Speakers

Featured Speakers of the 2026 BSSMC

Our two most important program contributors are Geoffrey Baer MD of the University of Wisconsin and Jeffrey Kutcher MD, Sports Neurologist, Director of the Kutcher Clinics. These two are the coordinating collaborators in Sports Medicine topics and speaker selection which bring to us the latest research and practice updates in the fields of Orthopedics and Sports Neurology.

Speakers for 2027 BSSMC Programming is being finalized. Check back occasionally for updates!

Geoffrey Baer PhD, MD

Dr. Baer treats conditions such as ACL tears (torn knee tissues and ligaments), shoulder injuries and repetitive stress injuries. He offers surgical and nonsurgical solutions, from knee injections to surgery and minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment procedures. He performs knee ligament and cartilage surgeries, knee-realignment surgery and complex shoulder surgery. As a sports fan and player, Dr. Baer understands the challenges of injured athletes. He helps recreational players, student-athletes and professional athletes return to play. He collaborates with other specialists, including surgeons, physical therapists, rehabilitation experts, sports psychologists, athletic trainers and others to help patients achieve their goals. In addition to patient care, Dr. Baer researches the effectiveness of specific sports therapies.

Jeffrey Kutcher MD

Dr. Kutcher earned his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine in 1998 and completed his neurology residency at the University of Michigan, where he later established the NeuroSport Program. This program was the first to offer a fellowship in sports neurology, reflecting Dr. Kutcher’s pioneering role in the field.

He has played a significant part in shaping concussion management policies globally, contributing to the International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport in Zurich (2012) and Berlin (2016). Dr. Kutcher also founded the Sports Neurology Section of the American Academy of Neurology, serving as its first chair, and co-directs the annual Sports Concussion Conference.

Dr. Kutcher serves as the Team Neurologist for the US Ski and Snowboard Association and has been the Team Neurologist for the U.S. Olympic Team at multiple Winter Games, including Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018. He is the Director of the NBA concussion program and advises the National Football League (NFL) Players’ Association and the National Hockey League (NHL) Players’ Association. His involvement extends to developing concussion policies for the NCAA and various collegiate athletic programs.

In addition to his clinical and policy work, Dr. Kutcher is a sought-after speaker on sports concussion and athlete brain health and has co-authored a book, “Back In The Game: Why Concussion Doesn’t Have To End Your Athletic Career.” His expertise and dedication have made him a leading voice in sports neurology, advocating for improved brain health and safety for athletes at all. He is currently employed at the Kutcher Clinic in Brighton, MI and Park City, Utah

The rest of the 2026 Faculty:

Alison Brooks MD MPH

Dr. Brooks is a tenured Professor in the Department of Orthopedics, Division of Sports Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health in Madison, WI. She is board certified in Pediatrics and fellowship-trained in Sports Medicine and serves as a team physician for Badger Women’s Ice Hockey, Forward Madison FC and the Madison Radicals Ultimate team. Dr. Brooks has served as chair-elect of the Executive Committee for the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Sports Medicine & Fitness, and also on the Board of Directors for the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. Her interests in pediatric sports medicine and research include healthy youth athlete development,  injury prevention, concussion and equitable access and opportunities for all children to be physically active, including time outdoors in nature.

Mark Callanen DPT

Dr. Callanen has been with Enovis since 2020 serving as US Director of Clinical Education/ Marketing.  Previously he served as Director of Clinical Development for LightForce since 2017. He has made formal presentations to mixed professional audiences nationally on both laser and shockwave technologies and internationally on laser therapy. Prior to joining the LightForce team, Dr. Callanen held various positions within the outpatient PT setting during his career.  These include clinician, manager/ owner, as well as multisite/ multi-state Division Director for a large corporate PT organization.  He has been a PT since 1999, and board certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) by the APTA since 2003. He received his transitional Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2007 from Marymount University in Arlington, VA and Master of Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University in 1999.  Dr. Callanen is currently an adjunct professor for Belmont University’s Physical Therapy Program in Nashville, TN.

Jake Carpenter-Thompson MD PhD

Jake Carpenter-Thompson is a current fellow at the Kutcher Clinic for Sport Neurology. He completed his medical scholar training at the University of Illinois earning both MD and PhD degrees. He received his PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuro-Engineering supported in part by the National Science Foundation’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship which emphasized collaborative research between scientists and engineers. Dr. Carpenter-Thompson then joined the University of Chicago’s Neurology residency program where he received his clinical education. He is using his extensive training to provide excellent care for those with concussion and to advance the understanding of concussion through practical research

James E. Carpenter, M.D., M.H.S.A.

Dr. Carpenter is Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Michigan. He has a special interest and expertise in Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery. He continues to serve as a Team Physician for Michigan Athletics as he has been for over 30 years. In addition, he led the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Michigan as Chair for over 15 years. Carpenter has published over one hundred peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Nationally, he has been a Director of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, leading their examination for Subspecialty Certification in Sports Medicine. He is currently a Trustee on the Board of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and is on the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Sports Medicine.

