Faculty
Debbie Baylor, PT, MEd, DPT
Senior Lecturer
Licensed since 1978. Clinical background in acute care, administration, and pediatrics. Assists with clinical education team, serves as clinical instructor in clinic, and assists with professional course sequence.
Office: Willow Hall 355
Phone: (512) 716-2669
E-mail: DB38@txstate.edu
Janet R Bezner, PT, DPT, PhD
Professor
Licensed since 1981. Joined the faculty at Texas State in Fall, 2014, having taught at Southwest Texas State from 1995 to 2002. Dr. Bezner was a staff Vice President at the American Physical Therapy Association for 9 years, leading the Education and Governance and Administration Units. Her PhD is in health education from the University of Texas and her interests and expertise are in health promotion, prevention and wellness. Dr. Bezner has chaired the Faculty Senate at Texas State, 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and has been re-elected for 2021-2022.
Office: Willow Hall 345
Phone: (512) 716-2659
E-Mail: jb25@txstate.edu
Jacob Garza, PT, DPT, Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist, Fellow of the American 
Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists
Academy of Orthopedic Manual
Clinical Lecturer
Licensed PT since 2011. A graduate of the Texas State Physical Therapy program. He completed his fellowship training at the Manual Therapy Institute in 2016. Dr. Garza assists with the musculoskeletal and anatomy sequence as well as therapeutic exercise.
Office: Willow Hall 347
Phone: (512) 716-2661
E-mail: jg1647@txstate.edu
Karen Gibbs, PT, DPT, PhD, Certified Wound Specialist
Professor
Licensed PT since 1999. Certified Wound Specialist with active clinical practice in wound management. Teaches examination techniques, therapeutic interventions, special issues, patient care skills and integumentary physical therapy.
Office: Willow Hall 352
Phone: (512) 716-2666
E-mail: kg18@txstate.edu
Denise Gobert, PT, PhD, Board Certified Neurology Clinical Specialist, Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults
Professor
Licensed PT since 1994. Is part of the neuroscience team and research team. Has previously taught at University of Kansas Medical Center and served as adjunct at University of Maryland and George Washington University. Specialty area is vestibular rehabilitation. Dr. Gobert Chairs the Institutional Review Board at Texas State.
Office: Willow Hall 325
Phone: (512) 716-2648
E-mail: dg46@txstate.edu
Jennifer Hale, PT, DPT, Board Certified Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy
Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. Hale is a licensed physical therapist and Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy. She has left her full time faculty position but will continue to provide clinical supervision in the Physical Therapy Clinic on a part-time basis. She graduated with her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Boston University in 2007 and completed the TIRR Memorial Hermann Neurologic Physical Therapy residency in 2010. She is working toward her PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Texas Health Sciences, School of Public Health.
Phone: (512) 716-2652
Email: jlh277@txstate.edu
Mark Lester, DPT, PhD, OCS |
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Debra McDowell, PT, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Joined us in September 2013. Licensed in Texas. Completed PhD at TWU in 2008. Has been in practice in Austin for over 20 years with practice focused on fall prevention in older adults. Teaches in the neuro sequence, body systems course, therapeutic exercise, and with the clinic decision making course series.
Office: Willow Hall 343
Phone: (512) 716-2657
Email: DM78@txstate.edu
Suzy Dougherty Okere, PT, PhD, Certified Athletic Trainer, Licensed Athletic Trainer
Clinical Associate Professor
Licensed PT since 1998. Board Certified in Sports Physical Therapy. Completed a Sports Physical Therapy Residency in 2000. Teaches anatomy and clinical applications for the orthopedic sequence. Completed PhD at TWU Spring 2012.
Office: Willow Hall 323
Phone: (512) 716-2646
E-mail: sd11@txstate.edu
Mary Elizabeth Parker, PT, PhD, Board Certified in Neurologic and Pediatric Physical Therapy
Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. Parker received her undergraduate degree at Duke University in 1991 with a double major in biological psychology and physical anthropology. Her Masters in Physical Therapy was awarded in 1995 from the Medical College of Virginia and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2012 from Texas Woman's University. Dr. Parker coordinates the neuroscience sequence with emphasis in teaching in neuroanatomy and pediatrics. She is dually licensed in Texas and Connecticut, and she is board certified in both neurologic and pediatric therapy by the Academy of Board Certified Specialists, which is unique in the field. Her passion is working with those with undiagnosed and rare disorders, and she serves this community through her role as the Medical Liaison for U.R. Our Hope.
