Pain Neuroscience Specialist Certificate Course

Lorimer Moseley, DSc, PhD, FAAHMS, FACP, is a Professor of Clinical Neurosciences and Foundation Chair in Physiotherapy at the University of South Australia. He has over 30 years clinical experience working with people in persistent pain, has authored hundreds of articles, multiple books and chapters and continues to present keynote lectures globally. His community outreach and whole of community education initiatives are internationally renowned. His work is cited in clinical guidelines internationally. He is an honored member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, an Honorary Fellow of the ANZCA Faculty of Pain Medicine and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

Stephen W. Porges, PhD, is a distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University, where he is the founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium within the Kinsey Institute. He holds the position of Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina and Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland, and is a founder of the Polyvagal Institute. Dr. Porges served as president of both the Society for Psychophysiological Research and the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences and is a former recipient of a National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Development Award. He has published approximately 400 peer-reviewed scientific papers across several disciplines including anesthesiology, biomedical engineering, critical care medicine, ergonomics, exercise physiology, gerontology, neurology, neuroscience, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatry, psychology, psychometrics, space medicine, and substance abuse. His research has been cited in more than 50,000 peer-review publications. In 1994, Dr. Porges proposed the Polyvagal Theory, a theory that links the evolution of the mammalian autonomic nervous system to social behavior and emphasizes the importance of physiological state in the expression of behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders. The theory is leading to innovative treatments based on insights into the mechanisms mediating symptoms observed in several behavioral, psychiatric, and physical disorders.

He is the author of The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation (Norton, 2011), The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe (Norton, 2017), Polyvagal Safety (Norton, 2021), co-author with Seth Porges of Our Body Polyvagal World (Norton, 2023), and co-editor with Deb Dana of Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Theory: The Emergence of Polyvagal-Informed Therapies (Norton, 2018). Dr. Porges is also the creator of a music-based intervention, the Safe and Sound Protocol™, which currently is used by approximately 3,000 therapists to improve spontaneous social engagement, to reduce hearing sensitivities, and to improve language processing, state regulation, and spontaneous social engagement.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Stephen Porges is a Courtesy Professor with the University of Florida College of Medicine, a Distinguished University Scientist of Indiana University, and a Professor with the University of North Carolina. He receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Porges is co-owner of Polyvagal Music, LLC. He receives a speaking honorarium, book royalties, and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He receives royalties and is a stockholder with integrated Learning Systems/Unyte.
Non-financial: Dr. Stephen Porges is an emeritus member of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, and the Society for Psychophysiological Research. He holds a patent on Televagal equipment.

Perry Nickelston, DC, NKT, FMS, SFMA, is a chiropractor with primary focus on Performance Enhancement, Corrective Exercise, and Metabolic Fitness Nutrition and trained with The American College of Addictionology and Compulsive Disorders. He is an expert in myofascial, orthopedic, medical and trigger point soft tissue therapy. He is a member of the Board of Directors and Medical Staff Advisor for AIMLA (American Institute of Medical Laser Application). Dr. Perry also serves as the director of clinical protocols and training for LiteCure Medical Lasers specializing in Myofascial Laser treatments. He is an expert in movement assessment and diagnosis. He is certified and trained as a columnist for Dynamic Chiropractic, Practice Insights, Chiropractic Economics, To Your Health magazine, Advance Physical Therapy, PT on the Net, LiveStrong, StrengthCoach, and other industry publications for health and fitness. Nickelston graduated from Palmer Chiropractic University and is a master fitness trainer with over 25 years' experience in the health industry. Suffering from obesity as a teenager and overcoming all of the emotional strife that accompanies being overweight, Dr. Perry dedicated himself to teaching others how to get in shape and lead a healthy lifestyle. He is currently publishing several books on health, fitness, laser therapy, business success, and self-treatment programs from his website.
 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Perry Nickelston is the owner of Stop Chaising Pain, Pain Laser Center, LLC, and Functional Health Solutions, LLP. He receives royalties and a speaking honorarium from Therasage, Aspen Laser, Fringeheals, and Proneurolight. He is the Chief Medical Officer and Consultant for LiteCure Therapy Lasers. Dr. Nickelston receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Dr. Perry Nickelston is a member of the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors.