Rudy Castellani MD

Dr. Rudy J. Castellani is board certified in anatomic pathology and neuropathology. He is currently a professor of pathology and neuroscience, Northwestern University in Chicago. Dr. Castellani has research interests and numerous publications in neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic brain injury, with an H Factor of 68. He was an invited panelists and only neuropathologist at the International Consensus Conference on Concussion in sport in 2016 and serves on the scientific committee for the International Concussion and Head Injury Research Foundation. He is the recipient of the 2010 Alzheimer medal from the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease

Meeryo Choe MD

Meeryo Choe, MD grew up in the Los Angeles area, traveled east to attend Amherst College, where she majored in Fine Arts completing a senior thesis in Printmaking. She is currently an Associate Clinical Professor in Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and the Program Director for the child neurology program. She is also the Associate Director of the UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Program, and helps oversee its mission, providing clinical care for injured student athletes, performing clinical research in pediatric traumatic brain injury TBI, and educating the community about sports-related concussion. Her research focuses on clinical outcome after pediatric TBI, with interests in post-concussive autonomic dysfunction and gender disparities in concussion incidence and recovery. She was a co-author on the CDC’s pediatric mTBI review and guidelines published in JAMA Pediatrics, and is a site-PI for the CARE4Kids U54, a multi-institutional longitudinal pediatric concussion study. An avid equestrian and former swimmer, Dr. Choe coaches as well, giving her a unique perspective on an athlete’s desire to return to his/her sport and the outside pressures they might experience

Dr. Bud Cooper, Clinical Professor – Emeritus, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

Bud is a Clinical Professor – Emeritus in the Kinesiology Department at The University of Georgia (UGA)where he retired in August 2024.  During his tenure at UGA, Bud has served as the Clinical Education Coordinator for the Master’s in Athletic Training Program and the Program Coordinator for the Master’s in Strength, Conditioning, and Fitness. Bud’s research interest is in Exertional Heat Illness (EHI) where he has received grant funding from the NCAA, NATAREF, The National Federation of High Schools and the Georgia High School Association.  Much of his work has centered on the effects of extreme environmental heat on football participants and because of his investigations, practice policy procedures have been modified and have had a significant impact on EHI rates.

Cooper also served as Chair for the “Exertional Heat Stroke Work Group (Washington DC) which is dedicated to raise awareness of exertional heat stroke.  Cooper is a past president of the Georgia Athletic Trainers Association and currently is a committee member on the Georgia High School Association Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, and the KSI Science and Medical Advisory Board.  Cooper has lectured both nationally and internationally on the topic of EHI and has numerous publications on this topic.

Cooper received his BS degree from the University of Pittsburgh where he was an all-conference sprinter on the track team, received an M.Ed. from the University of Houston and an Ed.D. from the University of Georgia with a focus on Epidemiology and Measurement.

David Diduch MD

Dr. David Diduch is the Allen F. Voshell Professor of Sports Medicine and Chief of Sports Medicine in the department of orthopedic surgery at the University of Virginia.  He has been on faculty for 30 years at UVA. He serves as team physician for UVA, providing primary coverage for men’s basketball and women’s soccer.  His practice focuses on knee and shoulder problems with a subspecialty interest in complex patella instability.  His research interests include patella instability, meniscal, ligament, and cartilage problems, and he has over 200 peer reviewed publications.   He has been married to Lynn for over 37 years and has three grown boys who all enjoy coming to their family vacation home in Big Sky, “Hoos Views”.

Jake Enos MD

Jake is the current Sports Medicine Fellow in Orthopedics at the University of Wisconsin.  He hails from Sparks, Nevada and did his Ortho Residency at the Kansas Medical Center.

Kate Essad MD

Dr. Essad is the System Director of Concussion Management and Lead of Sports Neurology at Advocate Aurora Health in Milwaukee, WI. She is board certified in neurology, brain injury medicine, and interventional headache. She completed her sports neurology fellowship under the direction of Dr Jeff Kutcher at The Sports Neurology Clinic in Brighton, MI and residency in adult neurology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. Dr. Essad has served as consulting neurologist for Dartmouth College and Western Michigan University, and currently is the consulting neurologist for Marquette University, the Milwaukee Admirals, and NASCAR.

April Felton PhD

Dr. April Felton dedicated educator and neonatal nurse practitioner, currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Florida Gulf Coast University. She is a Fellow of the Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing at St. John Fisher University. She also serves as a Clinical Director for the Special Olympics Health Promotion Program, where she leads initiatives that promote wellness and preventive care for athletes with IDD. Dr. Felton has delivered national presentations at leading conferences in education, health professions, and neonatal nursing. Her scholarly interests focus on advancing the health and well-being of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and enhancing learning through simulation-based education.

Shawn Felton PhD

Dr. Shawn D. Felton is the Dean in the Marieb College of Health & Human Services at Florida Gulf Coast University. Dr. Felton returned to FGCU in August 2019 and served as the Department Chair of Health Sciences. Prior to his return, he served as Department Chair of Athletic Training and Director of the Doctor of Athletic Training Program at Florida International University where he launched the Doctor of Athletic Training (DAT) program.

