Meet the 2025 SIG Candidates

Dr. Abbis Jaffri, PT, MS, PhD
Profile: Dr. Abbis Haider Jaffri is an Assistant Professor with a Ph.D. in Biomechanics from the University of Virginia, and Master's in Sports Medicine from Penn State and over a decade of dedicated research in foot and ankle health, focusing on improving assessment methods and advancing treatment techniques. His work has significantly contributed to the development of innovative ultrasound-based approaches, including shear wave elastography, to quantify muscle stiffness and functional reserve in individuals with chronic ankle instability. Dr. Jaffri has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, including systematic reviews and comparative analyses that have shaped evidence-based rehabilitation practices. He previously served as Research Chair for the Foot and Ankle Special Interest Group, where he led initiatives to promote scientific rigor and clinical translation within the specialty. In recognition of his academic excellence and leadership, Dr. Jaffri was recently honored with the prestigious Margaret L. Moore Outstanding New Academic Faculty Award. His professional involvement extends to national and chapter-level activities, fostering collaboration and advancing musculoskeletal rehabilitation through education, research, and advocacy. With a strong commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology into patient-centered care, Dr. Jaffri continues to mentor emerging scholars and clinicians while driving interdisciplinary projects that address complex neuromuscular adaptations. His vision for the Foot and Ankle Special Interest Group emphasizes innovation, inclusivity, and evidence-based practice, ensuring that members are equipped with the tools and knowledge to deliver optimal outcomes for patients worldwide.

Dr. Shwetambari Korde, PT, DPT, CCIP (Level 1),OCS
Profile: I am the Lead Physical Therapist at Progressive Spine and Orthopedics, LLC —also known as the New Jersey Disc Center—in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where I integrate evidence-based reasoning with structured implementation to optimize function across diverse musculoskeletal populations. With over two decades of experience in India and the United States, my professional journey spans clinical care, quality leadership, and academic scholarship—advancing a model of physical therapy that values precision, adaptability, and outcomes that matter.

Earlier in my career, I led the Physiotherapy Department at Fortis Hospitals in Mumbai, India. My engagement with Joint Commission International accreditation and system-wide quality initiatives led to my transition into the role of Quality Manager. In that capacity, I developed performance-improvement frameworks, trained interdisciplinary teams to interpret and apply key metrics, and aligned institutional practices with established standards of safety and effectiveness. Several of these initiatives received national recognition from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and international awards at Hospital Management Asia (HMA), reinforcing my conviction that quality is not an event but a culture—built through collaboration, accountability, and consistency.

I am a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, an APTA Level 1 Certified Clinical Instructor, and maintain active licenses in New Jersey, New York, and California.

In parallel with my clinical practice, I am also pursuing PhD in Physical Therapy at Loma Linda University, where my research examines adaptive learning and movement efficiency—focusing on how clinicians process, calibrate, and apply feedback to improve decision-making. Across every phase of my career—clinical, administrative, and academic—my focus has remained consistent: identify performance gaps, design responsive systems, and align teams toward meaningful outcomes. I view leadership as the capacity to translate shared vision into measurable progress, a principle that aligns directly with FASIG’s mission to advance orthopaedic foot and ankle physical therapy through research, education, and collaboration.

