Frank A. Chernak is a partner in Montgomery McCracken’s Litigation Department and Chair of the Labor and Employment Department.

In October 2019, The Philadelphia Business Journal selected Frank to its Best of the Bar: Philadelphia’s Top Lawyers list for Employment Litigation. In November 2023, Frank tried a traumatic brain injury case for two defendants in Suffolk County, Massachusetts to a successful result. The trial took 30 days with over 30 witnesses testifying, including 18 expert witnesses. In 2019, Frank tried cases to verdict in federal courts in Baltimore, Md. (a “Me Too” sexual harassment case), Philadelphia, Pa. (a criminal records class action trial), and Chicago, Ill. (a race, age, disability discrimination and retaliation case). Frank’s practice focuses on defending entities in personal injury matters (including traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases) and employers and municipalities in constitutional, Title VII, race discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation, reverse-gender and retaliation, age discrimination, national origin, hostile work environment, FMLA, and ADA cases. He also counsels and trains clients on all employment and civil rights matters, including compliance with ADA, FMLA, FLSA, and EEO laws, hiring and firing practices, harassment investigations, and non-compete litigation. He also trains lawyers on jury trial persuasion.

In March 2020, Frank was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation to those experienced trial lawyers of diverse backgrounds, who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality. Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province.

Frank received his J.D., cum laude, from Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, his M.S. from the University of Arkansas, and his B.S. from the State University of New York at Cortland.

University of Georgia Senior Associate Athletic Director Ron Courson, long-time director of sports medicine, was promoted to Executive Associate Athletic Director in February, 2021.

Serving at UGA since 1995, Courson most recently helped navigate the Athletic Association, and especially the football program, through the nation-wide Pandemic serving and supporting the development of policy and protocols at the local, Southeastern Conference, and NCAA levels.
 
Prior to joining the UGA staff in 1995, Courson served as Director of Rehabilitation at the University of Alabama from 1991-1995 and Director of Rehabilitation with Samford University from 1989-1991. He received his undergraduate degree in education/physical education from Samford University, performed two years of graduate work at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, and graduated with honors from the Medical College of Georgia with a degree in physical therapy. Courson is a national registered advanced emergency medical technician as well as a certified strength and conditioning specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

During his career in sports medicine, Courson has also been involved in many athletic training activities including work as an athletic trainer with the U.S. Olympic Team at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea; 1990 Goodwill Games; 1987 World University Games, 1987 Pan American Games and the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. He served as the chief athletic trainer for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials as well as the chief athletic trainer for track and field for the Atlanta Committee for the 1996 Olympic Games (ACOG).

Courson is active in his profession, having served as the president of the SEC Sports Medicine Committee, chairman of the College and University Athletic Trainers' Committee of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and as a member of the NCAA Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports committee. He is a past medical liaison to the American Football Coaches Association and serves currently on the NFL Health and Safety Committee and the USA Football Medical Advisory Board.

Ron received the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award in 2005 from the National Athletic Trainers' Association and was inducted into the Southeast Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 2011 and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in 2013. Most recently, Courson was inducted into the Georgia Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in January, 2018.
 
Courson serves as an adjunct instructor in the department of kinesiology at the University of Georgia, teaching in the nationally accredited athletic training education program. He is active in research and education in the field of sports medicine, having authored a textbook, "Athletic Training Emergency Care", a number of professional papers and text chapters and presents frequently at regional and national sports medicine meetings.

Courson is married to the former Eileen O'Connell of Waycross, Georgia. Ron and Eileen have four children, John, Anna, Luke, and Will.

Stanley A. Herring, MD, is senior medical advisor and co-founder of The Sports Institute at UW Medicine, Co- medical director for Orthopedic Health and Sports Medicine for UW Medicine, and co-medical director of the UW Medicine Sports Concussion Program.

Dr. Herring is one of the team physicians for the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Mariners. His clinical practice focuses on the diagnosis and non-operative management of neurological and musculoskeletal injuries, particularly focusing on spinal disorders in active people and athletes as well as sports-related concussions.  

Dr. Herring is a clinical professor in the Departments of Rehabilitation Medicine, Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, and Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington, Seattle and holds the Zachery Lystedt  Sports Concussion Endowed Chair. His philosophy is to provide kind and compassionate care that focuses not only on the relief of pain and suffering, but also helps patients return to activities that give them quality of life.