He recently served the Florida State University System as a Governor of the Florida Board of Governors from August 2018-August 2020. Prior to his appointment at FIU, he served from September 2005 till August 2018, as an Associate Professor at Florida Gulf Coast University. In addition to his faculty responsibilities, he served four years and 3 months as the Faculty Senate President and University Trustee and also served as the Vice Chairman for FGCU Board of Trustees, from January 2016 till March 2017.

Dr. Felton is still engaged in research activities examining the use of musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound, lower extremity biomechanics and EMG activity, the use of simulation in allied health care education and implementing micro-badges and digital credentials. Dr. Felton is a Board-Certified Athletic Trainer and licensed in the state of Florida.

Chris Giza MD

Dr. Giza graduated from Dartmouth College, received his M.D. from West Virginia University and completed Adult and Pediatric Neurology training at UCLA. He worked on the Yosemite Search and Rescue team before joining the UCLA Brain Injury Research Center in 1998.  He served as Vice-Chief of the California State Athletic Commission (2005-2015), as an advisor for the U.S. Department of Defense, traveling to Afghanistan (2011) and on the Board of Directors of the Concussion In Sport Group (CISG 2023-2024).

He founded and directs the UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT & Operation Mend BRAIN TBI programs. He co-authored concussion/mild TBI guidelines for AAN (2013), CDC (2018) and the CISG (2017, 2023). He serves on concussion advisory committees for MLS, NBA and US Soccer and is a clinical consultant for MLS/USSF, NHL/NHLPA, NBA, NFL, the LA Lakers and the LA Chargers. Dr. Giza co-leads the CARE4Kids Consortium, working to identify objective biomarkers of Persisting Post-Concussion Symptoms in adolescents.  He is the Rubin Brown Professor and Chief of Pediatric Neurology at UCLA Children’s Hospital.  Chris enjoys hiking & climbing, road cycling and off-the-beaten path travel.

Justin Greiner MD

Justin J. Greiner, M.D. is a sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon at the University of Nebraska-Nebraska Medicine. He completed his residency at the University of Wisconsin and fellowship in orthopedic sports medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He specializes in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery of the hip, shoulder, and knee. Commonly treated conditions include femoroacetabular impingement syndrome and labral tears of the hip, ligament tears such as the ACL, cartilage injury, meniscal tears, shoulder labral tears and instability, as well as rotator cuff tears.

He treats a spectrum of patients, including teenage athletes, collegiate and professional athletes, as well as those simply aiming to maintain physical fitness. As a form athlete, he understands the significance of an injury that causes pain and dysfunction. He works with a multi-disciplinary team, including other surgeons, physical therapists, rehabilitation and bracing specialists, and athletic trainers. His research interests are aimed at optimizing patient outcomes with arthroscopic surgery of the hip, shoulder, and knee.

Winston Gwathmey MD

A physician in the Sports Medicine Division of the University of Virginia Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, his Orthopaedic Surgery residency training at UVA, he underwent fellowship training in Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School. He is an expert in biomechanical analysis of the hip and knee joint, and of the femoroacetabular impingement.

Dave Hancock DPT, MCSP, BS, CSCS

Dave has worked many years with professional sports teams and leagues with seeing the problems teams have in organizing departments and getting the best from their athletes using technology driven data.

With 35 years as a top level Performance Director he has acquired a unique insight into the needs of elite sports and athletes.  He is world renowned, having sat on the Nike Performance Board for five years and working with World Class athetes and coaches such as Kevin Durant, Saquon Barkley, David Beckham,  and more.

His vita includes: Thirty five year veteran in Professional sports: NFL, NBA, EPL and the MLB. Specically he has worked with the following organizations: Nike Performance Board; Performance Director of the NY Knicks and Washington Nationals; He was the Head of Medicine at Chelsea FC/Leads United Football Club; England’s Men’s National Team Head Physio among others.

Michael Hutchison PhD

Michael Hutchison an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto. Michael Hutchison holds a PhD in Rehabilitation Science and is a Registered Kinesiologist, who specializes in sport-related concussion research in various populations ranging from adolescent students, university level students, and professional athletes and had published presented internationally in the area of sport-concussion.

He also holds appointments as a Research Scientist and amember of the NHL/NHLPA Concussion Subcommittee, as all as a Scientist position with the Neuroscience Program, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael’s Hospital. Finally, Dr. Hutchison is also the Director of Concussion Program within the David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine, University of Toronto, where he oversees a multidisciplinary team of health professionals for sport or physical activity related concussion

Grant Jones MD

Grant Jones, MD is a Professor in The Ohio State University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and is in his 26th year as a Team Physician for the Ohio State University Department of Athletics. He serves as the Head Team Physician for OSU’s basketball team and an orthopaedic consultant for OSU’s other varsity teams. He has also been the Head Team Physician for the Columbus Clippers (Triple-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) since 2009 and Team Physician for the Columbus Destroyers (Arena League Football) in 2019. Furthermore, he has been the Head Team Physician for the Upper Arlington Public School System since 2014 and has served as a Team Physician at Denison University since 2022.