Office: Willow Hall 322
Phone: (512) 716-2813
E-mail: mp40@txstate.edu
Leeda Rasoulian, PT, DPT, Fellow of American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy
Leeda Rasoulian, PT, DPT, Fellow of American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Clinical Lecturer
Licensed PT since 2014. A graduate of the Texas State Physical Therapy program. Completed fellowship training in manual therapy and orthopaedics in 2017. a part-time faculty member, assists with lecture and lab for the muculoskeletal sequence and consults in the PT Clinic
Phone: (512) 716-2656
E-mail: lr1304@txstate.edu
(08-04-2020)
Angela Rich, OCS, PT, ScD, Certified Athletic Trainer
PT Clinic Director
Clinical Associate Professor
Licensed as a physical therapist in 1994. Certified Athletic Trainer since 1984. Dr. Rich earned a Doctor of Science degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2011. She is a private practice owner for 16 years with specialization in sports medicine/ orthopaedics and a special interest in treating elite club, collegiate and international athletes. Board Certified in Orthopaedics. A graduate of Texas State Physical Therapy Program, Dr. Rich returned to the program in the fall of 2015 as a member of the musculoskeletal team. Currently Director of the on-site clinic and advisor for the pro bono, Community Access Clinic.
Office: Willow Hall 354
Phone: (512) 716-2668
E-mail: ajr33@txstate.edu
Damian Rodriguez, PT, DPT, Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist, Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist
Clinical Lecturer
Licensed physical therapist since 2015, Dr. Rodriguez has practiced primarily in the area of neurologic rehabilitation with a focus on individuals with Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, and Traumatic Brain Injury. Dr. Rodriguez assists with lecture and lab for the Neuroscience sequence, Patient Care Skills, and as a clinical instructor during Directed Clinical. He graduated with his Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2015 and from the Neurologic Physical Therapy residency in 2016, both from Texas State University.
Office: Willow Hall 353
Phone: (512) 716-2667
E-mail: DR1211@txstate.edu
Scott W. Shaffer, PT, PhD, ECS, Board Certified Electrophysiologic Specialist
Clinical Professor
Licensed Physical Therapist since 1992. Dr. Shaffer has left his full time position at Texas State but will continue to provide specialty instruction in his area of expertise. He is a retired Colonel from the United States Army, serving in a variety of roles including Chief of Army Physical Therapy, Dean of the Graduate School at the Army Medical Department Center and School, and Director and Professor at the US Army Baylor Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy. Dr. Shaffer is a board certified clinical electrophysiologic specialist and has extensive clinical and teaching experience in neurologic and orthopaedic assessment. He is also an investigator on various research projects to include studies examining injury risk screening and the influence of neuromusuloskeletal injury on postural stability and physical performance.
Steve Spivey, PT, DPT
Director of Clinical Education
Clinical Associate Professor
Licensed since 1990. Director of Clinical Education. Clinical background in acute care, home health and acute rehabilitation. Special interest in stroke and brain injury rehab, geriatrics, prosthetics/amputations and clinical education. Assists in patient management course and other clinical courses.
Office: Willow Hall 360
Phone: (512) 716-2674
E-mail: SS66@txstate.edu
Lois Stickley, PT, PhD
Associate Professor
Licensed since 1982. Joined Texas State in Fall 2014 with 19 years of experience teaching in a professional and post-professional physical therapy program and over 30 years of clinical practice. Clinical background in neurologic physical therapy and expertise in professional development and leadership. Coordinates the clinical decision making sequence. Currently serves as Interim Chair for the department.
Office: Willow Hall 351
Phone: (512) 716-2665
E-Mail: LAS239@txstate.edu
Shannon Williams, PT, DPT,
Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
PT Clinic Supervisor
Clinical Lecturer
Licensed PT since 1993. A graduate of the Texas State Physical Therapy program. Has extensive experience in clinical practice. Supervises on-site physical therapy clinic and assists Dr. Spivey with clinical education program.. Specialty area is Clinical Education.
Office: Willow Hall 356
Phone: (512) 716-2670
E-mail: sw32@txstate.edu
Barbara Sanders, PT, PhD, Board Certified Sports Specialist, Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association
Retired as Department Chair May 2021
Professor
Licensed PT since 1972. Director of PT Program. Certified Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy Emeritus. Specializes in sports injuries, pre-season participation examinations, acute care and rehabilitation. Teaches in the professional course sequence, assists in research courses.
Phone: (512) 716-2676
E-mail: bs04@txstate.edu
(02-21-2019)