Meet the experts

Kevin Cezat is a Physical Therapist, Director of Clinical Excellence for Therapy Management Corporation, and a board-certified specialist in geriatric physical therapy.  He is the Vice-Chair for the APTA Skilled Nursing Facility Special Interest Group and has over ten years of experience in long-term care settings.  He has presented for facility partners, the FPTA, and the APTA at a regional and national level on geriatric-related topics.  He currently oversees clinical best practices, technology usage, and specialty programming in facilities spread over 20 states.

Dennis G. O’Connell, Ph.D., DPT, PT, CSCS, FACSM, is a Professor and Shelton-Lacewell Endowed Chair at Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) with primary teaching responsibilities in Applied Physiology, Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy, Oncology, Rheumatology, and Endocrinology. Dr. O’Connell has clinical experience in Acute Care, Outpatient Orthopedics, and Endocrinology. He has numerous published manuscripts and textbooks, and more than one hundred national and international podium and poster presentations. He has been a manuscript reviewer for numerous peer-reviewed publications, including Physical Therapy, and has been an Associate Editor of Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He has taught a number of courses at CSM or Annual Conference meetings on Exercise Testing, Cardiopulmonary and Vascular Evaluation, and the Physiology of Cerebral Blood Flow. Dr. O’Connell has served the TPTA Midwest District as Vice-Chair as well as the President of the Texas Physical Therapy Education and Research Foundation. He has served as a member of the APTA Movement Diagnosis Group and the APTA Exercise Physiology Task Force. 

Cathy Richards is a certified Exercise Physiologist, Functional Aging Specialist, and Dementia Care Practitioner with over two decades of experience in wellness and aging services. Her expertise includes creating multi-dimensional wellness programs for senior populations, strategic leadership in senior living communities, and supporting individuals and caregivers affected by dementia. Cathy is a speaker and author of the best-selling book BOOM: Six Steps to a Longer, Healthier Life, and has been featured in media outlets such as The Washington Post and Fox5 News.