Physical Therapy Advisory Board

Physical Therapy Advisory Board

1. Marshall Berkley

   Marshall Berkeley, a native of Canton, Ohio, is a 2009 graduate of the University of Mount Union where he received his B.S. in exercise science. He received his D.P.T degree in 2012 from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. He currently works for Premier Therapy in Canfield, Ohio, primarily in the skilled nursing setting. He has previous experience in outpatient orthopedics, acute care, and inpatient rehabilitation. He also has more three years of experience working as a travel physical therapist in Texas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, and Massachusetts.

2. Richard Drake

   

   Richard L. Drake, Ph.D., FAAA, Director of Anatomy and Professor of Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of CWRU, is known as a teacher, educational researcher, author and leader.  A master teacher, he has awards from students, institutions, and the American Association of Anatomists (AAA) receiving the 2011 Henry Gray/Elsevier Distinguished Educator Award.  An accomplished researcher, he gives talks on educational topics at national and international meetings, and has published numerous peer-reviewed papers and book chapters.  He was appointed a fellow of the AAA in 2009 (FAAA) and was recently awarded the “Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez” medal by the Universidad Autonoma De Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico, where he is an Affiliated Professor of the Faculty of Medicine, for his outstanding contributions to medical education.  He is one of the authors of Gray’s Anatomy for Students, Gray’s Basic Anatomy, Gray’s Atlas of Anatomy, Gray’s Surface Anatomy and Ultrasound and Gray’s Anatomy for Students Flash Cards.  He currently serves as the Treasurer of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists.  Previous leadership activities have included Secretary/Treasurer of the American Association of Anatomists (11 years), Co-Editor-in-Chief of Anatomical Sciences Education (10 years), the education journal of the AAA, and President of the Association of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Neurobiology Chairpersons.

3. Erica Fink

   

   Erica is a 2007 graduate of Mount Union College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science.  She went on to receive her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Duquesne University and has been a physical therapist for 5 years.  Currently, she is a staff physical therapist at Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center working with pre-operative, post-operative and non-operative patients with orthopedic conditions.  She also has previous experience in acute care and rehab.

4. Jim Hideg

   

   A graduate of Hiram College in 1972 and one year as a high school science teacher, Mr. Hideg has been coaching high school wrestling for the past 43 years. He graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in Physical Therapy in 1979, working in the Youngstown-Warren area. Mr. Hideg is a licensed Athletic Trainer and a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He has served as an Athletic Trainer at local high schools since 1979. He is co-owner and operator of University Sports Physical Therapy, Inc. in Youngstown, Ohio. He has served on committees for the O.P.T.A., O.A.T.A. and he is a credentialed Clinical Instructor for the A.P.T.A. as well. He also serves on the executive boards of the Liberty High School Hall of Fame committee and the Mahoning County Coaches Association.

5. Roger Palutsis

   

   In the community of Alliance, Dr. Palutsis is a familiar figure as team physician for the University of Mount Union for the past 22 years.  This includes taking care of the championship Purple Raiders football team of the University of Mount Union in any division.  The team has clinched 13 NCAA Division III national titles — a record for any football program in any division in playoff standings.

   During his Orthopaedic Residency at Northwestern University in his hometown of Chicago, Dr. Palutsis was involved with the care of many of the professional athletes with the Chicago Cubs, Bulls and Bears.  He later served teams at Auburn University and Valdosta State College.  In treating athletes, too, Dr. Palutsis adheres to a philosophy of using the least-invasive techniques to heal injuries as quickly as possible.

   Dr. Palutsis is a current Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Palutsis is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago and Chicago’s Rush Medical College.  He completed his residency at the Northwestern University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is former President of the Medical Staff at Alliance Community Hospital. Among his awards, Dr. Palutsis received the Hughston Society Fellowship Research Award in 1992, and the Orthopaedic Surgeon of the Year Award in 2009. He and his wife, Josephine M. Palutsis, D.O., live in Louisville, Ohio, with their four children.

6. Laura Testrake

   

   Laura is a 2006 graduate of the University of Mount Union where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She then received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Walsh University. Laura currently works as a pediatric physical therapist at EJ Therapy in Wooster, Ohio where she treats a variety of diagnoses and helps to cover both the limb deficiency and torticollis/plagiocephaly clinics. She has previous experience in acute care, rehab, and early intervention settings.