PT Programs

Cathleen (Kate) Soper, PT, DBA, MS

Dr. Soper has a background in orthopedic and neuromuscular conditions with more than 30 years of clinical practice. She obtained her Doctor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management and Leadership from California Intercontinental University in 2021. She joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences core faculty as an Assistant Professor in 2022. Her

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Heather Bushnell, PT, DPT, EdD, MPT

Dr. Heather Bushnell earned her Master of Physical Therapy, transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Doctor of Education from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) St. Augustine, FL campus. Dr. Bushnell has more than 10 years of clinical practice in acute care and seven years in a hospital-based education position. Before

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Karina Ingegneri, DPT, ATC/L

Dr. Karina Ingegneri graduated from Barry University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training. She obtained her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) Miami, FL campus in 2019. Currently, she is working toward a Doctor of Education with a specialization in educational leadership with

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Robert (Bob) Salvatori, PT, DPT, DSc, MBA

Dr. Robert (Bob) Salvatori joined the Austin, TX campus Doctor of Physical Therapy program core faculty in 2022. He possesses more than 40 years of clinical experience specializing in general orthopedics, spinal dysfunction, persistent pain management and vestibular rehab. Dr. Salvatori has served in a variety of clinical settings including acute care, rehab, home health

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Mohan Ganesan, PT, PhD

Dr. Mohan Ganesan completed his bachelor’s degree, post-professional diploma in rehabilitation, master’s degree in physical therapy and Doctor in Neurophysiology from the National Institute for Mental Health and Neurosciences in Bangalore, India. He completed his post-doctoral fellowship at the Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois, Chicago. Dr. Ganesan received his Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation Therapy Specialty

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Amanda Parrish, PT, DPT

Dr. Amanda Allen Parrish is a graduate of Duke University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. She joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) in 2016 as a contributing faculty member. In 2018 she became a full-time instructor in the DPT program for the USAHS San Marcos, CA campus, instructing in the

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Garrett Mandel, PT, DPT

Dr. Garrett Mandel completed his bachelor’s degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 2009. He attended the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) and received his Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2013. After graduating, Dr. Mandel spent two years living and working in New Orleans, LA where he practiced at an outpatient

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Lisa Nichols, PT, EdD, MHS

Dr. Lisa Nichols joined the faculty at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2004 and is the primary instructor for the Skills and Procedures course for both occupational therapy and physical therapy students. She also teaches the online Skills and Procedures course for physical therapy students in the PT Flex program. She

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Melanie Hill, PT, DPT

Dr. Melanie Hill joined the University as contributing faculty in 2016 and was promoted to her current position in 2024. Dr. Hill is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy. She completed pediatric residency training with Brooks Rehabilitation in 2016, obtaining her Pediatric Clinical Specialist in 2017. She has worked in a variety of

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James (Jim) Mathews, PT, DPT, PhD, MBA

Dr. Mathews has more than 20 years of experience in acute care, long term-acute care, skilled nursing facility and outpatient settings and more than 10 years of full-time experience teaching and administrating for the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. Dr. Mathews is committed to fostering critical thinking through

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Faris Alshammari, PT, MPT, NCS, PhD

Since 2015, Dr. Faris Alshammari has been a full-time professor specializing in neurophysiology, neuroscience, neuromuscular II, neuromuscular III, pain science, physical therapy for neurological cases and research methods in physical therapy. With more than 15 years of clinical experience, he has worked extensively with inpatient and outpatient neurologic patients. From 2010 to 2015, he led

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Elizabeth (Beth) Ennis, PT, EdD, PCS

Dr. Ennis is board-certified in pediatric physical therapy, with expertise in pediatrics, assistive technology and adaptive equipment. She previously served as a faculty member for 20 years at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY, most recently as Chair and Program Director for the DPT program. Dr. Ennis has worked in acute care, rehabilitation and home health

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