Dr. Vatwani is the current Graduate Program Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and Clinical Associate Professor at Old Dominion University (ODU). Prior to ODU, she was an Associate Professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). She is an acute care physical therapist with a clinical expertise in cardiovascular and pulmonary high-acuity patients and worked at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD for a decade. She has held many organizational service leadership positions including the NSU Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Healthcare Sciences founding chair of the diversity and inclusion faculty committee and the founding co-chair of the Physical Therapy department cultural competence task force. At the state and professional level, she served as the founding co-chair of the Florida Physical Therapy Association Acute Care Special Interest group. She is a certified lymphedema and wound Care therapist (CLWT), certified lean six sigma black belt (CLSSBB), certified project management professional (PMP), National Diversity Council certified diversity professional (CDP) and certified in diversity, equity, and inclusion at the workplace. Her primary research interests include cultural competence in healthcare and academia, interprofessional education and practice, simulation-based teaching/learning, healthcare education, physical therapy practice, and management specifically in the acute care and cardiovascular and pulmonary fields. She has authored several peer-reviewed articles, abstracts, and presentations. She graduated with her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Temple University, Master of Business Administration degree from Holy Family University and her terminal degree, an Education and Leadership in Healthcare Doctorate (EdD) from Nebraska Methodist College. She is the recipient of the 2022 Healthcare Diversity Leader Award from the National Diversity Council, 2022 American Physical Therapy Association Minority Faculty Scholarship award, and a member of the Alpha Eta Honor Society.

Dr. Beth Jamali serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Old Dominion University. She is currently serving as the Program Director for Physical Therapy and Admissions Director. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Russel Sage College in 1989, her Master of Science degree with a concentration in Orthopedic Physical Therapy from Old Dominion University in 1997. In 2005, Dr. Jamali received her PhD in Urban Services - Urban Education Concentration with an emphasis in Higher Education from Old Dominion University. From 2000 - 2020, Dr. Jamali held a board certification as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). She continues to practice physical therapy in the home health care environment. Dr. Jamali's research interests include clinical outcomes with the neurologically and orthopedically involved populations. She currently resides in Virginia Beach, VA with her two daughters.

Dr. Mary Dalmida serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor. Dr. Dalmida earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Sport and Health Education with emphasis in Sports Medicine in 2005 from Radford University. She earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2011 from Old Dominion University. Dr. Dalmida's' clinical work has been in outpatient orthopedics. She has become certified in McKenzie treatment method, dry needling and specializes in temporomandibular dysfunction. She is an APTA certified clinical instructor and has been active as an adjunct professor within ODUs PT program. Her research interests include rehabilitation of individuals with neck pain, posture, and orthopedics. Dr. Dalmida decompresses by spending time with her family and listening to true crime podcasts.

Dr. Heather Hamilton is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Old Dominion University. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology in 2010 from The College of William and Mary, and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2014 from Old Dominion University. She is currently a PhD candidate in the Kinesiology and Rehabilitation program at Old Dominion University. Dr. Hamilton's research interests include running behavior, running biomechanics, and pelvic health in female runners across the lifespan. Clinically, she specializes in pelvic health physical therapy and also has experience in the acute care setting. She currently lives in Virginia Beach with her husband.

Dr. Emily Hawkins is a Clinical Assistant Professor and serves as our Director of Clinical Education (DCE). Dr. Hawkins earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology in 2010 from East Carolina University and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2013 from Old Dominion University. After graduating from the program, Dr. Hawkins served as adjunct faculty for the DPT program, practiced in acute care hospitals, served as clinical instructor to DPT students from multiple programs, and completed coursework towards a PhD in Kinesiology & Rehabilitation. Her research interests include interprofessional education, psychosocial aspects of patient care, acute care, and clinical education. Dr. Hawkins lives in Chesapeake with her family, and tap dance is her favorite form of self-care.

