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| Instructor Biographies | |
| Robert A. Ruffalo, PT, DC Founder, President and Lead Instructor of CESI Continuing Education Seminars Incorporated, which aims to teach hands-on courses that health care professionals can immediately utilize in a clinical setting. A nationally known speaker, consultant and clinical educator, Dr. Ruffalo is a physical therapist (PT), doctor of chiropractic (DC), and is also a certified golf fitness instructor/medical professional, Level 3 by the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI CGFI-MP3), and a TPI Junior Level 2 Coach (JR2). In addition to his work as a physical therapist and chiropractor (one of only few dual licensed practitioners in NJ), Dr. Ruffalo has a passion for educating his peers by providing continuing education courses to physical therapists, chiropractors, physical therapy assistants, athletic trainers, massage therapists, insurance industry professionals as well as students pursuing their advanced degree. Many of the seminars are based on the advanced work of two medical pioneers: the late Dr. John Mennell, an orthopedist and founder of the joint dysfunction model for diagnosis and treatment, and the late Dr. Janet Travell, who founded the trigger point (myofascial pain) model of diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Ruffalo was fortunate to have lectured and taught with these practitioners and researchers. |
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| Dr. Ruffalo first met Dr Mennell in 1988 at a seminar in Philadelphia while he was in chiropractic college at one of his upper extremity mobilization courses. Dr. Ruffalo was already a licensed Physical Therapist and was also going to Chiropractic College in New York. He was so intrigued about this approach he wrote Dr Mennell a letter and Dr. Mennell invited Dr. Ruffalo to visit him at his home in Advance, North Carolina. With two other colleagues Dr. Ruffalo spent the entire weekend filming Dr. Mennell and absorbing as much knowledge as they could. Upon their return they formed REI - a seminar company with Dr. Ruffalo and Robert Scanlon, PT, Cert MDT and they began hosting and teaching with Dr. Mennell. Dr. Ruffalo and Mr. Scanlon had the opportunity of meeting Dr. Janet G. Travell, the pioneer of myofascial pain and trigger points in 1990. They were teaching with Dr. John Mennell who coined the terms "joint play" and "joint dysfunction" and after the seminar they all went to see Dr. Travell who was a friend and colleague of Dr. Mennell at another seminar in the area. They had a wonderful dinner and all decided to do seminars featuring both Drs. Mennell and Travell. They did many of these seminars together under the former company REI (Rehab Education Inc). The two leaders in the field of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction on the same stage was received so well by the healthcare community they did a myriad of these events all over the country. Upon Dr. Mennell’s death in 1992, Dr. Ruffalo and Mr. Scanlon started teaching with Dr. Travell and Dr. Ruffalo and Mr. Scanlon took over the Mennell part of the seminar while Dr. Travell did her material. After Dr. Travell passed away in 1997, both Techniques were taught by REI. In 2008 Dr. Ruffalo formed CESI (Continuing Education Seminars Inc) to carry on the work and models of both Dr. Travell and Dr. Mennell, a promise he made to the Travell and Mennell families. When Dr. Travell passed away, Dr. Ruffalo was one of the selected speakers at her funeral at the Washington National Cathedral and was asked to memorialize her in the ceremony. These two great clinicians, teachers and friends influenced Dr. Ruffalo's career and how he treat patients. Dr. Ruffalo is truly honored to be teaching their approaches to pain and dysfunction and keeping their legacy alive for manual healthcare providers. Dr. Ruffalo is also the owner and director of A T.E.A.M. Approach Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Center in Bloomfield, NJ, which he established in 1990. At A T.E.A.M. Approach Physical Therapy Center, he brings together his diverse expertise, vast experience, and personal interests to deliver a unique multi-disciplinary health care practice. Dr. Ruffalo specializes in the diagnosis of joint pain and soft tissue management as well as manual therapy of the spine and extremities. He is trained in a variety of treatment approaches and techniques, specializing in chronic and difficult cases. Dr. Ruffalo has taught over 100 seminars and was named as a Clinical Professor for P.M.R.F. Physical Medicine Research Foundation to carry on the work of Dr. Mennell on an international level. He has taught throughout the U.S. and Canada. | |
| Chris Gellert, PT, MPT, CSCS, C-IASTM, NASM-CPT Chris is the CEO of Pinnacle Training & Consulting Systems (PTCS), a continuing education and consulting company. Chris has 20 years of strong, diverse experience in treating movement dysfunctions as an experienced physical therapist and personal trainer and 15 years as an experienced international presenter. PTCS provides evidenced based with practical application educational material in the forms of home study courses, live seminars, articles, videos, webinars, podcasts, advanced certifications. He is the sole creator of Certified Post Rehabilitation Specialist (CPRS) certification and 17 home study courses (see Pinnacle TCS) Chris has 21 years of strong, diverse experience in treating movement dysfunctions, 21 years experience as a personal trainer and 15 years as an experienced international presenter. His clinical experience includes having worked in hospital, industrial rehabilitation, outpatient, and private practice settings. Chris has extensive experience treating spinal injuries, sacroiliac, degenerative, sports and various movement dysfunctions including fascial dysfunctions. He holds an Advanced Master's degree in orthopedics; sports physical therapy from the University of South Australia, a Master's degree in physical therapy from Nova Southeastern University and B.S. in Marketing from SUNY Plattsburgh. |
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| Robert Scanlon, PT, Cert MDT Mr. Scanlon is a licensed Physical Therapist with over 40 years of experience. After graduating from Northeastern in Boston, MA, he became a co-founder of Rehab Education Inc. with Dr. Ruffalo, which brought continuing education programs to physical therapists, chiropractors, and physicians. It was through Rehab Education Inc. where they lectured and taught with the late Janet Travell, MD, and John Mennell, MD. Mr. Scanlon specializes in outpatient orthopedic, sports medicine and vestibular rehabilitation with a multi-specialty group in northwest NJ. Mr. Scanlon is also credentialed in Mechanical Diagnosis & Treatment (MDT) by the McKenzie Institute, USA. |
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