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Christopher M. Powers

Dr. Powers is the founder and owner of the Movement Performance Institute in Los Angeles. In addition, he is a Professor in the Department of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy, and Co-Director of the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Laboratory at the University of Southern California. He holds joint appointments in the departments of Radiology and Orthopaedic Surgery within the Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Powers received his Bachelors degree in Physical Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1984, his Masters degree in Physical Therapy from Columbia University in 1987, and a Ph.D. in Biokinesiology in 1996 from USC. Dr. Powers did his post-doctoral training at the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, University of California, Irvine.

Dr. Powers is recognized nationally and internationally for his research related to the biomechanical causes of lower extremity injury. More specifically, he is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on knee injuries; in particular patellofemoral joint dysfunction and tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Dr. Powers has published over 150 research articles and has received several awards from the American Physical Therapy Association, including the Rose Excellence in Research Award from the Orthopaedic Section, the Eugene Michels New Investigator Award, the Dorothy Briggs Scientific Inquiry Award and the Helen J Hislop Award for contributions to the professional literature.

Dr. Powers is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association. He also is a member of the American Society for Biomechanics, American Society for Testing and Measures, and the North American Society for Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis.

Skulpan Asavasopon

Dr. Asavasopon is the Director of Clinical and Fellowship Education at the Movement Performance Institute. Dr. Asavasopon has been the curriculum co-coordinator of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program since 2006. He currently serves on APTA’s Committee for Residency and Fellowship Program Credentialing as well as APTA’s Program Services Committee under the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education.

Skulpan has been an instructor and course developer for APTA’s Advanced Clinical Practice Series since 2008. His clinical training includes Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s residency program in orthopaedic physical therapy, post-graduate curriculum in Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, and a fellowship in manual therapy. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Therapists.

Youstina Atalla

Dr. Atalla received her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science Integrative Physiology from Pacific University in 2013. She then went on to obtain both her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy in 2016 and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2018 from the University of St. Augustine.

Dr. Atalla recently completed an Orthopedic Clinical Residency program at Kaiser Permanente and is currently completing her Fellowship at the Movement Performance Institute. She became a board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties in 2022. Dr. Atalla is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association and a member of the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy

Samantha Fernebok

Dr. Fernebok received both her Bachelor’s degree in Health Science and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia in 2012. She became a board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties in 2018. Additionally, she holds a physiotherapy license in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Fernebok recently completed her Fellowship at the Movement Performance Institute. In addition, Samantha has worked as a traveling physical therapist in multiple settings including skilled nursing facilities, subacute hospitals, inpatient acute hospitals, and predominantly outpatient physical therapy. She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association Orthopedics Academy.