Dr. Adam Rufa is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy Education at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. He has over two decades of clinical and academic experience, specializing in pain management and orthopedics. His clinical practice focuses on treating patients with chronic and complex pain conditions, such as chronic spine pain and extremity disorders, including complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Dr. Rufa emphasizes science-based interventions and psychologically informed care to optimize patient outcomes. Dr. Rufa’s research focuses on improving outcomes for patients living with pain. His work explores the attitudes, beliefs, and decision-making processes of physical therapists, the application of pain education for older adults, and the integration of rehabilitation with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for conditions such as CRPS and fibromyalgia.

Through his teaching, research, and clinical practice, Dr. Rufa strives to help patients and clinicians better understand and manage pain, fostering a compassionate and psychologically informed approach to care.

Dr. Tabitha Galindo is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy. She works as an Assistant Professor in Pacific University’s Physical Therapy Program and a community-based outpatient physical therapist. Dr. Galindo received her DPT in 2019 from Pacific University and is a candidate for a Doctor of Education degree in Healthcare Education and Leadership from Nebraska Methodist College. Dr. Galindo’s passion for education on trauma-informed approaches was cultivated as an APTA Delegate, where she served as the primary contact for HOD P07-24-04-08, “Recommended Education on Trauma-Informed Care Across the Physical Therapy Profession.”