Faculty: Adriaan Louw

Session Details:

Adriaan earned his undergraduate, master’s degree and PhD in physiotherapy from the University of Stellenbosch in Cape Town, South Africa. He is an adjunct faculty member at St. Ambrose University and the University of Nevada Las Vegas, teaching pain science. Adriaan has taught throughout the US and internationally for 25 years at numerous national and international manual therapy, pain science and medical conferences. He has authored and co-authored over 120 peer-reviewed articles related to spinal disorders and pain science. Adriaan completed his Ph.D. on pain neuroscience education and is the Director of the Therapeutic Neuroscience Research Group – an independent collaborative initiative studying pain neuroscience. Adriaan is a senior faculty, pain science director and vice-president of faculty experience for Evidence in Motion.

Faculty: Adriaan Louw

Faculty: Tom Denninger

Session Details:

Tom Denninger serves as Vice President of Clinical Development at  ATI Physical Therapy, overseeing internal and external clinical education and development programs, as well as the Executive Director of the Institute for Musculoskeletal Advancement (iMSKA), a research 501c3 organization. Tom has been with ATI since 2015 working in a variety of patient-facing, operational, and development roles. He completed his Doctorate of Physical Therapy and Orthopedic Residency at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT and completed his fellowship in manual physical therapy through Evidence in Motion. He has presented at national conferences and has multiple peer-reviewed articles.

Faculty: Patrick Shaeffer

Session Details:

Dr. Patrick Shaeffer is a Physiatrist at the VA Central Iowa with special focus in treatment of patients with musculoskeletal pain, ultrasound-guided interventions, spasticity management, and electromyography. He has a passion for medical education and is the Program Director for the Transitional Tear Residency program at Iowa Methodist Center in Des Moines, IA. He is an Adjust Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.

Faculty: A.J. Steele

Session Details:

I’ve been working in the psychology and addiction fields for over 30 years. I graduated from Spalding University in Louisville, KY, with my MA and PsyD in clinical psychology, and I have a MA in Health & Human Performance with a focus of Sport Psychology from Michigan State. Additionally, I am a Licensed Clinical Alcohol & Drug Counselor. I have had the opportunity to work for recovery programs, community mental health centers, private practices, the U.S. Department of Defense, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and the KY Department of Corrections. I also taught for 10 years in undergraduate/graduate psychology and counseling programs. Currently, I am retired and doing consultation and supervision to stay actively involved in the field.

Faculty: Kory Zimney

Session Details:

Kory Zimney, PT, DPT, PhD is an associate professor at the University of South Dakota, School of Health Sciences Physical Therapy Department and director of the PhD in Health Science program. He received his Master of Physical Therapy from the University of North Dakota in 1994. He completed his post-professional Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Des Moines University in 2010 and graduated with a PhD in Physical Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in 2020. Dr. Zimney is part of the Center for Brain and Behavioral Research at the University of South Dakota and the Therapeutic Neuroscience Research Group conducting research specifically in the areas of pain science and therapeutic alliance. Dr. Zimney has over 40 peer reviewed publications in the area of pain science, tactile acuity, and therapeutic alliance. He has presented at regional, national, and international research and professional association conferences.

Faculty: Lindsay Fencl

Session Details:

Lindsay Fencl is a Registered Dietitian with expertise in Women’s Health, Performance Nutrition, and Community Wellness. She holds dual degrees in Exercise Sport Science & Sports Nutrition and Nutritional Science & Dietetics, in addition to 1 year in Doctor of Physical Therapy School. With over five years of experience in the nutrition field—and a background in personal training and sports medicine, she takes a holistic, evidence-based approach to optimizing health and performance. Her vast work focuses on areas including sports nutrition, menopause, hormone and gut health, injury prevention and rehabilitation, and weight loss through GLP-1 medications. Drawing from eight years of education and collaborative clinical experience, Lindsay is passionate about helping individuals create sustainable, realistic changes to become their healthiest, most-energized, and highest performing selves.

Faculty: Veronica Riera-Gilley

Session Details:

Dr. Veronica Riera-Gilley (she/her) is a holistic pharmacist, Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP), Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (CFMP), and Certified Yoga Instructor (CYT-200) who is passionate about maximizing health with minimal medication. She is a nationally recognized speaker and creator of educational programs for healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers. She is the visionary behind Prairie Fire Pharmacy Consulting, a company committed to promoting healthy living, aging, and dying. Her professional affiliations include the Functional Medicine Pharmacists Alliance (FMPhA) where she serves as Director of Membership, and The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) where she serves as co-host of the ASCP podcast, SeniorRx Radio. She is a member of the Leadership Team at Pharm to Table, the first group of functional medicine pharmacist consultants offering care through telehealth. Veronica earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. She resides in North Texas with her husband, two children, a rescue dog and a small flock of city chickens.