Jones, a native of Upper Arlington, Ohio, graduated from Denison University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1988. He was class valedictorian at Denison and was a team captain for the Denison football squad and team MVP in 1987. He was the Woody Hayes National Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1987 and the GTE NCAA Academic All-American Player- of- the- Year-Football/College Division in 1987. He was an All-North Coast Athletic Conference performer in 1986 and ’87. Time Magazine selected him for its Achievement Award as one of the Top 20 College students in the nation in 1987. In 2014, he was inducted into the Denison University Athletic Hall-of-Fame. And, in 2015, he was inducted into the Capitol One/ CoSida NCAA Academic All-American Hall-of-Fame for all sports.

He earned his medical doctorate from The Ohio State College of Medicine in 1992, graduating with Honors and completed his Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at The Ohio State University. He then completed his Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Hughston Clinic in Georgia.

Christopher Kaeding MD

Dr Kaeding did his undergraduate, medical school and orthopaedic training at Northwestern University in Chicago, followed by a fellowship in sports medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr Kaeding joined the faculty of The Ohio State University in 1991 and currently serves as the Judson Wilson Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Executive Director of the Sports Medicine Center. Dr Kaeding is also the current President of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and The Executive Medical Director of the ACL Study Group. In addition to his continued work with the OSU Athletic Department, he has worked with USA Rugby, served as the team physician for the USA basketball at the World University Games in China in 2001 and has worked with winter sport athletes at the US Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid.

Beyond his academic duties at OSU, Dr Kaeding is involved in many professional societies and recently served as the President of the international ACL Study Group. He was the Godfather for the AOSSM Traveling Fellows to Asia / Pacific and served as a Course Director for the AAOS/AOSSM Board Review Course. Dr Kaeding has authored/co-authored over 250 peer reviewed publications, 34 book chapters, and made over 330 national / international presentations. As a member of the MOON and MARS research consortiums, he has won the Kappa Delta and O’Donoghue research awards. Through the OSU fellowship program, Dr Kaeding has trained over 50 fellows in orthopaedic sports medicine. He has a special interest in predictors of clinical outcomes after ACL reconstructions, stress fractures and epidemiology of sports injuries. Dr Kaeding and his wife, Christine, have two children: Emily and John, as well as two grandsons, Colton and Wyatt.

Lindsey Keenan AT PhD

Dr. Lindsey Keenan is an Associate Professor of Sports Medicine at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches psychosocial perspectives, special topics, and human cadaver dissection graduate and undergraduate courses. She also serves as an athletic trainer for the NCAA Women’s Rugby team. Dr. Keenan holds a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Lock Haven University, master’s degrees in Athletic Training and Sport Management from East Stroudsburg University, and a doctorate in Kinesiology and concentration in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Temple University. A published author in numerous peer-reviewed journals, she has presented nationally and internationally on student-athlete mental health, the psychological aspects of concussion, and mental health screening. Her research efforts led her to co-found PROmotion Health, a platform designed to screen athletes and patients for mental health concerns and streamline PRO administration.

Emma Klosterman MD

Dr. Emma Klosterman is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Michigan and specializes in sports medicine and surgery of the knee, shoulder, and elbow, including shoulder arthroplasty.

Dr. Klosterman completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame in Biology with a minor in Science, Technology, and Values. She furthered her training at Loyola University Chicago with a master’s degree in medical science and a yearlong research position at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. She completed medical school at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Klosterman pursued sub-specialty training at the University of Virginia as a fellow in Sports Medicine. At the University of Virginia, she trained in a broad scope of conservative to operative interventions.

Dr. Klosterman specializes in treatments of the shoulder, knee, elbow, and other sports-related injuries. Her goal is to guide patients through a treatment plan that best aligns with their goals in returning to activities that they enjoy. Her research interests include the study of biomechanics, healing potential, and rehabilitation strategies of these procedures to achieve the best functional outcomes. Outside of work, Dr. Klosterman enjoys travel, hiking, sand volleyball, hot yoga and spending time with her family.

George K Lewis MS, PhD

Dr. George Lewis is a Biomedical Engineer, Mechanobiologist and Neurobiologist in Regenerative and Sports Medicine. He serves as the Chair or Rehabilitation Medicine Research for the United States Veterans Health Administration since 2020, and Board Member for the Orthopedic Foundation since 2017. Prior to founding ZetrOZ during is doctoral studies in early 2007, Dr. Lewis trained at Cornell University 2006 and the University of Miami 2002. Dr. Lewis has been a US Presidential Research Fellow, Life Science Innovation Fellow, and Principal Investigator on multiple federally funded medical development programs by the NIH, DOD, NASA and NSF, and has commercialized numerous medical innovations into the global healthcare system over the last 2-decades.

Dr. Lewis has considerable experience in ultrasound miniaturization, wearable electronic systems, and the study of biological effects of ultrasound on tissue. In his career, three of the notable contributions to science are: 1) Demonstrating the safety of daily long-duration ultrasonic stimulation to biological tissues, 2) Studying the mass transfer phenomena of ultrasound on molecules and nutrients in poroelastic biological tissues, and 3) Establishing designing principles behind ultrasonic systems using ultralow-impedance electronics and transducers.