Education and Training
UW - Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine - Residency, 1982, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Univ. of Texas Southwestern - Medical Education, 1979
UW - Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine - Teaching Appointment

Board Certifications
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 1983, American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehab

Kevin M. Guskiewicz, PhD, ATC began in UNC Chapel Hill's Department of Exercise and Sports Science in July 1995, and was appointed Department Chair in July 2005. Dr. Guskiewicz heads the sport concussion program at UNC, while also serving as the Director of the Sports Medicine Research Laboratory and Research Director for the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes. His teaching responsibilities include Cadaver Anatomy, Therapeutic Modalities, Human Anatomy, and Research Methods & Statistics in Sports Medicine.

Dr. Guskiewicz’s research is focused on the assessment of sport-related concussion and the long-term effects of concussion. He has been the recipient of over 15 funded research grants on this topic, and has published over 45 journal articles and five textbook chapters related to concussion in sport. He serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Athletic Training, and is on the editorial boards of two other journals. Kevin was the recipient of the 1997 Kenneth Knight Outstanding Research Manuscript for the Journal of Athletic Training, the recipient of the 1999 NATA-REF New Investigator Award for Athletic Training Research, and the 2006 Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research. He was awarded Fellowship in American College of Sports Medicine in May 2003, and was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education in September 2006. He and his wife Amy have four children: Jacob, Nathan, Adam, and Tessa.

Nicholas E. Grahovec is an athletic trainer working in higher education as an Assistant Professor at Northern Illinois University. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Psychology from Augustana College, Master of Science degree in Athletic Training from the University of Findlay, and his PhD in Health Science from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.

Nicholas was previously a Clinical Assistant Professor at Sam Houston State University and, prior to that, the Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer at Benedictine University. He has been an athletic trainer in a variety of other clinical settings, including junior college, orthopedics, rehabilitation, and youth sports. He currently serves on the NATA Foundation Scholarship Committee, GLATA Education Committee, IATA Education Committee Chair, and is currently the Illinois Athletic Trainers Association Vice President. His current research interests include athletic training intervention effectiveness, athletic training pedagogy, and the esports athlete.

Nicholas resides in Illinois with his wife Amanda and four girls, Audrey, Adalyn, Abigail, and Arianna.

Tyler Wood, PhD, ATC is an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Clinical Education at Northern Illinois University. 

Teaching Philosophy
When teaching, I approach each setting with three core principles: (1) Promoting diversity, equity, and
inclusion creates a safe space of authentic learning; (2) innovative teaching leads to inspiration; (3)
acquired knowledge will provide immediate and future success. With these principles guiding my
pedagogical practice, I take great responsibility in working with and mentoring my students to help them learn and succeed.

Research Agenda
My research agenda consists of two broad areas: (1) understanding human movement and impairment
with an emphasis on rehabilitation and (2) implementing creative educational techniques to enhance the athletic training students’ education. I am committed to interdisciplinary collaborations to promote the science and practice of movement rehabilitation and facilitate athletic training education.

Matt Mills, EdD, ATC, CHSE, is an Assistant Professor and Pre-Professional Athletic Training Program Director at Springfield College. He specializes in interprofessional education, simulation, and athletic training education, utilizing advanced educational technologies to enhance student learning. 

Dr. Mills' research focuses on simulation's impact on self-efficacy and anxiety in healthcare students, with numerous publications and presentations at national conferences. He has a strong background in athletic training clinical education and healthcare simulation, holding certifications in simulation education and athletic training. Dr. Mills is dedicated to mentoring future professionals and advancing innovative teaching practices in athletic training education.

Dr. Steve Jordan is a board certified, fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeon. Dr. Jordan earned his Medical Degree from Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Jordan specializes in sports medicine; however, he takes a special interest in shoulder injuries, throwing injuries, ACL reconstruction, and Tommy John reconstruction. Dr. Jordan is the Team Physician for both Washington High School and Chipola College.

Darin A. Padua is the Associate Provost for Academic Operations of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As an academic leader, he works to listen, collaborate, and empower others to work as a team towards our shared mission, vision, and priorities.