Dr. Mira Mariano, clinical assistant professor in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences, was elected President of the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy in August 2022. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy in 1990 from the University of Pittsburgh, her Master of Science degree in Community Health with an emphasis in Orthopedic Physical Therapy from Old Dominion University in 1997, and her Ph.D. in Urban Services with a concentration in Higher Education/Urban Education from Old Dominion University in 2006. Dr. Mariano received her board certification as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) in 1999 and Recertification in 2009 and 2019. Dr. Mariano has been elected twice as a Virginia delegate to the House of Delegates of the American Physical Therapy Association. She currently serves as Student Relations Chair of the Tidewater District of APTA Virginia, Faculty advisor to the PT Club, and Faculty-Student Liaison. Dr. Mariano is serving a 4-year term on the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy. She continues her PRN clinical practice in outpatient, home health, and short-term rehabilitation. Her research interests are falls risks in older adults, educational research with standardized patients, attitudes/perceptions with LGBT populations, and incontinence in female athletes and older adults. She resides in Norfolk with her husband Butch. One daughter is an alum from the ODU School of Nursing, and another daughter is pursuing mechanical/aeronautical engineering and playing for the ODU Monarchs Women's Soccer team.

Dr. Steve Morrison is an Endowed Professor and Director of Research within the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Old Dominion University, Virginia. He received his PhD from the Pennsylvania State University in 1997. Prior to this, he received undergraduate degrees in Physical Education and Physiology and his Masters in Physical Education from the University of Otago, New Zealand. His primary research interests concern the neurophysiological basis for movement control, particularly regarding changes in motor function in aging, disease (e.g., Type 2 Diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis) and neurological damage (e.g. stroke). Dr. Morrison's research has encompassed such issues as; assessing risk of falling in older adults, the effect of exercise on walking ability, posture and fine motor control in healthy older adults and clinical populations, the neural underpinnings of physiological tremor in Parkinson's disease, and the impact localized fatigue and exercise has on motor function. Dr Morrison has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Dr. Leslie Prom serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Old Dominion University. She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2004 from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Prom received her board certification as a Neurologic Clinical Specialist from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) in 2011. Her clinical experience is in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient neurology. She continues her clinical practice at ODU Monarch Physical Therapy Clinic working with patients mainly with diagnoses of SCI, CVA and TBI. Dr. Prom's research interests include clinical interventions and outcomes in neurologic rehabilitation, especially with SCI patients, as well as community-based programs for patients with neurologic diagnoses. She currently resides in Virginia Beach with her husband and two children.

Dr. Daniel Russell is an Associate Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Old Dominion University and serves as the Graduate Program Director for the Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation. Originally from the United Kingdom, he earned a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Sport Science from Manchester Metropolitan University before coming to the United States for graduate training focused on motor control and learning. He completed a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology at Louisiana State University, followed by a Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Penn State University. Before coming to Old Dominion University, Dr. Russell was a faculty member in the Kinesiology Program at Penn State University - Berks. In his research he uses neuroscience, biomechanics, and psychology to enhance understanding of how humans control movements and how this breaks down with aging, injury, or disease. He also studies how individuals can learn to move more effectively, efficiently and safely as part of their rehabilitation.

Dr. Brittany Samulski is an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Old Dominion University. She received her undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Spanish Language in 2008 from the University of Virginia, her clinical doctorate in Physical Therapy from Old Dominion University in 2011 and her Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation from Old Dominion University in 2020. Dr. Samulski's current research interests are in two areas: motor control and falls management. Her motor control research has focused on coupled oscillators (i.e., chewing gum and walking) in adults and children, as well as on the effects of aging on motor control. She is Clinical Director of the Monarch Balance for Life Program. Dr. Samulski currently serves on the Virginia Physical Therapy Association (VPTA) research committee. Her clinical experience is in the acute care and home health settings. She is a Hampton Roads native and resides in Virginia Beach with her husband.

Dr. Eric Schussler is an Assistant Professor and Director of the IPLAI laboratory within the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Old Dominion University. He completed his Master of Physical Therapy degree from Gannon University in 2004. He worked as a physical therapist in outpatient orthopedic, home care and university settings prior to completing his PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Services from The Ohio State University in 2016. His primary research interests include concussion prevention and rehabilitation and lower extremity injury prevention. He is passionate about science and is determined that ODU DPT graduates will develop a scientific mindset to guide then throughout their careers. He currently resides in Norfolk, Virginia.

Ms. Nadine White serves the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Old Dominion University as the Administrative & Office Specialist III. She earned her Associates Degree in Administrative Assistance from Tidewater Community College, where she also worked, acquiring expertise in the area. Ms. White supports the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, the Master's in Athletic Training and the PhD in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation. Ms. White is the point of initial contact with the School of Rehabilitation Sciences. She can answer many questions and direct you to other people who can answer things she doesn't know.