Core Faculty
Dr. Christina Elena Odeh, PT, MHS, DHSc is the Atlanta campus DPT Program Director and Associate Professor. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Master of Health Science in Neurological Physical Therapy from the University of Indianapolis, and Doctor of Health Science in Physical Therapy with a minor in Education from the University of Indianapolis. She completed an interdisciplinary fellowship in developmental disabilities from the Westchester Institute of Human Development and is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy. She has also completed a Diversity and Inclusion and Leading Remote Teams Certificates from Cornell University. Dr. Odeh’s experience draws from 27 years of clinical practice, including work in Spain and the UK, and 10 years of teaching in the areas of pathophysiology, evidence-based practice, and research application as well as the management of acute and chronic conditions in pediatric, cardiopulmonary, and complex patients. Her educational research interests include both clinical reasoning and equity in DPT education. Her clinical research focuses on interventions and assessment of balance, coordination, and gait in patients with Autism and Parkinson’s disease.
Dr. Kevin L. MacPherson PT, DPT, DSc, MTC, OCS, FAAOMPT graduated with an entry-level Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Florida in 2002. As a lifelong learner, he sought further post-graduate training and attained certification in manual therapy and a transitional Doctorate in Physical Therapy through the University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences (2009). Immediately following completion of those programs, he then underwent fellowship training through Regis University (2011). Subsequently, he began shifting from clinical practice toward teaching and completed a Doctor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy through Bellin College (2021). Kevin has served in various leadership roles in the American Physical Therapy Association, the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists, and the Florida Physical Therapy Association. His research interests center on musculoskeletal pain, clinical reasoning, and machine learning. Dr. MacPherson serves as an Assistant Professor and Director of Outcomes and Assessment for the South College DPT program in Atlanta.
Dr. Brynn Rooney PT, DPT, SCS is an Assistant Professor and Director of Curriculum for the South College DPT program in Atlanta. Dr. Rooney received a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Washington University in St Louis in 2010 and a B.S. from Villanova University in PA. Her physical therapy education was based on the Movement System Impairment method. Dr. Rooney previously served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Northern Illinois University for six years teaching musculoskeletal, clinical and behavioral science courses, while also acting as a faculty clinical instructor in the faculty PT clinic supervising over 200 DPT students in clinical practice. Dr. Rooney has been board-certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy (SCS) since 2014 and currently serves as a member on the ABPTS Sports Specialty Council. She has extensive outpatient clinical practice in a variety of settings including owning a practice and most recently working as member of the US Army Special Operations Human Performance program. Her clinical and research interests include: youth sports injury prevention, rehabilitation of the tactical athlete, female health across the lifespan and competency-based education in physical therapy.
Dr. Monique P. Flemings PT, M.Ed., D.Min. is a core faculty member and Director of Admissions for South College Atlanta School of Physical Therapy. She graduated from University of Illinois in 1989 with a BS in Physical Therapy and draws from over 33 years clinical experience in complex patients, geriatrics, rehabilitation management and home health experience. She has served as a manager for a rehabilitation department and practice manager for physician-based outpatient centers. She is an author of 18 inspirational books and an international speaker. She has traveled to Ghana West Africa on several missions’ trips providing health education and training to poverty-stricken villages. Her experience includes serving as Director of Clinical Education for a Physical Therapy Assistant program and Clinical Education Faculty for a DPT program in Illinois. She has served as IPTA SSIG Coordinator for PTA students. Her community service includes being the keynote speaker for Support Organization for Minority Physical Therapist and an item writer for FSBPT.
Dr. Patrick Berner, PT, DPT, RDN holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (2016) in St. Augustine, Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics with minors in Business and Kinesiology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2012). Dr. Berner is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and specializes in patient-centered care, with an emphasis in the geriatric population. He has taught in entry-level DPT education since 2019, serving as adjunct faculty for several physical therapy programs, in the capacity of lab assistant, co-instructor, and primary instructor. Dr. Berner has co-authored several peer-reviewed publications on the integration of nutrition in physical therapist practice and has presented nationally for both dietetics and physical therapy audiences. He is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and APTA South Carolina, serving as Chair of APTA’s Health Promotion and Wellness Council and a South Carolina Delegate. Dr. Berner is also the Founding Executive Director of PT in the Community, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to positively impact the local underserved and disadvantaged communities that are visited for physical therapy conferences. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the South College DPT Program in Atlanta.
