Stephen Hunter PT, DPT, OCS, FAPTA received his Bachelor of Arts in physical therapy from University of Utah in 1984, and his clinical doctorate in 2008. He is a board-certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy. Stephen continues to treat patients and is the director of Internal Process Control for Intermountain Health’s rehabilitation services with a focus on standardizing evidence-based care across all rehabilitation disciplines and services. He is the past president of NARA (National Association of Rehabilitation Providers and Agencies). He has supported several APTA initiatives for over 40 years. He participates in research efforts and has been a co-investigator on both PCORI and NIH funded studies. He and his wife Anne volunteer several weeks a year in East Africa training therapists and providing wheelchairs for those with disabilities.

Dr. Cory Christiansen is a professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado and a rehabilitation researcher within the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System. He directs the Interdisciplinary Movement Science Lab on the Anschutz Medical Campus and his research focuses on optimizing rehabilitation for older adults with movement dysfunction from a biopsychosocial perspective with particular emphasis on exercise interventions. He has conducted clinical trials research for the past 18 years, including a primary line of rehabilitation research related to health coaching for sustaining physical activity.

Dr. Brent Harper is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Chapman University. He has been a practicing physical therapist since 1997. He received his D.Sc. in physical therapy with a specialization in orthopedic manual physical therapy from Andrews University after receiving a DPT from Western University and an MPT from Loma Linda University. He completed residency and fellowship programs from the Ola Grimsby Institute (OGI) and an Education Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership through the APTA. He has certifications in concussion management, dry needling, pain science, musculoskeletal ultrasound, functional movement systems, and is an ImPACT trained PT. His scholarship focuses on developing multimodal concussion recovery assessments and wearable-derived digital biomarkers to provide affordable, objective tools that support clinical decision-making and safe return to activity.

Dr. Joey Bikkers is a board-certified specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. An alumnus of Shenandoah University, he and his wife own and operate Smithfield Physical Therapy Specialists in Smithfield, VA. He currently serves as the APTA Orthopedics CPG Development Work Group chair, is a Specialization Academy of Content Experts (SACE) item writer for the ABPTS primary care specialty exam, has served with APTA Magazine as an editorial advisory group member and writer, and contributes as an instructor with WE ARE Physiotherapy Continuing Education.

Dr. Sonia Lucas is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist with a clinical focus in orthopedic and neurologic rehabilitation and functional mobility. She is the founder and owner of a mobile canine rehabilitation practice in Austin, Texas,  and brings a strong background in orthopedic physical therapy to animal rehabilitation. Sonia serves as the Physical Therapy Liaison to the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV), supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, professional education, and advocacy at the intersection of physical therapy and veterinary medicine. 

Melissa Kolski, PT, DPT, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Associate Director of Education, and a practicing clinician at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, a Master of Science in Physical Therapy and a Certificate in Health Care Administration from Widener University, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame. 

Dr. Kolski has over 26 years of clinical experience and practices at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. She is a member of the U.S. Soccer Federation Medical Team and has worked with the United States Men’s Paralympic 7-a-side CP Soccer Team for the past 10 years and with the USGA for the past 6 years. She is also a national Eligibility Assessor for the sport of golf. 

She is a board-certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist and earned her Diplomate in Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment from the McKenzie Institute in 2011. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Orthopaedic and Education Sections, a member of the Specialization Academy of Content Experts for Orthopaedic Clinical Specialists within the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, and an abstract reviewer for the Orthopaedic Section. 

Dr. Kolski is a mentor, board member, and Co-Director of the Northwestern–Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program and teaches in Northwestern University’s PTHMS program. She co-authored the textbook A World of Hurt: A Guide to Classifying Pain. 

Her current research focuses on outcomes associated with musculoskeletal pain classification systems in clinical practice, and she recently participated in two published systematic reviews in Pain. Clinically, she specializes in spine care and the management of musculoskeletal pain. 

Rick Wickstrom, PT, DPT, CPE, CME is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Certified Professional Ergonomist, and Certified Medical Examiner. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from the Ohio State University and completed graduate coursework in occupational ergonomics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. As President and owner of WorkAbility Systems and WorkerFIT, Dr. Wickstrom has consulted in occupational health and ergonomics for over 30 years. He has published many articles and technical papers related to functional capacity evaluation, work disability prevention, and ergonomics. Dr. Wickstrom serves as an expert witness on matters concerning the extent of physical disability, fitness-for-duty, or job accommodation.

His diverse clinical practice includes transitional work-site therapy, functional capacity evaluation, worker accommodation studies, ergonomic job analysis, development of worker fitness screening and transitional work programs, systems development, research, and training. He has invented several products including the patented Physical Agility Tester, WorkerFIT software, ExamFIT software, Total-Body Dexterity Tester, Ergo-Totes Set, and WorkAbility Rate of Manipulation Test.

Dr. Wickstrom has dedicated his career to preparing employers and occupational health professionals with skills and tools needed to assess job demands, evaluate worker fitness-for-duty, resolve worker performance barriers, and promote physical wellness. He currently serves as OHSIG President of the AOPT and is on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Chapter of the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP). 

Parashar Joshi is from Lexington, Kentucky. His immediate family includes his parents and sister, who also live in Lexington. He is currently studying to become a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) at Somerset Community College, Class of 2026. He serves as Vice President of the Physical Therapy Student Organization and as a student representative on the PTA advisory committee at Somerset Community College. Parashar completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Health Promotion at the University of Kentucky.

He has worked in an outpatient orthopaedic physical therapy setting as a technician for the past nine years. Parashar has a strong passion for serving his community and helping others live life to their fullest potential. He is also an outdoor and sports enthusiast. These interests led him to pursue a PTA degree, with the possibility of pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in the future.

In his free time, Parashar enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, watching and playing sports, and listening to music. His personal goals include learning to play a musical instrument and learning to snowboard.

Sophie Willihnganz is a third-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Her career goals are to combine her background in fire/EMS with her interest in orthopedics and trauma care to work with individuals with limb loss or amputations, as well as to serve as an early/acute rehabilitation specialist responding to sudden-onset disasters.