Dr. Lewis has been recognized for leadership and engineering innovation, and has been featured by the NSF, NIH, DOD and other government and private granting organizations for biomedical research and commercialization. In June of 2020 Dr. Lewis was invited to present the last decade of translational mechanobiological ultrasound research at the NIH Pain Consortium Symposium. In March of 2022 ,Dr. Lewis was invited to present on non-opioid technologies for the NFL medical staff at the Indianapolis Combine.

Beyond research, development and global healthcare innovations Dr. Lewis is an avid instrument and jet-rated pilot, hockey and volleyball player, and husband and father of four. In his free time Dr. Lewis enjoys attending athletic events and hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

BJ Maack LAT, ATC

BJ Maack, LAT, ATC, is the Senior Director for Enovis’ Healthcare Solutions team. He is also an Athletic Trainer who remains passionate about equipping ATs to grow as leaders in a variety of settings. BJ focuses on leveraging his clinical skill set and experience in the orthopedic DME market. He has cultivated strengths in leadership, strategic planning, relationships, and project implementation in the contexts of his roles within a global DME company. As evidenced by his time as an entrepreneur, in professional sports, and working within physician offices, BJ’s specialties include orthopedic DME & billing consulting, athletic training, and sports medicine/rehabilitation topics.

David R McAllister MD

David R. McAllister, MD is Chief of the Sports Medicine Service, Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He is the Head Team Physician for the UCLA Athletic Department and has also served as a team physician for professional, national, and high school teams. He is the program director of the sports medicine fellowship at UCLA. Dr. McAllister specializes in all areas of orthopaedic sports medicine and has special expertise in knee ligament injuries, meniscus injuries and articular cartilage problems. He has published numerous scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and has lectured extensively both nationally and internationally. His research interests include knee ligament injuries, biomechanics, and surgery. He has presented many scientific papers and is frequently invited to moderate scientific sessions at various national and international orthopedic meetings. He has previously served on the faculty for numerous courses designed to educate other orthopaedic surgeons.

Matthew Matava MD

Matthew Matava, M.D. is currently a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Physical Therapy at Washington University in St. Louis where he is also Fellowship Director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship. Dr. Matava earned his Medical Degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Six-Year Combined B.A./M.D. Program. He completed his internship and orthopedic surgery residency at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, followed by a fellowship in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery at the Cincinnati Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center.

He is the recipient of several research awards including the AAOS Kappa Delta Award, the AOSSM O’Donoghue Award and the NCAA Research Award, and he is a member of Alpha Omega Medical Honor Society. Dr. Matava is currently the Medical Director of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues and has cared for team for the past 28 years. He was the Head Team Physician for the St. Louis Rams for 16 years and was president of the National Football League Physicians Society from 2013-2015. He is Currently the Medical Director for the St. Louis Battlehawks (UFL) and a team physician for the Washington University Varsity Athletic Program since 1996.

Dr. Matava has authored over 220 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters dealing with orthopedic sports medicine topics. In 2019 he was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Dr. Matava specializes in sports-related injuries in adults and children. Special interests include ligament injuries of the knee, meniscal repair and transplantation; articular cartilage injuries of the knee, and athletic injuries of the shoulder including instability and rotator cuff issues.

Keri Maywhort PT, DPT, OCS

Doug McKeag MD

As the One America Professor Emeritus of Sports Preventive Medicine and a former chair for the Department of Family Medicine at the IU School of Medicine, McKeag has turned what once was a health-care afterthought – sports medicine – into a major wing of the industry’s growing focus on health and wellness. The lessons McKeag and his fellow physicians and researchers in the field learn are changing attitudes – and lives – for millions of people worldwide, from professional athletes to “weekend warriors” to those who walk or run for a healthier life. The Michigan State graduate comes by his passions naturally.

Erik Meira DPT

Erik Meira is a consultant physical therapist in Portland, Oregon. He is a Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist and an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with extensive experience in the management of sports injuries at many different levels. Most of his focus is currently professional and elite collegiate level athletes.

Dr. Meira has authored several articles and textbook chapters and lectures internationally in small private team settings all the way through being the keynote speaker at large professional conferences. Known for his ability to make complex ideas simple to understand with a humorous delivery style, he covers topics such as the hip, knee, exercise prescription, returning athletes to sport, science application, applied biomechanics, and PT practice models. Previously he was the founder and the original chair of the Hip Special Interest Group of the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy (AASPT), served as their APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) Program Chair, and was a member of the AASPT Executive Committee. He is also the co-host of PT Inquest, a podcast dedicated to understanding physical therapy science and provides continuing education through The Science PT.

Gina Myers PhD

Gina Myers is the Director of Research and Product Development at Incrediwear. She holds multiple degrees in bioengineering, with a focus on translational research, genetics, human performance, entrepreneurship, and business leadership. 

