Meet the experts

Melissa Bednarek received a Master of Physical Therapy from MCP Hahnemann University, a PhD in Physiology from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy from Chatham University. She has been a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy since 2014. In 2009, she joined the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program faculty at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA, where she is currently Professor and Program Director. Dr. Bednarek teaches clinical physiology, cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy, and the pharmacology thread in the curriculum. She has clinical experience in acute care, home health, and outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation. Her research interests include interprofessional education, high-fidelity simulation, and patients with pulmonary disease.

Jennifer Braswell Christy, PT, PhD is Associate Professor and DPT Program Director at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Dr. Christy has been a faculty member at UAB since 2004 and teaches Neuroscience, Scientific Inquiry, Pediatrics, and Vestibular Rehabilitation. Dr. Christy is the current Director of Research for the APTA  Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. Her primary area of research is in the development of innovative methods to assess and treat gaze instability, balance, and motor development in children with vestibular-related impairments. Related to this area of clinical practice and research, Dr. Christy teaches numerous continuing education courses in the U.S. and abroad.

Dr. Claire McLean is a physical therapist who is passionate about working with people who have Parkinson disease. She loves implementing the research which supports specific exercise programs and other wellness activities that people can do to improve their health and impact their Parkinson’s progression over their life.

She earned a doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Southern California and completed the Rancho/USC neurologic residency program. She is a board certified neurologic clinical specialist. She received her Bachelor in Science from the University of Michigan. She is trained and certified in PWR! Moves, LSVT Big, Rock Steady Boxing, ATTP, and loves to learn!

Early in her career, after seeing the incredible potential in people with Parkinson’s, she knew she had found her calling.

She founded Rogue Physical Therapy & Wellness to offer ongoing access to high quality exercise in Orange County California. Rogue recently moved into a new 6,000 square foot gym so they will be able to grow! Since the pandemic, she started an online exercise + wellness membership called Rogue In Motion, available to people anywhere in the world!