John A. Nyland, DPT, SCS, EdD, ATC, CSCS, FACSM
Professor and Program Director
Dr. Nyland possesses an extensive résumé of professional training and routinely serves, advocates and teaches around the world. Nyland is an editorial review board member for the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT), the Journal of Athletic Training, Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy, Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica, the Turkish Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation and Case Reports in Orthopedics. Dr. Nyland is president of the JOSPT Board of Directors. Nyland is a physical therapy consultant with the International Grande Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. He is a past recipient of the Excellence in Education Award given by the Sports Section of the American Physical Therapy Association and the John Joyce Award given by the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery, and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. Nyland developed the books Innovations in Knee Rehabilitation and Clinical Decisions in Therapeutic Exercise: Planning and Implementation; he also developed a home study course, Therapeutic Strategies for Developing Neuromuscular Control in the Kinetic Chain. Nyland served on the 1996 and 2008 USA Paralympic games sports medicine staff and as an International Para-Archery Classifier in 2012 and 2016.
Tiffany Franklin, MA, LAT, ATC
Clinical Education Coordinator
A native of Indianapolis and an athletic trainer since 2007, Tiffany Franklin earned her bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Franklin College and her master’s degree in exercise science and sport performance from Ball State University where she was a graduate assistant athletic trainer. She has served as an assistant athletic trainer at Butler University and the athletic trainer at Lawrence North High School. Prior to coming to Spalding, Franklin was the sports medicine coordinator with Community Health Network Sports Medicine in Indianapolis where she developed outreach contacts, sports medicine services and interdisciplinary educational programming. She also assisted the Indy Eleven and Indy Fuel teams with sports medicine services.
Sabrina Pletz, MS, LAT, ATC, PTA
Assistant Professor and Assistant Athletic Trainer
Sabrina Pletz earned her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Cumberland College and her Master of Science in Exercise Science from Fort Hays State University. As an assistant athletic trainer at the University of Charleston, she taught athletic training courses and provided care to NCAA Division II athletes. Sabrina served as president of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and was the recipient of their Athletic Trainer of the Year Award in 2011. Prior to coming to Spalding University, Pletz served as the clinical education coordinator for the athletic training program at St. Catharine College. As an assistant athletic trainer, she provides services to Spalding University student-athletes. She also continues to practice as a physical therapy assistant with Genesis Rehab Services.
Demetra Antimisiaris, PharmD
Associate Professor
Demetra Antimisiaris, also known as Dr. D, is a graduate of the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy where she received her Doctor of Pharmacy. She then completed a clinical pharmacy residency in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy at the UCLA-West Los Angeles veterans administration program. Dr. D is an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology and leads the Frazier Polypharmacy and Medication Management program which is dedicated to education, research and outreach to help solve the problems associated with polypharmacy. She authors continuing education courses for physicians, pharmacologists, nurse practitioners, social workers and other interdisciplinary learners. She serves on the editorial board of several peer reviewed journals and is dedicated to pharmacology education.
Jun Matsuno, MS, LAT, ATC
Head Athletic Trainer
Jun Matsuno graduated from Wilmington College in Ohio with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training. He earned his Master of Science degree from Eastern Kentucky University. As the head athletic trainer at Spalding University, he oversees the care of over 200 student-athletes from 17 different sports. Before joining Spalding University, Matsuno served as an assistant athletic trainer at West Virginia Wesleyan College, Georgetown College and Eastern Kentucky University. His internship experience includes a stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Lisa Potts, PhD
Assistant Professor
Lisa Potts graduated from Centre College with a Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology. She earned her Doctorate in Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology from the University of Louisville. She received training in neurophysiology and neuropharmacology as a post-doctoral scholar at Emory University, studying novel treatment strategies for Parkinson’s disease in non-human primates. She continued training as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Kentucky, working on studies of neuroprotection in non-human primate and rodent models of Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Potts then expanded her study to spinal cord injury as a senior research associate at the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center at the University of Louisville. There she worked with patients who had sustained spinal cord injuries, studying the effects of epidural spinal cord stimulation on the cardiovascular system. Dr. Potts oversees the anatomy and neuroscience courses in the MSAT program.
Amy Verst PhD, LAT, ATC, RNP
Adjunct Faculty
Dr. Verst received a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from the University of Arizona, a Master of Science in Nursing from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science from Bellarmine University. She is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and a certified athletic trainer. Dr. Verst is highly experienced in care of children and disabled athletes. She teaches the Medical-Surgical Conditions and Diagnostic Tests course in the MSAT program. Dr. Verst also assists the Spalding University Athletic program as a volunteer assistant athletic trainer.