Adriaan Louw, PT, PhD, earned both an undergraduate as well as a master's degree in physiotherapy from the University of Stellenbosch in Cape Town, South Africa. He is an adjunct faculty member at St. Ambrose University, South College and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, teaching pain science. Adriaan has taught throughout the US and internationally for 20 years at numerous national and international manual therapy, pain science and medical conferences. He is a Certified Spinal Manual Therapist, Certified Pain Specialist and has authored and co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles related to spinal disorders and pain science. Adriaan completed his PhD on pain neuroscience education and is the Director of the Therapeutic Neuroscience Research Group - an independent collaborative initiative studying pain neuroscience. Adriaan is the Program Director of the Therapeutic Pain Specialist and Pain Science Fellowship post-graduate program for Evidence In Motion.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Adriaan Louw has employment relationships with OPTP, Medbridge, BehaVR and Evidence in Motion. He receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Adriaan Louw has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Beth Darnall, PhD, is Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine. She is Director of the Stanford Pain Relief Innovations Lab. Dr. Darnall has twice briefed the U.S. Congress and the FDA on the need for patient-centered pain care and opioid stewardship. She is a scientific member of the NIH Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee and served as a scientific member of the CDC Opioid Workgroup. she is Chief Science Advisor for AppliedVR and serves on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. Her work has been featured in outlets such as Scientific American, NPR Radio, BBC Radio, and Nature. She has authored five books for patients and clinicians on pain and opioid reduction. In 2018, she spoke on the psychology of pain relief at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Beth Darnall has employment relationships with Applied VR, the NIH, PCORI, Institute for Brain Potential , and Stanford University. She receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Darnall receives a speaking honorarium as a National and International speaker. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Dr. Beth Darnall is a member of the International Association for the Study of Pain, American Academy of Pain Medicine, and the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Tom Walters is a board-certified orthopedic physical therapist that specializes in the treatment of pain and movement disorders. He is the founder of Rehab Science and dedicates his time to teaching people about human movement, pain, and how to most effectively recover from injury. Besides running his clinical practice, Tom served as a full-time undergraduate kinesiology professor for nine years where he taught human biomechanics, therapeutic exercise, and pain science. Tom received his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Montana State University and his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Chapman University. Afterwards, he completed a residency in orthopedic manual physical therapy (OMPT) and a fellowship in lower quarter functional biomechanics. You can find more of Tom’s content on Instagram and YouTube (@rehabscience) as well as his website rehabscience.com. Tom lives in Santa Barbara, CA with his wife Kirsten, and their two daughters.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Tom Walters is the founder of Rehab Science Physical Therapy, Inc. He is sponsored by Garmin. Tom Walters receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. All financial relationships with ineligible organizations have been mitigated.
Non-financial: Toma Walters is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.

 

Benjamin M. Keizer, PhD, ABPP, is a board-certified clinical health psychologist with extensive post-doctoral training in clinical health psychology at the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium. He serves as the head of Health and Human Performance Psychology at the Center for the Intrepid (CFI), Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas where he provides care for military service members who have sustained serious injuries (e.g., amputation, limb-salvage, multi-trauma, major surgery). In this capacity he serves as both a provider and program director for the Functional Restoration Program for chronic pain and a provider and program manager of the Special Operations Performance and Recovery (SPaR) program. He has been awarded an Army Systems of Health Innovation Grant as a result of excellence in creating novel interdisciplinary programs, and his leadership resulted in a 2018 and 2022 Best of the Best Specialty Care Clinic award from the military and Army Health Systems.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Benjamin Keizer has employment relationships with the San Antonio Military Medical Center and Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center. He receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Benjamin Keizer has no relevant non-financial relationships.

John Jones, PhD, is a fellowship trained clinical health psychologist with the 59th Medical Operations Squadron at Joint Based San Antonio-Lackland, TX. He currently serves as health psychology faculty for the clinical psychology residency at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, San Antonio, TX. He has also been certified in Motivational Interviewing by the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). As a MINT trainer he has a passion for empowering medical professionals across multiple disciplines – physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, and physician practices – to seamlessly integrate motivational interviewing techniques into their daily practice.

Through dynamic workshops, personalized coaching, and evidence-based strategies, he equips providers with the tools to foster genuine connections with patients.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: John Jones Jr. has an employment relationship with Rochester College. He receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: John Jones Jr. is a member of the Society of Air Force Psychologists, the Society for Military Psychology, and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science.

Vanessa Ruiz, ND, RN-BSN is a dedicated Naturopathic Physician and Registered Nurse, renowned for her holistic approach to mental health and chronic diseases. With a doctorate from Sonoran University in Tempe, AZ, and honors in nursing from Stony Brook University in NY, Dr. Ruiz blends evidence-based practices with natural treatments to provide comprehensive care for her patients. Her multifaceted background includes clinical research and extensive training in therapeutic modalities such as Homeopathy, Neurofeedback, and Mayan Medicine.

Dr. Ruiz utilizes her expertise in functional nutrition to address chronic illness and the impact of toxic stress on aging. She is deeply committed to improving the quality of life for older adults by tailoring nutrition and lifestyle strategies to enhance longevity and well-being. Her personalized approach to healthcare empowers patients to take control of their health and thrive as they age.