Dr. David A. Hoyle, DPT, MA, OCS, COHP
Profile: Dr. David Hoyle, DPT, MA, OCS, COHP is the current Vice President of the Occupational Health Special Interest group. As the National Director of WorkStrategies Clinical Services for Select Medical, he is responsible for the philosophy of care and provision of tools, training, and mentorship for clinicians providing care to patients covered under workers compensation. Dr. Hoyle majored in physical therapy earning his BS, and then continued studies in exercise sciences earning a masters degree from the University of Connecticut. He also earned a post professional doctorate of physical therapy from Regis University. An expert in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, recognized as a Board Certified Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties since 1996 and as one of the first Certified Occupational Health Practitioners in 2023. His synthesis of the literature has led to him to be a strong proponent of a person centered care model that seeks to understand individual physical, psychological, and societal factors that lead to disability. He believes in the pillars of the American College of Lifestyle medicine as way to maximize health and productivity. His current area of scholarship surrounds the use of the Orebro Musculoskeletal Short Form to inform clinicians on biopsychosocial risk of extended work absence and the use of psychological informed physical therapy to overcome disability. He is a frequent speaker related to musculoskeletal injuries, workers compensation, and the biopsychosocial approach to care including at Combined Sections Meeting, National Comp, Workers Compensation Institute and American Occupational Health Conference. His current area of research is in further validating the Orebro Musculoskeletal Questionnaire as a predictor of impaired recovery. In addition to serving as Vice President of the OHSIG, he has been on the nominating committee of the OHSIG and severed on several committees for APTA Connecticut. Currently he is organizing a revision of the CPG on Worker Participation for the OHSIG as well as is active on the legislative committee in Connecticut where for the last couple of years they have been making progress towards allowing direct access under workers compensation. Dr. Hoyle is an active member of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine where he currently part of a work group with a grant to produce a Healthy Worker Summit as well as one publishing a guideline line of the use of risk tools in occupational medicine.

Dr. Eric Kruger, PT, DPT, MS, PhD
Profile: Eric Kruger, PT, DPT, MS, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. He holds a PhD in Psychology with a major emphasis in Health Psychology and a minor in Quantitative Psychology, complemented by clinical training as a Doctor of Physical Therapy. His academic career integrates rehabilitation science, psychology, and advanced quantitative methods to improve pain care, patient recovery, and substance use outcomes. Dr. Kruger’s research program focuses on the biopsychosocial determinants of pain, opioid use, and recovery following musculoskeletal trauma. He has published 27 peer-reviewed manuscripts and contributed to 45 scientific presentations at national and international meetings. Nationally, Dr. Kruger is the twice-elected Vice President and Education Chair of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Orthopaedics Pain Special Interest Group, where he leads professional education programming, coordinates webinars, and oversees Combined Sections Meeting session development. He is deeply committed to professional development and continuing education, having presented at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting and the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) Educational Leadership Conference. His professional service extends to roles as a reviewer for multiple journals in rehabilitation and behavioral science. Dr. Kruger’s educational scholarship examines innovation in Doctor of Physical Therapy training, with emphasis on motivational interviewing, language equity, and the integration of artificial intelligence into clinical education. His research on motivational interviewing explores how communication training enhances patient-centered care, fosters therapeutic alliance, and improves behavioral health outcomes. He has also led initiatives to improve language access and inclusion through Spanish language curricula designed to reduce disparities in care for patients with limited English proficiency. Additionally, he is investigating the role of large language models and artificial intelligence in professional education, focusing on how these tools can augment learning, critical thinking, and cultural competence in physical therapy students. Dr. Kruger serves as Director of Research and Director of Graduate Outcomes for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, leading initiatives to strengthen research infrastructure and educational quality. His leadership, scientific expertise, and interdisciplinary perspective exemplify a sustained commitment to advancing pain science, professional education, and equitable practice across the physical therapy profession.

Dr. Marisa Hentis, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Profile: I am an Assistant Professor and Director of the Performing Arts Physical Therapy Fellowship at University of Southern California, where I am a joint faculty member between the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy and the Kaufman School of Dance. I am board-certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialities as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). I currently lead the dance medicine program on campus and actively expanding our clinical and teaching practices to include all performing arts, beyond dance. Our program includes teaching at the undergraduate and graduate school levels as well as providing clinical work in an outpatient setting as well as backstage work on campus and throughout the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. I have been on leadership for the PASIG since 2018 and currently hold the position of Screening Chair. I have spoken at national and international conferences on the topics of performing arts, screening, and pelvic floor physical therapy. I have dedicated my career to assisting performing artists from a clinical, teaching, and research perspective in order to bring the best healthcare to the performing arts. I am passionate on keeping the performing arts at the forefront of specialties with increase in educational opportunities, clinical opportunities, and research opportunities. Prior to becoming a physical therapist, I danced professionally in the Midwest for more than 5 years. I am trained in a majority of genres but specializes in hip hop and contemporary. I enjoy continuing to take classes recreationally and getting involved with the community to prevent and assist performing artists throughout their recreational and professional careers.