Bruce E. Becker, MD, MS, is a graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine and completed his residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Washington. Prior to moving to Spokane, Dr. Becker was an Associate Professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine as well as Residency Program Director for the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Wayne State University School of Medicine. He served as Vice President of Medical Affairs for the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan from January 1992 until June 1998. He moved to Spokane to serve as Medical Director of St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute from June 1998 until January 2006. He is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and Research Professor at Washington State University, where he directs the National Aquatics and Sports Medicine Institute studying the effects of aquatic activity.

Prior to assuming those roles, he was in private practice with Rehabilitation Medicine Associates in Eugene, Oregon, where he founded the Oregon Rehabilitation Center, and served as its Medical Director for many years. He has been interested in fitness, conditioning and the medical problems of the performing athlete throughout his career. He has a major interest in aquatic rehabilitation, and is President of the American Society of Medical Hydrology. In 1997, Dr. Becker and Andrew Cole, MD co-authored the textbook Comprehensive Aquatic Therapy published by Butterworth-Heinemann, which is also published in Portuguese and German. The second edition of the textbook was published in 2002 by Elsevier, and a third edition is in progress to be published by Lippencott Williams and Wilkins in 2008. He has published chapters on aquatic therapy in the leading textbooks in rehabilitation, and lectured nationally and internationally in the area of aquatics. In 1996, Dr. Becker was chosen for listing in Best Doctors in America, Midwest Edition by Woodward and White, and was honored by his peers every year from 1998 to the present through his selection to the Best Doctors in America: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation listings. In 1999, Dr. Becker was named Aquatic Professional of the Year by the Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Institute at their annual meeting in San Diego. He was named to the Power 25 in Aquatics by Aquatics Magazine in 2006.

Lynette Jamison, MOT, OTR, is the director of aquatics and rehabilitation at Desert Pain Institute.  Completing her master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University, her career has incorporated OT services in a variety of settings including outpatient, inpatient, psychosocial services, aquatic rehab, hand rehab, work hardening, and lymphedema.  She consulted with the designers of Desert Pain Institute to develop the only peroxide therapy pool in the Mesa, Arizona, area. She was nominated Occupational Therapist of the Year and was named Aquatic Therapy Professional of the Year by the Aquatic Therapy & Rehab Institute in 1993. Lynette has coauthored two aquatic therapy textbooks, “A Team Approach to Aquatic Rehabilitation” and “Aquatic Therapy Using PNF Patterns”, and authored several chapters in other books, and numerous articles on lymphedema, fibromyalgia, and aquatic therapy.  Lynette is certified by the Dr. Vodder School of North America to utilize Manual Lymph Drainage® to treat patients with lymphedema.
 

Peggy Schoedinger, PT, is an internationally known speaker who has presented over 400 seminars throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. She teaches a full range of over 30 topics and techniques including Bad Ragaz, Halliwick, Watsu, Trunk Stabilization, Aquatic Manual Therapy Techniques, Aquatic Orthopedic Rehabilitation, and Aquatic Neurorehabilitation. Peggy is a certified Watsu instructor for Levels I, II and III.  She is also a certified Advanced Jahara Technique Specialist, and is certified in The Bad Ragaz Ring Method, Halliwick Concept Levels I and II and Advanced Halliwick. In addition to her private practice, Peggy has lectured at universities across the United States and written numerous articles.  Her frequent international trips allow her to stay abreast with the latest techniques and information from around the globe.

Lori Thein Brody, PT, PhD, SCS, is currently the Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy Graduate Program Director for Rocky Mountain University in Provo, Utah.  She also works as a Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer at the UW Health Sportsmedicine and Spine Center in Madison, WI.  She has taught in physical therapy education programs at Ithaca College and the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  Dr. Brody has lectured extensively across the country on management of orthopaedic and sports related injuries, aquatic physical therapy, arthritis and other connective tissue problems and musculoskeletal primary care.  She has over 20 articles and chapters to her credit and along with Carrie Hall, she co-authored Therapeutic Exercise: Moving Toward Function, published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.  She is currently working on the third edition of this text and a new textbook, co-edited with Paula Geigle, titled Aquatic Exercise for Rehabilitation and Training.  She served on the Musculoskeletal Panel for Volume II of the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, and on the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice Task Force, Volume III.  She also served on the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, including serving as its chair.  She also served on and chaired the Committee for the Credentialing of Post-Professional Clinical Residencies and Fellowships.
 

Bess Maxwell, PT, PhD, is a physical therapist and exercise physiologist with 10 years of aquatic PT experience. She has recently relocated to Arizona to continue her work in aquatics at La Posada Outpatient Therapies, a full-program continuum of care retirement community. In 1999 Dr. Maxwell founded ShowMe Aquatics & Fitness in St. Charles, MO, a mission-based organization to provide barrier free exercise for people with disabilities. At ShowMe she created aquatic therapy, exercise, and swimming lesson programs for toddlers, children, and adults in community pools.  She also is a visiting assistant professor position in the Program in Physical Therapy at the Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Maxwell has served as the treasurer of the APTA Aquatic Section for 4 years and is president-elect for 2008. 

She has earned the following academic degrees:
BS in Physical Education, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
MA Exercise Physiology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN
MS Physical Therapy, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
PhD Animal Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Jean Irion, PT, EdD, SCS, ATC, is a professor in the Physical Therapy Program at the University of South Alabama. She lives in Spanish Fort, Alabama, and has authored several chapters in textbooks/ monographs on various aquatic therapy topics. She has more than 25 years of clinical experience with particular emphasis in women’s health and aquatic therapy. She has been an invited speaker on a state, regional and national level on various women’s health and aquatic therapy topics. Dr. Irion currently serves as the Chair for the Women’s Health Specialty Council for the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists. She recently completed editing and writing several chapters in a textbook with her husband, Dr. Glenn Irion entitled: “Women’s Health Care in Physical Therapy: Principles and Practices for Rehabilitation Professionals” which is due to be published by Lippincott Williams and Wilkins in 2009. A chapter on Aquatic Therapy in Women’s Health Practice is included in this text.

Charlotte O. Norton, PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS, practices physical therapy in a variety of settings in Sacramento, Calif.  She specializes in orthopedics, sports medicine and aquatic physical therapy.  Her company, Building Bridges, is committed to facilitating relationships to provide a holistic continuum of care for her clients.  She co-authored The Aquatic Continuum of Care and the Aquatic Tool Box and she was the 2007 recipient of the Judy Cirullo Award for Leadership in Aquatic Physical Therapy.  
 

Dorene Hay, PTA, BS, received her associate degree and certification as a Physical Therapist Assistant in 2007 from Gateway Community College. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Montana State University in Physical Education and Health Sciences.  She has furthered her expertise in aquatics by receiving certifications in Watsu® and by the Aquatic Therapy and Rehab Institute and completing the Halliwick training. She works at Desert Pain Institute in Mesa, Az.