Featured Speakers

Chris Durall, PT, DPT, MS, SCS, LAT, CSC, is the director of the Student Health Center Physical Therapy Department and a graduate faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Previously, Durall was an assistant professor in the Physical Therapy Department at Creighton University where he received three consecutive “Educator of the Year” awards. Durall has extensive experience in manual therapy and sports physical therapy and he combines attributes of both in his courses. Durall earned an advanced master’s (1998) degrees in physical therapy from UW-L, and his doctorate from Creighton University (2002). He is a graduate of the Gundersen-Lutheran Sports Physical Therapy Residency program, a board-certified sports physical therapist, a licensed athletic trainer and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Durall has authored or co-authored numerous textbook chapters and published articles in several trade magazines.

Bryan Heiderscheit, PT, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received his physical therapy training at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and his doctorate in biomechanics from the University of Massachusetts.
Heiderscheit is the director of the Runners’ Clinic through the University of Wisconsin Sports Medicine Center. His research is aimed at understanding and enhancing movement coordination as it relates to pathology, with recent projects focused on the mechanisms of hamstring strain injuries and running-related injuries. Support for his research includes the NFL Medical Charities and the National Institutes of Health.
He received several awards from professional societies including the Margaret L. Moore Award for Outstanding New Academic Faculty Member by the American Physical Therapy Association. He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy and an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, serving as Chair of the Running special interest group and Vice-Chair of the Biomechanics special interest group.

Debra Murray, Psy. D.
Education: Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.; M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services, St. Mary's University, Rochester, Minn. and B.S. in Psychology, Viterbo College
Clinical Credentials: Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC), Intermediate Clinical Supervisor (ICS), Prevention Professional
Professional Activities and Affiliations: American Psychological Association, Wisconsin Psychological Association (Board Member and Treasurer), Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers
Professional Interests: Praxis (integrating research into clinical practice), Motivational interviewing, Implementing effective training methods for students and professionals
http://www.viterbo.edu/psych.aspx?id=566

Andrew Starsky, M.P.T., Ph.D., earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Degree from Marquette University in 1992. After practicing in the engineering field for 3 years, he returned to Marquette and received a Masters of Physical Therapy degree in 1998. While working full time, he starting to pursue a terminal degree in Biomedical Engineering and received his Ph.D. in 2007. He has been part of the adjunct faculty since 1999 and became a full time Clinical Assistant Professor in 2005. Andrew teaches the didactic portion of the DPT program in the 5th and 6th years. He lives in Mequon with his wife and 4 kids and is an active participant in ultramarathons, Nordic ski races, and adventure races. 

Gwyneth Straker, P.T., M.S., served as a tenured faculty member and assistant professor at UW-La Crosse prior to her retirement in 2011, where she taught courses associated with professional roles and behaviors. Straker served on the WPTA Disciplinary Action Committee as a member and as Chair, chaired the Ethics Advisory Committee for UW-L andprovided expert consultation for the Wisconsin’s Department of Regulation and Licensing regarding ethical practice of physical therapists.

Scott Straker, PT, MS, SCS, ATC, is Director of the Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program for Gundersen Lutheran Sports Medicine in Onalaska. Scott is a 1989 graduate of the Program in Physical Therapy at the UW-La Crosse and has been a certified athletic trainer for 20 years following the completion of an internship program at Utah State University. He has served as lecturer and adjunct faculty at the UW-La Crosse PT Department. His clinical interests center on the treatment of lower extremity dysfunction with an emphasis on the use of clinical biomechanical evaluation techniques. Scott was honored with the Lynn Wallace Clinical Educator of the Year Award by the Sports Physical Therapy Section in 2007.