The MPI Team

Dr. Powers is the founder and owner of the Movement Performance Institute. In addition, he is Professor and Associate Chair in the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California and Director of the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Laboratory. Dr. Powers earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, his Master's degree in Physical Therapy from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Biokinesiology from USC. He completed post-doctoral training at University of California, Irvine.

An internationally recognized leader in human movement science, Dr. Powers’ research has advanced understanding of lower-extremity biomechanics and their role in musculoskeletal injury. His work has helped inform evidence-based approaches to the prevention and treatment of knee pain and sports-related injuries. He has authored more than 230 peer-reviewed publications and has received funding from the National Institutes of Health and other agencies to support his research.

Dr. Powers is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association, the Association’s highest honor. He is also a member of the American Society for Biomechanics, International Society for Biomechanics, and Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society.

Kamryn Elgersma

PT, DPT, CSCS

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 completed her Fellowship at the Movement Performance Institute in 2020. She continues to maintain a staff position at MPI where she mentors subsequent fellows and is annually a clinical instructor. In addition to her staff position at MPI, Samantha owns a concierge home health PT company offering high level orthopedic/ sports physical therapy. 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 and a PT representative for the CPTA Long Beach South Bay District.

The  MPI Team

Dr. Powers is the founder and owner of the Movement Performance Institute in Los Angeles. In addition, he is an Associate 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 Bachelor's degree in Physical Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1984, his Master's 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 130 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. In addition, Dr. Powers is Editor of the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy.

Dr. Elgersma graduated from Calvin University with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Spanish in 2022. She graduated with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from USC in 2025. She holds an additional certification as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist which was received in 2024. She is currently completing her Post-graduate Fellowship at the Movement Performance Institute. In addition, she has experience working with Division I athletes during clinical internships with USC and Stanford Athletics. Dr. Elgersma is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Academy for Sports Physical Therapy.

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 completed her Fellowship at the Movement Performance Institute in 2020. She continues to maintain a staff position at MPI where she mentors subsequent fellows and is annually a clinical instructor. In addition to her staff position at MPI, Samantha owns a concierge home health PT company offering high level orthopedic/ sports physical therapy. 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 and a PT representative for the CPTA Long Beach South Bay District.