Faculty and Administrative Staff
Mary L. Bennett, PT, MA, GCS Professor Bennett brings an extensive clinical background to her teaching and advising of physical therapy students. She teaches basic physical therapy skills, geriatrics, wound care, oncology, and tests and measures. She is board certified in geriatrics. The Indiana Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association awarded her with the Fran Ekstram Award for contribution to the profession of physical therapy. In 2004, the governor of Indiana appointed Professor Bennett to the Physical Therapy License Committee. She became chair of the committee in 2006. 
Robert Butler, PhD Dr. Butler teaches research methods, statistics, kinesiology and biomechanics. He also actively researches the effect of footwear and foot orthoses on lower extremity motion. Professor Butler currently has six peer-reviewed publications, and in 2005 he was a finalist for the Nike Prize for Footwear Research. He is currently interested in examining non-surgical ways to reduce the onset of premature knee osteoarthritis. 
Terry B. Chambliss, PT, MHS A seasoned clinical practitioner, Professor Chambliss has developed expertise in examination and intervention related to neuromusculoskeletal impairment. She has acquired a broad knowledge base and experiential background in manual therapy, including muscle energy, myofascial release, joint mobilization and lumbar stabilization. Her main teaching responsibilities involve the Orthopedic Patient Management course sequence and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation content throughout the PT and PTA curricula. Sherri A. Chambliss, Operations Administrator Sherri is in her 11th year with the Department of Physical Therapy. Her primary responsibilities are management of recruitment, enrollment and accreditation operations. Tana Chapman, Administrative Assistant Tana is the department's Administrative Assistant. She has been with the department for 8 years and coordinates activities in the Physical Therapy Office. 
Cheryl A. Griffith, PT, DPT, MA Dr. Griffith teaches, advises, actively practices and serves as a consultant. She has had multiple peer-reviewed papers regarding ethical issues in health care accepted for presentation at the national and international levels. She is currently involved in an interdisciplinary research study involving economic issues affecting health policy. Professor Griffith has served as a commissioner for the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education and as a board member and officer for the education section of the American Physical Therapy Association. Barbara Hahn, PT, MA Professor Hahn's teaching areas are functional anatomy, biomechanics, and professional issues. She is an active practitioner, focusing on home health care and geriatrics. She is completing the EdD program at Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. Professor Hahn's current research is titled "Normative Teaching Behaviors for Faculty in Selected Health Care Professions". In addition to directing the PTA Program, Professor Hahn is co-director of the Eykamp Center for Teaching Excellence at the University. 
Mary P. Kessler, PT, MHS In addition to providing overall leadership to the Department of Physical Therapy, Professor Kessler teaches and serves as an advisor to its students. Her areas of expertise and special interests include wellness, neurologic rehabilitation and physical fitness in individuals with disabilities. Along with her University of Evansville colleague Tink Martin, she co-authored the first neurologic textbook for physical therapist assistants. Professor Kessler has received the Dean's Teaching Award, the Sadelle and Sydney Berger Award for scholarly activity and in 2007 was selected as a University Global Scholar for her work related to international clinical internships and the development of cultural competence in physical therapy students. 
Kyle Kiesel, PT, PhD, ATC, CSCS Dr. Kiesel teaches within the musckuloskeletal area of physical therapy including the advanced orthopedic and sports medicine course. He is actively engaged in research where his interests include the incorporation of ultrasound imaging into the assessment of patients with low back pain and functional movement testing and training for athletes. Professor Kiesel was a presenter and a member of the organizing committee for the first international symposium on rehabilative ultrasound imaging held at Fort Sam Houston, Texas in 2006. He has published and presented his work nationally and internationally focusing on the effects of pain on motor control of the spine. He teaches continuing education courses related to the physical therapy management of patients with low back pain emphasizing the current best evidence for lumbar stabilization training. Dr. Kiesel received his B.S. in Physical Education and Sports Medicine in 1990 from the University of Nebraska, Kearney and his MPT from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He is engaged in patient care in orthopedics and sports at ProRehab, PC in Evansville and he serves as a manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy and for the Journal of Sports Rehabilitation. 
Suzanne "Tink" Martin, Professor Professor Martin is a renowned authority in the areas for pediatric physical therapy and normal growth and development. She has been recognized for her teaching, scholarship and service, having received the Bud Dehaven Award from the Pediatric Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, the Fran Ekstam Award from the Indiana Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, and the Sadelle and Sydney Berger Award for scholarly activity. 
Melody Plisky, PT, DSc, OCS, ACT/L Dr. Plisky received her Master of Physical Therapy Degree from the University of Evansville and her Doctor of Science Degree in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She is a board certified orthopaedic specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She is a licensed athletic trainer and is board certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association. She practices clinically at ProRehab, PC in Evansville, Indiana and specializes in sport and orthopedic rehabilitation with emphasis on injury prevention in athletes. She is also the certified athletic trainer for Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville, Indiana. Janet S. Szczepanski, PT, MHS, GCS Professor Szczepanski's teaching and clinical interests are in the areas of adult neurologic rehabilitation, geriatrics and prosthetics. She has completed training in the neurodevelopmental treatment of adult hemiplegia and is credentialed by the American Physical Therapy Association as an educator of clinical instructors. Her current work in cultural awareness has resulted in the development of an elective clinical experience for students in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica. Frank B. Underwood, PT, PhD, ECS Dr. Underwood, board certified in clinical electrophysiologic physical therapy, teaches research methods, statistics, medical physiology, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and clinical electrophysiology. In addition to teaching, Professor Underwood maintains an active clinical practice in electrophysiology. He has over 20 peer-reviewed research publications, won the Texas Physical therapy Association's Best Research Platform Presentation twice, and received the Dean's Teaching Award. For admission information email us at: pt@evansville.edu |