Her scientific experience spans novel cancer therapeutics research, development of a gene therapy cure for rare genetic disease, manufacturing qualification and validation, and analytical bioprocessing. Gina is also a co-founder of multiple startups, a classically trained chef, and has traveled the world to work and volunteer.

Gina received the innovation award from the UC Berkeley Fung Institute of Engineering Leadership for her work as a graduate student in bioengineering with a focus on synthetic biology while successfully leading a team through the startup incubator landscape of Silicon Valley.  A competitive ultra-endurance athlete, Gina is a 13-time Ironman finisher including 3x World Championships and has been running mountainous ultramarathons for the past 9 years, with multiple course record and podium finishes at 50km, 50 mile, 100km, and 100 mile distances.

Ryan Pittsinger PhD

Dr. Ryan Pittsinger is a Licensed Psychologist and is currently the Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Counseling and Sport Psychology Services for Texas A&M University. In his role, Dr. Pittsinger oversees the provision of all mental health and sport psychology services for student-athletes, coaches, and Athletics Department Staff.

Dr. Pittsinger completed his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Utah and Master’s degree in Sport Psychology from California State University, Long Beach. He earned a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Iowa. Dr. Pittsinger and his wife, Dr. Christina Ingram, are proud parents of three-year-old twins, Holland and Lee.

Ryan Pelo DPT

Ryan earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Northwestern University in 2010, has been a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy since 2014, received a Certificate in Vestibular Rehabilitation in 2017 from the Emory University/Duke University Program, and has been licensed in Trigger Point Dry Needling since 2024. Ryan earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Utah in 2024 with the focus of his dissertation on autonomic nervous system impairment in a post-concussion population.

​Before joining Kutcher Clinic, Ryan was a physical therapist at what is now known as the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, University of Utah Health, and is currently still practicing within the University of Utah Sports Medicine Department. Ryan also previously served as the Pac-12 Research Coordinator for University of Utah Athletics.

​Ryan currently is part of the medical provider pool for both US Speedskating and US Ski and Snowboard and has spoken nationally on sports concussion and autonomic nervous system impairment. Ryan is one of the original authors of the Utah Autonomic Disorders adaptive Physical Therapy (ADaPT) exercise program designed to improve exercise intolerance in individuals with autonomic nervous system impairment.

Nicholas Port PhD

Dr. Port is a full professor at the IU School of Optometry and a life-long Neuroscientist who has been studying concussions & TBI since 2007.  He has been continuously funded since 2008 with grants from the NIH, DOD, NCAA, NFL foundation, and State of Indiana.  He has an office and lab in the football stadium and covers football and other sports on the sidelines.

Dr. Nicholas Port completed his undergraduate training at NYU’s Center for Neural Science (1990) and completed his pre-graduate training at the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience at Oxford University (1991). He received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Minnesota in 1997. Dr. Port did his postdoctoral training at the Laboratory for Sensorimotor Research at the National Eye Institute. He joined the faculty of the IU School of Optometry in August 2005.  Dr. Port began his concussion research program and has been continuously funded since in 2008.  He is fully integrated into the IU athletic department where is has an office, dedicated research lab, and covers IU athletics on the sideline.

Kyla Pyndiura PhD

Mia has been practicing physical therapy since 2002, after earning her DPT from Northern Arizona University. She has a strong background in outpatient orthopedics and enjoys the challenge of treating a diverse range of patients. Since 2011, Mia has been integrating dry needling into her clinical practice and is passionate about sharing her expertise with fellow healthcare providers as a dry needling educator. She is proud to have been among the first educators to teach dry needling to ATCs at the forefront of their profession. Mia has served as a dry needling educator since 2013 and has contributed to dry needling education content since 2017. She resides in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado, where she enjoys everything the state has to offer.

Haley Smith MD

Dr. Haley E. Smith is an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in Sports Medicine with expertise in the arthroscopic and reconstructive management of the hip, knee, and shoulder. As a dedicated team physician for UW Badgers Athletics, she is committed to the health and performance of athletes at all levels.

Dr. Smith earned her undergraduate degree from the College of William & Mary, where she competed as a Division I swimmer. She pursued her medical degree at Georgetown University and completed her Orthopaedic Surgery residency at Northwestern University. Following her residency, Dr. Smith honed her skills in Sports, Shoulder & Elbow Surgery during a fellowship at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, North Carolina. She developed a special interest in hip arthroscopy during her surgical training and traveled to Germany to learn from pioneers in hip preservation.

Mathew Smith MD

Dr. Smith is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, and serves as a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine, at Washington University School of Medicine. He is the medical director for Washington University athletics. He has also served as a team physician for the NHL St. Louis Blues hockey club since 2009. He is a team physician for the MLS St. Louis City Soccer Club.

He earned his medical degree from Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University and completed a residency in orthopedic surgery at University Hospitals of Cleveland- Case Western Reserve University. He completed fellowship training in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at the University of Michigan. He was one of three sports medicine surgeons in the United States selected by the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine to serve as an traveling fellow to Japan and China in 2013. He specializes in treatment of sports injuries of the knee, shoulder and elbow with a special interest in throwing athletes.

