Exercise Physiology Faculty and Staff

PorcariJohn P. Porcari, Ph.D., FAACVPR, FACSM

John is the Program Director of the Clinical Exercise Physiology (CEP) program and is also the Executive Director of the La Crosse Exercise and Health Program, the University’s on-campus fitness program. He teaches a number of courses in the CEP curriculum (ESS 782: Electrocardiography, ESS 783: Graded Exercise Testing and Prescription, ESS 784: Advanced Cardiovascular Physiology) and supervises many theses projects. He received his doctorate in Exercise Science from the University of Massachusetts- Amherst and his master’s degree in Adult Fitness/Cardiac Rehabilitation from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. His research interests focus primarily on evaluating new exercise equipment on the market and exercise training techniques in cardiac patients. John has published over 50 papers and authored or co-authored over 150 abstracts.

John was on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) for 9 years and is a Past President of the organization. He also has been on numerous committees and received a Distinguished Service Award from AACVPR in 1995. He was the President of the Wisconsin Society of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (WISCVPR) in 1998 and won the Award of Excellence in 2004.

Email: porcari.john@uwlax.edu
Phone: 608-785-8684

FosterCarl Foster, Ph.D., FACSM, FAACVPR

Carl is the Director of the Human Performance Laboratory, is the Research Director of the CEP program, and teaches a number of courses in the curriculum (ESS 744: Laboratory Techniques in Clinical Exercise Physiology, EFN 730: Research Methods, ESS 780: Philosophy and Organization of Preventative and Rehabilitative Programs). Carl has over 20 years of clinical experience (at Sinai Samaritan Medical Center in Milwaukee) before coming to UW-L. Carl has a very active research program and has published ~200 scientific articles and chapters and 11 longer works (books/monographs/ position stands). Relevantly, he was a co-editor of the first ACSM Health and Fitness Facilities Standards and Guidelines and was on the writing task force for the joint ACSM/AHA Position Stand on Health and Fitness Facilities.

Carl is highly involved in both ACSM and AACVPR. He is the Immediate Past President of ACSM and is the chairperson of the Research Committee for AACVPR. Additionally, he is the Chair of the Sports Medicine/Sports Science/Drug Testing committee for U.S. Speedskating.

Email: foster.carl@uwlax.edu
Phone: 608-785-8687

CadwellKristi Cadwell, B.S.N., M.S.

Kristi has been the Director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit of the La Crosse Exercise Health Program since 1993, helps teach in the CEP curriculum, and serves on theses committees. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of North Dakota and her master’s degree in Adult Fitness/Cardiac Rehabilitation from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Kristi’s nursing experience has all been with a cardiac focus. She has experience as a staff nurse working in a cardiac catheterization laboratory, has worked on a cardiac surgery unit, and has developed Phase II cardiac rehabilitation programs in Ashland, Wisconsin and Ellsworth, Maine. She is ACSM certified as an Exercise Specialist and a Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist and is an ACLS instructor.

Email: cadwell@acegroup.cc
Phone: 608-785-8682

UdermannBrian Udermann, Ph.D., ATC, FACSM

Brian is the Adult Fitness Director for the La Crosse Exercise and Health Program and is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at UW-L. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine from St. Cloud State University, and earned both his Masters (Health and Physical Education) and Doctoral (Applied Exercise Physiology) degrees from Syracuse University. Brian is a certified Health and Fitness Instructor through the American College of Sports Medicine and a certified Athletic Trainer through the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Research interests include low back pain, the effect of spirituality on health and healing, as well a variety of general topics related to health and wellness. His research has been presented at national meetings of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Brian has published nearly 40 peer- reviewed manuscripts and his research appears in such journals as Comprehensive Therapy, The Journal of Athletic Training, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, The Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, The Physician and Sports Medicine, and the Spine Journal.

Email: udermann.bria@uwlax.edu
Phone: 608-785-8181

GreanyKristin Greany, M.S., R.D.

Kris teaches ESS 781: Program Leadership in Clinical Exercise Physiology. She earned a B.S. in Nutrition from Valparaiso University, a M.S. in Adult Fitness/Cardiac Rehabilitation from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and is currently in the final stages of completing her doctorate in Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. As a dietitian and exercise physiologist for the past 17 years, she has worked in corporate fitness, cardiac rehabilitation, heart disease reversal programs, eating disorders treatment, and community health education, as well as taught nutrition and fitness courses at Central Wyoming College and the University of Minnesota. Her research interests include women’s health issues throughout the lifecycle and nutrition interventions for cardiovascular disease risk factor modification.

Email: grea0011@umn.edu
Phone: (608)-782-2247

DodgeChris Dodge, M.S.

Chris is the Technical Director of the Human Performance Laboratory and aids CEP graduate students in the equipment related aspects of their thesis testing. He received an undergraduate degree in Athletic Training from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Co and a Masters Degree in Human Performance from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. He is currently working on a degree in Biomedical Engineering at Western Wisconsin Technical College in La Crosse.

Email: dodge.chri@uwlax.edu
Phone: 608-785-8681

Eber LeeTeresa Eber Lee, M.S.

Teresa teaches ESS 782: Electrocardiography. She received her master's degree in Adult Fitness/Cardiac Rehabilitation from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. She also works at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI in the Exercise Physiology Department. Teresa coordinates the clinical rotations for the CEP students as well as facilitates research projects. Prior to returning to La Crosse, she worked in Charlotte, NC in diagnostic stress testing and outpatient rehabilitation. She is certified as an Exercise Specialist through ACSM.

Email: telee@gundluth.org
Phone: 608-775-2304

WrightGlenn Wright, Ph.D.

Glenn teaches the Physiology of Activity course (ESS 770) in the CEP program and serves on theses committees. He received his master’s degree in Adult Fitness from Ball State University and his doctorate in Exercise Science from Auburn University. Most of his practical professional experience has been as a strength and conditioning coach in Division I and II athletic programs and as a fitness professional. He is currently the Director of the graduate program in Human Performance at UWL. He is ACSM certified as a Health Fitness Instructor.

Email: wright.glen@uwlax.edu
Phone: 608-785-8689

BattistaRebecca A. Battista, Ph.D.

Becki is the Associate Director of the Human Performance Lab, teaches EFN 735: Interpretation of Statistical Data, and serves on theses committees. She received bachelor degrees in Health Science (Lock Haven University) and Physical Education Studies (University of Delaware) and a masters degree in Exercise Physiology from Indiana University. Becki’s doctorate is from Michigan State University where her educational background was Growth and Maturation of children and adolescents with an emphasis in pediatric exercise physiology. In the interim between her masters degree and doctorate, she spent 2 years as a Physiologist at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, working exclusively with USA Swimming. Becki’s research interests include physical fitness and nutrition in children and adolescents, body composition and bone mineral density in girls and women, and increasing overall fitness in girls and women.

Email: battista.rebe@uwlax.edu
Phone: 608-785-8182