Faculty: Nitin N. Bhatia

Session Details:

Clinical Interests: Nitin N. Bhatia, M.D., is a fellowship trained orthopaedic spine surgeon with expertise in the treatment of all neck and back disorders. He serves as the Chief of Spinal Surgery and Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, Irvine where he is also a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Neurosurgery. He has a special interest in problems involving the cervical spine, lumbar spine, and spinal trauma. Dr. Bhatia graduated with honors from Stanford University, after which he attended Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. During medical school, Dr. Bhatia received numerous research awards and was the valedictorian of his graduating class. Following his orthopaedic surgery residency at UCLA, Dr. Bhatia completed a spine surgery fellowship at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, after which he completed a second spine surgery fellowship at Miami Children’s Hospital. Dr. Bhatia’s work has been featured on numerous media outlets including ESPN, Fox, PBS, Sports Illustrated, Time Magazine and others. Research Interests: Dr. Bhatia has significant experience in both clinical and basic science experience. He has published more than 90 peer-reviewed articles and been an invited lecturer worldwide. His research has won numerous awards from prestigious societies including the Cervical Spine Research Society, the Scoliosis Research Society, the North American Spine Society, the American College of Spine Surgery, the California Orthopaedic Association, and the Western Orthopaedic Association. He has served in national leadership roles in numerous organizations including the Cervical Spine Research Society, North American Spine Society, and the Western Orthopaedic Association.

Faculty: Heather Meeks

Session Details:

Heather Meeks, DC, MS is a staff chiropractor at VA Central Iowa Healthcare System in Des Moines, Iowa, where she works in a multidisciplinary pain clinic focused on providing comprehensive pain management services to Veterans with chronic pain and pain-related conditions. Her role, in addition to patient care, includes concentration on training the next generation of interdisciplinary chiropractors. She is an attending faculty member for the VA Central Iowa Integrated Clinical Practice Residency Program and an adjunct clinical instructor at Palmer College of Chiropractic. Her favorite thing about working with trainees is watching them transition from an eager learner to a knowledgeable and confident soon-to-be clinician. Outside of work, Heather also enjoys teaching and taking yoga classes and spending time with her friends and family.

Faculty: Binu M Philip Durkee

Session Details:

Dr. Binu M Philip Durkee, DO, is a Board-Certified Family Practice specialist in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Dr. Philip enjoys working with patients of all ages from birth through geriatrics with a special emphasis on women’s health, pediatrics, and preventative care. She lives in Eau Claire and enjoys spending time with her husband (Dr. Russell Durkee) and their three children. She completed medical school in 2000 at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and her residency in 2004. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine American Academy of Family Physicians.

Faculty: Kathryn Richardson

Session Details:

Kathy is an occupational therapist with over 18 years of experience treating pediatrics and adults with persistent pain. She has been working with EIM since 2021 and currently serves as Faculty Experience Advisor for Pain Sciences (TPS, FPS), Integrative Behavioral Health, Lifestyle Medicine, and Hand Certification programs at EIM. In addition to her role as FX advisor, she is also working to expand and shape content areas to support the inclusion of OT practitioners and other rehabilitation providers. Kathy earned her Masters of Occupational Therapy degree from Louisiana State University in 2005. In addition, she completed the Therapeutic Pain Specialist certification and earned her Fellowship of Pain Sciences through EIM. Kathy has advanced training in pain neuroscience education (PNE), postural/body mechanics, work simplification/energy conservation, graded motor imagery/discrimination, functional desensitization, and environmental/ergonomic assessment. While working at the Center for Pain Management at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago in 2013, she and her colleagues updated the clinical guidelines for the treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) to incorporate more current treatment strategies, including graded motor imagery/mirror therapy. As a clinical researcher for Northwestern University’s Sensory Motor Performance Program, Kathy conducted research using robotic assistive devices to improve functional use of the hand following stroke. In her current position as the lead clinician at FOCUS Outreach, a nonprofit agency in Eagle River, Alaska, Kathy continues to advocate for multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary pain management programs targeting functional restoration for people with persistent pain.