Erik E Swartz PhD, ATC, FNATA

Dr Swartz serves as the Gary O Galiher Endowed Professor and Director of the Hawai’i Concussion Awareness Management Program at The University of Hawaii. Dr. Swartz’s research focuses on the prevention and acute care of head and neck injuries in football. He has received grants from GOG Foundation, The NATA Foundation, NOCSAE, NFL Charities and was a winner of the NineSigma Head Health Challenge. He has published in journals such as The Journal of Athletic Training, American Journal of Emergency Medicine, New England Journal of Medicine, Spine, and The American Journal of Sports Medicine. He served on the NFL Head Neck and Spine Committee’s Subcommittee on Safety Equipment and Rules and as writing chair of two NATA Position Statements on the prevention and acute management of head and spine injuries in athletes. He has served on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Athletic Training and the Athletic Training and Sports Health Care Journal. In 2011 he was honored with a Fellows designation in the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and in 2015 received the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, also from the NATA. He received his PhD in Applied Biomechanics at the University of Toledo.

Kathleen Tenrreiro PhD, RN

Cindy received her BS degree in Kinesiology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and her MS in Physical Education/Athletic Training from Indiana State University. She then worked at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY for 7 years before returning to complete her PhD in Exercise Science with a specialization in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT.

Jon Tueting MD

Jonathan Tueting, MD is an Associate Professor and Chief of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery for the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. His clinical interests include the management of shoulder arthritis and well as complex reconstruction of hand, wrist and elbow trauma and degenerative conditions. He also assists the University of Wisconsin Head Team Physicians in managing hand, wrist and elbow injuries in Badger athletes. He also serves as the Vice Chair for Quality and Peer Review and oversees the quality and peer review initiatives for the faculty and residents in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Outside of work, he enjoys cycling, cross-country skiing, kite-boarding, guitar, and cooking

Arie J. van Duijn, PT, MScPT, EdD

Arie J. van Duijn is a Professor of Physical Therapy at the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Florida Gulf Coast University. He has a BS in PT from the Academie voor Fysiotherapie in Leiden, The Netherlands, a MScPT from the University of St. Augustine, and an EdD from the University of Central Florida.

His current area of scholarship and teaching includes orthopedic physical therapy with a special interest in manual therapy of the spine and the extremities, musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging, and motion analysis. He authored the textbook Manual Therapy for the Extremities and presents and publishes regularly in his areas of scholarship.

Jacqueline van Duijn DPT

Dr. Jacqueline van Duijn, PT, DPT is the Director of Clinical Education of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Florida Gulf Coast University. She received her bachelor’s degree in physical therapy in 1988 from the Academie voor Fysiotherapie in Leiden, The Netherlands, and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2005 from the University of St. Augustine.

Dr. van Duijn has been a Credentialed CI Program (CCIP) Level 1 trainer since 2008. She received certification in manual therapy by the University of St. Augustine in 1992. Her research interests include scholarship of teaching and learning in physical therapy education, with emphasis on clinical education program assessment. With the increased accessibility to diagnostic ultrasound imaging for clinicians, FGCU has initiated educating students in the use of ultrasound imaging, and Dr. van Duijn developed a special interest in RUSI research. In collaboration with other FGCU faculty she successfully disseminated multiple research projects as evidenced by multiple publications and presentations in the last 5 years.

Brian Walczak DO

Brian Walczak, DO, PhD, FAAOS, is a dual fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon completing sports medicine and limb preservation fellowships and specializes in minimally invasive joint-preserving procedures of the hip, knee, and shoulder. Dr. Walczak is particularly interested in joint restorative procedures for hip impingement, articular cartilage repair, tissue regeneration and ligament reconstruction. Dr. Walczak is the head of orthopedic sports medicine at Rush Orthopedic Medical Group, director of joint health at RUSH, and ATOMS laboratory.

Dr. Walczak is a Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine graduate completing his residency training at McLaren-Macomb in Detroit, Michigan. He received his fellowship training in orthopedic oncology and limb preservation at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and sports medicine from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Walczak received his Ph.D. from the Institute of Clinical and Translational Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied tissue regeneration and cartilage repair.

Drew Watson MD

Dr. Watson is a board-certified pediatrician and sports medicine physician, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He is a team physician for the University of Wisconsin Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, the Head Team Physician for Forward Madison FC in USL League One and the Chief Medical Advisor for the Elite Clubs National League.  He is the director of the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin and the Center for Athlete Health and Performance within the Elite Clubs National League. He serves as an Associate Editor for Sports Health and the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Brian Werner MD

Brian Werner, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and shoulder surgery, including both arthroscopic and open reconstructive surgery of the shoulder and knee. He focuses on all sports and athletic injuries, and has a particular clinical interest in shoulder replacement and ligament reconstruction of the knee. Dr. Werner also performs arthroscopic treatment of shoulder instability (labrum repair), rotator cuff repair, ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair and transplant, among many other sports medicine procedures.