The Joseph Curtis Sloane Distinguished Professor of Exercise and Sport Science, Padua has been a member of UNC’s faculty since 2001. He teaches courses in biomechanics, human anatomy, and kinesiology with a focus on injury risk mitigation and optimizing human performance. Throughout his career, Padua has mentored fellow faculty, along with hundreds of graduate and undergraduate students. He served as chair in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science from 2013 to 2023.

With more than 25 years of experience, Padua is an internationally recognized scholar and is the Co-Director of the Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention (MOTION) Science Institute. His research revolves around prevention of musculoskeletal injuries, such as ACL rupture, by studying the role of movement quality and biomechanics as injury risk factors and intervention targets. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles, and his work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. He

He received the Young Investigator Award by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (2006) and was later awarded the O’Donoghue Sports Injury Research Award for the most outstanding sport injury related research paper by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (2008). He attained Fellow status in the National Academy of Kinesiology, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and received the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. His career research achievements were recognized by the by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association with receipt of the Medal for Distinguished Research (2017).

Padua earned a B.S. in athletic training from San Diego State University, M.A. in exercise and sport science/athletic training from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and PhD in sports medicine from the University of Virginia. Born and raised in Visalia, California, he lives with his wife Jody and three daughters in Durham, NC.

Associate Dean Geisler is a native of Lakeville, MA and current resident of Boston, MA. A certified athletic trainer since 1987 with over 15 years of varied clinical practice and 23 years' experience directing athletic training education programs at Georgia Southern University and Ithaca College. He is deeply interested in the development and assessment of the medico-clinical thinking processes of novice and experienced clinicians, the development of adaptive expertise in clinicians, progressive curriculum design, capability-based education, and meaningful programmatic assessment. He has over 170 national and international presentations and publications on clinical and educational based subjects in athletic training and health professions education to his credit. He is a member of the European Board of Medical Assessors, and past member of the Association of Medical Education, Europe.

As a scholar, he is the recipient of two manuscript awards from the Journal of Athletic Training and the Athletic Training Education Journal. For his many professional contributions, he has been the recipient of the NATA Athletic Training Service Award and NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. As an educator, he was awarded the NATA Executive Council on Education's Sayers "Bud" Miller Distinguished Educator Award in 2021 and has received two Dean's Awards for Excellence & Innovation in Teaching, a Dean's Excellence Award for Diversity and Inclusion in Teaching and Learning, and the all college Faculty Excellence Award, all from Ithaca College.

He admits to being an enthusiastic but slow road cyclist, an amateur shutterbug of nature and wonder, an aspiring wine snob and amateur foodie, and an unabashed promoter of equal rights, freedom, justice, and authentic democracy for all living beings. Susan, his life partner and wife of 34 years and he are fulfilled parents of two amazing young men – Nicholas, a writer living in Los Angeles, CA and Benjamin, a photographer and artist living in Brooklyn, NY.

Dr. Patrick McKeon is a BOC certified athletic trainer who joined the Ithaca College Athletic Training faculty in 2013. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Springfield College in Springfield, MA;  his Master of Science degree in Sports Health Care from the Arizona School of Health Sciences in Phoenix, AZ (now in Mesa, AZ); and his PhD in Sports Medicine at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He has held several positions as a clinical athletic trainer including Pearl River High School, Canisius College, and Marist College in New York, as well as Phoenix College and Brophy College Preparatory in Arizona.

SCHOLARLY/RESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. McKeon’s research focuses on functional alterations associated with lower extremity joint injury. He incorporates patient-, clinician-, and laboratory-oriented outcomes to evaluate these alterations due to injury. Dr. McKeon also seeks to develop a greater understanding of the restoration of function associated with rehabilitation.  He aims to provide insight into effective clinical interventions for the sports medicine clinician to improve functional outcomes and enhance prevention strategies for patients who suffer lower extremity injury.  

EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
Dr. McKeon's educational focus centers on evidence-based practice concepts and clinical reasoning theory. Within the courses he teaches, Dr. McKeon strives to instill a strong foundation in the integration of internal and external evidence for enhancing decisions related to the recognition, rehabilitation, and prevention of injuries/illnesses associated with athletic training clinical practice.

PERSONAL
Dr. McKeon enjoys spending his free time with his family and friends seeking out great life experiences. His wife, Dr. Jennifer McKeon is the IC Athletic Training Program Director and a faculty member in the Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training. They have two children (Bobby and Mallory) who are also proud to be Bombers!