Dr. Ross Marinas, PT, DPT, EdD earned master and doctorate degrees in physical therapy from Nova Southeastern University in 2004 and 2007. In 2013, Dr. Marinas was trained as a Neurodevelopmental clinician for children with neuromuscular disorders. In 2019, he became an APTA Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy. Dr. Marinas defended his dissertation titled Students’ Perception of Cognitive Load and the Impact of Academic Tutoring Services and Gender in an Accelerated DPT Program with a Blended Curriculum and earned a Doctor of Education degree from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in the Fall of 2021. Dr. Marinas is a Pediatric mentor for PTs and PTAs in the pediatric field through the American Physical Therapy Association Pediatric Academy. Dr. Marinas is a member of the Specialization Academy of Content Experts (SACE) as an item writer for the Pediatric Certification Specialist examination as of early 2022. His research focuses on addressing current issues in higher education. Dr. Marinas is passionate about higher education and student academic success and serves as an Associate Professor and Director of Student Affairs for the South College DPT program in Atlanta.
Dr. Sarah Harrison, PT, DPT, CCS earned her DPT from the University of Washington in 2011 and has extensive experience in the acute care hospital environment, as well as inpatient rehabilitation and cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy. She completed a Fellowship in Critical Care Physical Therapy at the University of Chicago in 2014, going on to help train staff and develop early ICU mobility and rehabilitation programs in hospitals in Chicago, Denver, and Seattle. She earned a Board Certification in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy in 2016 and has assisted with cardiovascular and pulmonary education as well as burn and integumentary education at several DPT programs in Illinois, University of Colorado in Denver as well as the South College DPT program from 2015-2018. As core faculty at South College since 2020, Dr. Harrison seeks to bring the perspectives of many experiences from different regions of the country and different areas of PT practice. Having seen the significant racial and socioeconomic disparities present across the country in both patients and employees in healthcare settings, she has a special interest in fostering diversity, equality, and inclusion in the future of the physical therapy profession. She currently serves several critical access hospitals and a level II trauma center in central Oregon as a PT in acute care, transitional care, and acute rehab. Dr. Harrison serves as Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education for the School of Physical Therapy DPT Program in Atlanta.
Dr. Alex Siyufy, PT, DPT, ATC, SCS, Cert. MDT, Cert. DN graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training (2001) from Duquesne University and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh (2003). Dr. Siyufy is a board-certified Sports Clinical Specialist (SCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, certified in the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (Cert. MDT), certified in the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), and also holds a certification in Dry Needling (Cert. DN) from the Spinal Manipulation Institute. Dr. Siyufy has a background as an item writer for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and as an examiner for the National Athletic Trainer’s Board of Certification (BOC) examination. Dr. Siyufy is active in outpatient practice and has a passion for treating patients with a combination of evidence-based exercises and manual therapy. Dr. Siyufy serves as an Associate Professor with the School of Physical Therapy where he teaches in the area of musculoskeletal management, pharmacology, and advanced therapeutic interventions.
Dr. Tiffany Fondren, PT, DPT received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from South College – Knoxville in 2018. She completed her residency in Orthopedic Physical Therapy in 2020. Dr. Fondren has spent her career working in outpatient orthopedics with a focus on manual therapy and chronic pain. She assists with instruction in an orthopedic residency program that focuses on chronic spine and musculoskeletal conditions including complex regional pain syndrome. Dr. Fondren expresses her passion for post graduate development and clinical excellence through teaching and mentoring DPT students via our innovative hybrid program. Being both an alum and faculty of South College, Dr. Fondren has a unique perspective and passion for ensuring student success.