LSVT BIG Faculty
LSVT BIG® Course Faculty Bios and Disclosures
Patricia S Brown PT, DPT, NCS
Dr. Brown has been a board-certified PT Clinical Specialist in Neurology since 1999 and LSVT BIG Certified since 2009. She is a graduate of the Parkinson Foundation’s Allied Team Training (ATTP) program. She is a highly experienced physical therapist and is now a Clinical Associate Professor in the PT Program at Chapman University in California. She is also an instructor and board member at a local non-profit gym for persons with Parkinson disease (PD).
Course Instructor for: Virtual Live and In-Person LSVT BIG Training and Certification Courses
Heather Cianci, PT, MS, GCS
Ms. Cianci received her PT Clinical Specialist Certification in Geriatrics in 1999 and her LSVT BIG Certification in 2007. She is the Neurologic Team Leader at the Dan Aaron Parkinson's Rehab Center in Philadelphia. She is a 2004 graduate of ATTP and joined as ATTP faculty in 2017. Ms. Cianci has written and lectured for several national PD organizations, on-line CEU providers, and PT programs at Philadelphia area universities. She is also a former board member for CurePSP.
Course Instructor for: Virtual Live and In-Person LSVT BIG Training and Certification Courses
Cynthia Fox Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Dr. Fox is an expert on rehabilitation and neuroplasticity and the role of exercise in the improvement of function consequent to neural injury and disease. She is a world leader in LSVT LOUD and conducted related efficacy research in Parkinson’s and other disorders. Dr. Fox worked on the development of LSVT BIG. She is faculty for LSVT LOUD and LSVT BIG Training and Certification courses. Dr. Fox is CEO and Co-Founder of LSVT Global, Inc.
Course Instructor for: Virtual Live and In-Person LSVT BIG Training and Certification Courses
Laura Gusé, BSPT, MPT
Ms. Gusé has extensive experience treating people with neurodegenerative disorders in various practice settings. She was LSVT BIG certified in 2009 and now serves as Chief Clinical Officer of LSVT BIG. Ms. Guse’ oversees the training, curriculum and product development related to LSVT BIG, and has helped to create many of the current LSVT BIG treatment tools, webinars, and courses. She has spoken at many national and international conferences on topics related to LSVT BIG.
Course Instructor for: Virtual Live, In-Person and Online LSVT BIG Training and Certification Courses; LSVT BIG Renewal Course; BIG for LIFE® Training Course
Tamara Hefferson, PT, DPT, CSCS, OCS
Dr. Hefferon has been certified in LSVT BIG® since 2009 and received her Orthopedic Clinical Specialist Certification in 2017. She is an Assistant Professor and Orthopedic Specialist at Franklin Pierce University. She also co-owns a cash-based practice called Impact Physical Therapy in Phoenix. She has a passion for treating persons with Parkinson disease with emphasis on early onset and young onset patients.
Course Instructor for: Virtual Live and In-Person LSVT BIG Training and Certification Courses
Bernadette Kosir OTR/L, CAPS
Ms. Kosir has over 35 years of OT experience, specializing in home health clinical leadership, quality process development, and innovative clinical education. She is currently Branch Manager at Henry Ford Home Health, part of a large non-profit health system serving Detroiters with an established LSVT BIG and LSVT LOUD continuum of care. As a therapy director, she developed and managed successful LSVT BIG and LSVT LOUD clinical programs that brought this evidence-based treatment approach to homebound patients with advanced Parkinson's Disease throughout Michigan. Ms. Kosir has been LSVT BIG Certified since 2008 and joined LSVT Global as faculty in 2011. She is a certified trainer in Integrated Care Management for coordinated care of patients with chronic diseases including Parkinson disease and is an NAHB Certified Aging in Place Specialist.
Course Instructor for: Virtual Live and In-Person LSVT BIG Training and Certification Courses
Kathleen Salik PT, DPT, NCS, MSCS, CCCE
Dr. Salik is a board-certified PT Clinical Specialist in Neurology and is also a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist. Ms. Salik has advanced training in Vestibular Rehabilitation and has been LSVT BIG certified since 2010. Her clinical experience has focused on neurological rehabilitation for adults with PD, MS, stroke and vestibular impairments. She is the Clinical Coordinator for Education for Banner Thunderbird Outpatient Rehabilitation Services in Glendale, AZ.
Course Instructor for: Virtual Live and In-Person LSVT BIG Training and Certification Courses
Jenny Tuccitto, MPT, GCS
Ms. Tuccitto has been certified in LSVT BIG® since 2009 and part of the LSVT BIG Training and Certification Faculty since 2011. She has extensive experience in treating a wide variety of clients with neurological diagnoses over the last 20+ years with a focus in Parkinson Disease. She now serves as the Director of Innovation and Communications for LSVT Global as well as the LSVT BIG Clinical Expert. Jenny has assisted with the development of many LSVT BIG treatment tools & courses including the LSVT BIG Homework Helper videos, BIG for LIFE training, webinars & LSVT for LIFE.
Course Instructor for: Virtual Live, In-Person and Online LSVT BIG Training and Certification Courses; LSVT BIG Renewal Course; BIG for LIFE® Training Course
Erica Vitek MOT, OTR, BCB-PMD, PRPC
Ms. Vitek has been certified in LSVT BIG since 2009 and is a graduate of the Parkinson Foundation’s Team Training program. She is also a trained PWR! (Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery) provider. Erica has a special interest in the unique pelvic floor, bladder, bowel, and sexual health issues experienced by individuals with PD. She is Board Certified in Biofeedback for Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction, a Board-Certified Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner, and Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute faculty authoring Parkinson Disease and Pelvic Rehabilitation. She presents and authors articles for the Wisconsin Parkinson Association. She is employed by Aurora Sinai Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI, leading LSVT programing, including LSVT BIG graduate exercise classes.
Course Instructor for: Virtual Live and In-Person LSVT BIG Training and Certification Courses
Julia Wood, MOT, OTR/L
Ms. Wood is an occupational therapist specializing in assessment and treatment of people with Parkinson’s disease. Julia is currently the director of Professional & Community Education at the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA). Julia has served as faculty for the Parkinson’s Foundation’s Team Training for Parkinson program since 2016 and served on the Parkinson’s Foundation Rehabilitation Task Force in 2021. She co-authored the first American Occupational Therapy Association Practice Guideline for Adults with Parkinson’s Disease in 2022 and serves on the Comprehensive Care Subcommittee for the World Parkinson’s Congress (WPC) in Barcelona, Spain in 2023.
Course Instructor for: Virtual Live and In-Person LSVT BIG Training and Certification Courses
LSVT BIG Faculty Disclosures
All of the LSVT BIG faculty have both financial and nonfinancial relationships with LSVT Global.
Non-financial relationships include a preference for the LSVT BIG as a treatment technique.
Financial Relationships include:
Dr. Cynthia Fox is an employee of and has ownership interest in LSVT Global, Inc.
Laura Gusé and Jenny Tuccitto are employees of LSVT Global, Inc.
All of the LSVT BIG Faculty receive consulting fees, lecture honorarium and travel reimbursement from LSVT Global, Inc.
The purpose of all LSVT BIG and BIG for LIFE courses is solely to educate attendees on the topic and not promote the business/product in any way.