Dr. Werner earned his B.S. in chemical engineering from Penn State and his medical degree from Wake Forest. He came to UVA for his internship, research fellowship and orthopedic surgery residency. He then completed a fellowship in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, where he was a team physician for the New York Giants and the New York Red Bulls. He returned to Charlottesville in 2016, joining the UVA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as an assistant professor. He also serves as a team physician for James Madison University.

In addition to patient care, Dr. Werner has a significant interest in both clinical and basic science research, and has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers on a wide variety of orthopedic topics. He has presented his research both regionally and nationally over 250 times and won numerous national awards. His research interests include clinical outcomes after knee and shoulder surgery, biomechanical studies in the knee and shoulder, shoulder arthroplasty and cartilage injury and repair.

Outside of work, Dr. Werner enjoys spending time with his wife and two boys, Benjamin and Wyatt. He is an avid runner who has completed many marathons and continues to train for both marathon and half marathon distances. He also enjoys golf.

Kathryn L. Williams MD

Dr. Williams specializes in orthopedic foot and ankle surgery including foot and ankle trauma, arthritic conditions, ankle joint replacement, sports injuries requiring surgery, and deformity reconstruction. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Orthopedic Surgery residency and completed fellowship in Foot and Ankle surgery at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, NC.

Seth K. Williams MD

Dr. Williams has a particular interest in minimally invasive spine surgery and CT-navigated spinal fusion techniques. He has developed novel methods and is regularly asked to speak at national conferences and meetings as a result. He performs all manner of conventional spine surgeries as well, treating issues in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, ranging from straightforward disk herniations to complex multi-level deformity reconstructions. Dr. Williams treats both spine and extremity fractures, serving in both the Orthopedic Surgery Spine and Trauma Divisions.

Zayd Ratansi, ND

Known as “Dr. Z” to his patients and colleagues, is a licensed Naturopathic Physician and a global authority on hyperbaric, bio-oxidative, and environmental medicine, as well as low-level light and chelation therapies. He is a trainer for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, has an IHA-approved education and training course for safety and operation, and he has established and manages a research-based website for hyperbaric therapy at HyperbaricExperts.com.

Dr. Ratansi provides concierge support for clinics to integrate hyperbaric therapy into their practices and for their specialty services. He lectures worldwide on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for neurological conditions and has played a leading role in implementing protocols on the use of hyperbaric therapy in the mainstream medical setting. He has advised and trained many sports clubs and athletes, including the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball, to implement hyperbaric therapy within their medical departments.

Dr. Ratansi also worked with boxing legend Muhammad Ali to help him fight Parkinson’s disease. He serves as an advisor to athletic trainers, team doctors and practitioners, and elite athletes to help implement personalized protocols for performance training and recovery. He also has extensive training in environmental medicine and has helped implement safe detoxification and cleansing programs along with hyperbaric oxygen therapy within the spa industry, helping to advance Medical Spas throughout the world.

2026 Big Sky Sports Medicine Conference Staff:

Jeffrey S Monroe AT, MS, Executive Director

Mr. Monroe is a 45-year experienced Athletic Trainer Retired, Emeritus from Michigan State University where he was the Head Athletic Trainer and Assistant Director of Athletic Medicine for 28 years.  Previous experience for 11 years at the University of Minnesota 4 years at the University of North Dakota, with and Undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University in 1972 and a Master’s of Science from the University of North Dakota in 1974.  Over his career, he had athletic trainer experience in Football, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Wrestling, Lacrosse and Soccer.

He has been the Executive Director of the BSSMC since its’ inception in 1995, with meeting originally consisting of Hot Tub seminars and lift rides with fellow Athletic Trainers.  He is fully retired, assisting with ramp building for the infirm, cabinet making and spoiling for his nine grandchildren.

Randall Cohen AT, PT, Program Moderator

Randy just retired from his position as Associate AD for Medical Services at the University of Arizona.  Prior to Arizona Randy has on the sports medicine staffs at Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame.

Originally from Chicago he has a degree in athletic training from Purdue University, a physical therapy degree from University of Illinois Chicago and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Simmons College. He has over 30 years experience providing medical care and doing rehabilitation with athletes.  He has done numerous presentations to local, national and international groups on topics including risk management and liability, sports specific rehabilitation and concussion treatment.

Dennis Miller AT, PT, Program Moderator

Denny is the Retired Head Athletic Trainer from Purdue University having served the West Lafayette University as the Head Football Athletic Trainer and with oversight to the Health Center’s Physical Therapy Clinic.  He is a graduate of Iowa State University.

 Walter “Kip” Smith, AT, MS, Registration Coordinator

Kip is the Retired Head Athletic Trainer from Indiana University.  He worked football and wrestling at IU, after coming from Pitt in 1983.

Paul Schmidt PT, MS AT, Specialist

Paul just completed his tenure at the University of Michigan’s Head Athletic Trainer after 40 years.  A graduate of The Ohio State University (BS) and the University of Michigan (MS) he enjoyed a remarkable career in the U of M Sports Medicine/Athletic Training Program primarily as the Head Athletic Trainer for Football. He joins our staff with great insight into today’s needs in athletic medicine and will assist in our ambassadorial duties at Big Sky.