A national speaker on integrative health and resiliency, Dr. Ruiz has trained thousands of healthcare professionals on integrative and functional medicine, known for her ability to distill complex ideas into simple, easy-to-understand concepts for her audience. In this talk, she will share insights into the transformative power of nutrition in promoting healthy aging and managing chronic conditions.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Vanessa Ruiz maintains a private practice and has employment relationships with AZ Trauma Institute, Essential Therapy Training, and Nurses for Natural Health. She is the president of Integrative Wellness Strategies and a consultant with Integrative Mental Health. Dr. Ruiz receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She serves on the advisory board for Evergreen Certifications. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Vanessa Ruiz has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Alyson Evans, DC, has dedicated the last 20 years to mashing up her passions for healthcare and education, alongside pursuing her purpose of building and serving a team. Alyson has helped grow multiple businesses, by prioritizing professional education and product innovation. She was at the forefront of growing the RockTape brand and community for a decade. Up for a new challenge, she found herself asking "What else is possible?" Alyson is the C-CEO and Founder of Fringe, a company grounded by its dedication to improving how we live and how we learn.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Alyson Evans is the founder and Co-CEO of FRINGE. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Alyson Evans has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.

Mike Stella, AT, is a Certified Athletic Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, and Performance Enhancement Specialist who is dedicated to helping all athletes and people overcome injuries and functional limitations. Mike has served as an athletic trainer for the Florida Gators Football and Track & Field teams, assisting in all facets of sports medicine, including injury evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation. While with the Gators, Mike developed his affinity for manual therapies, honing his skills with some of the best athletes, coaches, and multidisciplinary medical staff in the nation.

After his time at Florida, Mike was hired as the rehabilitation coordinator and athletic trainer at George Washington University. Since then, Mike has seen time at other NCAA Division 1 universities, as well as in the private sector at the US Athletic Training Center. He then started Recovery Lab, a unique membership-based sports medicine model in Syosset, NY. Mike is a Marist College graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in sports medicine and athletic training. He also holds a Master’s Degree in sports management from George Washington University.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Michael Stella is the owner of The Movement Underground, LLC and receives a speaking honorarium from Fringe, LLC. and Implus, LLC. He receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. All relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations have been mitigated.
Non-financial: Michael Stella has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Julia Schneider holds a master’s in literature from University of Texas at Austin and is a graduate of Columbia University’s professional certification in narrative medicine. She is the founder of RISE Wellness Center in Austin, TX, a team of psychotherapists and massage/yoga therapists specializing in treating persisting pain. She is also the founder and director of NarrativeRx, an international learning community for healthcare providers, patients, teachers, and activists interested in deepening their listening skills through literature, philosophy, and the arts. She hosts group workshops, teaches online courses, and provides one-on-one training in narrative medicine at NarrativeRx.com.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Julia Schneider is the director and founder of Narrative Rx. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Julia Schneider is a member of the Western Literature Association, the International Association of Yoga Therapy, Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

Hayden Center, PhD, LPC, has been treating individuals and families who suffer from substance abuse disorders, including opioid use disorder, for over 25 years in a private practice setting. Dr. Center most recently served as the evaluator for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s (CSAP) Southeast Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (SECAPT) and the Border Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (BCAPT).

Dr. Center served as a consultant to the Alabama Governor’s Office of Drug Abuse Policy for 10 years and has worked with numerous state and local agencies in the state of Alabama.

He has provided over 200 trainings on the topics of science-based prevention, evaluation, risk and protective factors, co-occurring disorders, and other mental health and substance abuse issues. His current interests are providing training and technical assistance to increase the usage and effectiveness of evidence-based treatments and approaches.

In addition to his private practice, Dr. Center has taught in university settings for over 28 years. He teaches graduate-level courses in theories of psychotherapy, advanced objective testing, psychopharmacology, and undergraduate courses in psychology at Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama. He earned his PhD in counselor education and Master of Science in psychology at Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Hayden Center maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with the University of Phoenix. He receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Hayden Center is a member of the American Counseling Association.

Joseph LaVacca, PT, DPT, OCS, has been practicing physical therapy in New York City since 2010. He is the owner and founder of Strength in Motion Physical Therapy, where his passion lies in helping individuals with chronic pain rediscover themselves and their joy in both movement and life. Joe also holds advanced certifications in Orthopedics and movement screen utilization for the FMS/SFMA and functional range systems. Joe also prides himself on being a functional strength and mobility coach, while also having the opportunity to educate clinicians throughout the country and the world on topics such as building therapeutic alliance through the art of communication, understanding pain, treatment of lower extremity dysfunction and gait assessment, the clinical applications of CBD and breathwork interventions, as well as kinesiology taping and instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Joseph LaVacca is the owner and physical therapist of Strength in Motion Physical Therapy. He has employment relationships with Fringe, Inc, RockTape, and Force Couple LLC. Joseph LaVacca receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Joseph LaVacca has no relevant non-financial relationships.