
• ATRN 7130: Patient-Oriented Outcomes

“I love my interactions with students, I love getting them excited. I like sharing new ideas and things they might be able to use practically in their practice. That’s always been fun and rewarding.” – Dr. Valier

Get immersed in Dr. Valier's research

Her primary research area of interest is clinical outcomes assessment, quality improvement, and sports injury epidemiology. At the centerpiece of her research is the patient. Dr. Valier studies the impact of sport-related injury on the HRQOL of high school and college athletes and the development of patient-reported outcomes instruments that are used to facilitate patient-centered care and evaluate patient outcomes. Further, she is interested in better understanding risks and rates of injury through epidemiology research as well as optimizing athletic training systems of care through quality improvement research.

With an interest in better understanding the outcomes of the care athletic trainers deliver to their patients, she strives to help students and clinicians reflect and evaluate their systems of delivery to find ways to make improvements or more efficient outcomes.

Dr. Valier has served in a variety of service roles in the profession. More recently she has served as a member of the NATA Pronouncements Committee and the Foundation Research Committee. She also serves as the co-chair of the Arizona Athletic Trainers’ Association Governmental Affairs Committee. In 2015, she was accepted as a Fellow of the NATA.

“There’s a lot of great benefit to taking a deeper study of things you’re passionate about. A program like the DAT allows you to do that. There are always things you can learn more about and things you can do to advance yourself and ultimately help advance or elevate the profession as well. I think that’s the value of education.” – Dr. Valier

AT featured faculty

Sue Falsone PT, DPT, MS, SCS, ATC, CSCS*D, COMT, RYT is an associate professor at A.T. Still University, who teaches across the spectrum of online post-professional AT offerings, which include Doctor of Athletic Training degree and Master of Science degree programs as well as individual courses leading to specialized graduate certificates and digital badges in Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation. She also serves as a clinician scientist within the school’s Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network. Working as an accomplished physical therapist, athletic trainer, business owner, and educator, Dr. Falsone has experienced an eventful career spanning 25 years.

Initially earning a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy, Dr. Falsone was working as a PT when she decided to go back to school to become an athletic trainer, finding the sports medicine aspect interesting and believing it would complement her experience in PT. Physical therapy offered Dr. Falsone a post-injury clinical care perspective, while athletic training filled in the gap from the initial injury to the clinic. Wanting to span it all, from preinjury to postop to return to play, she also became a strength coach to learn the performance side.

“For me, it’s always been about how do I bridge this gap from non-injured being with the team and helping someone through an injury to get back to performance and field and be able to blend the AT, PT, and strength conditioning. That’s always been my passion and I took a long route to get there, but once I did, it was great.”

An alumna of Daemen College, Dr. Falsone graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a master’s degree in human movement science. Dr. Falsone gave graduation speech last spring at Daemen College, where she was conferred with an honorary doctorate, the state of New York bestowed a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

One of Dr. Falsone’s many accomplishments includes being the first female head athletic trainer in any of the four major American professional sports leagues, when she was named the head athletic trainer for the LA Dodgers in 2012. She also served as the head of athletic training and sport performance for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team.

“It’s been a huge blessing in my life to have a small role in young women being able to see that vision for themselves, that they’re certainly capable in that position and have a seat at the table. I didn’t realize the impact of it at the time, it’s been almost 10 years and it’s still not the norm to have a woman in that position.”

Dr. Falsone is known internationally for her expertise in sport rehabilitation and performance enhancement and bridging between AT, PT, and return to sport.

Check out courses taught by Dr. Falsone:

• ATRN 7230: Assessment of Movement Dysfunction
• ATRN 7240: Corrective Techniques for Movement Dysfunction
• ATRN 7250: Rehabilitation Considerations for Sport Performance
• ATRN7310: Foundations of Sport Neurology
• ATRN7440: Orthopaedic Surgical Considerations

In addition to teaching at ATSU, she treats patients and is the owner and founder of Structure and Function Education, an educational company working to bring the concepts, philosophies and techniques of dry needling to the allied healthcare professional.

“My biggest advice is to take the plunge, take that first step. People were like you’re already a physical therapist, you’re crazy to quit your job and go back to school to become an athletic trainer. But I knew that knowledge was going to elevate my life and it did. It changed the course of my life. It can be a risk and be scary, but when it’s your passion, you have to have some faith in yourself that you’re going to take the knowledge you learned and apply it in a way that is going to alter your life.”

AT featured faculty

Dr. Tamara McLeod is the Athletic Training program director, professor of Athletic Training, and the John P. Wood, DO, endowed chair for Sports Medicine at A.T. Still University's Arizona School of Health Sciences in Mesa, Arizona. She is also a research professor in the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona at ATSU.

Involved in sports from a young age and interested in science and medicine, Dr. McLeod completed her doctor of philosophy degree in education with an emphasis in sports medicine from the University of Virginia. Mixing her love of being an athlete with a medical approach, her interest was piqued in the ability to be around athletes and physically active individuals and help them achieve their goals to return them from injury and illness.

“The faculty within the AT department are amazing at what they do. We not only mesh in how we contrast each other in some ways, or meld our teaching styles and content areas, but we like to collaborate with each other, we like to work with each other on research projects.”

Dr. McLeod is the founding director of the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network. Her research has focused on the pediatric athlete with respect to sport-related concussion. Her current work is investigating the short- and long-term effects of pediatric sports concussion as well as recovery following concussion on traditional concussion assessments, academics, and health-related quality of life.

“There’s incredible faculty buy-in for who we are and what we do and how we want to teach the next generation of athletic training leaders. The people and the support to allow me to flourish as a researcher and as a teacher are really what’s kept me here for so long.”

Dr. McLeod is also involved with pediatric sports injury education and prevention through the Positive Play Project in conjunction with Mesa Parks and Recreation.

“Not only was [concussion-related pediatric and adolescent research] lacking in research literature, but I think collaborations with high schools were lacking and being able to provide services in some way to high schools that would ultimately result in research data down the road was important to me personally and in advancing the athletic training profession.”

Check out courses taught by Dr. McLeod:

• ATRN7330: Classification & Management TBI in Sport
• ATRN7340: Assessment & Management of Complex Patients with Concussion
• ATRN8140: Leadership and Professionalism in Athletic Training (co-taught with Dr. Winterstein)
• ATRN9004/9014: Completing and Disseminating the Project

Find Dr. McLeod’s research:

Dr. McLeod was a contributing author for both NATA Position Statements on the Management of Sport-Related Concussion, the lead author on the NATA Position Statement on the Prevention of Pediatric Overuse Injuries, and a consultant and contributing author on the Appropriate Medical Coverage for Secondary School-Aged Athletes and Appropriate Medical Care Standards statements.

Dr. McLeod serves on numerous editorial boards, publishes frequently in the athletic training and sports medicine journals, and is a NATA Fellow.