Speakers

Dr. Kristi Hallisy, PT, DSc is an Associate Professor at the University of WI-Madison DPT program. Her education includes a BS (PT) from the University of WI-Madison (1984), MS (Kinesiology) from the University of MI-Ann Arbor (1992) and a DSc (PT) from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI (2011). UW-Madison DPT teaching responsibilities include musculoskeletal coursework, health promotion and wellness, orthotics and tai chi independent study and research practicums. Dr. Hallisy is an ABPTS board certified specialist in orthopedics (OCS, 1999-present) with a wide array of PT tools including manual therapy (CMPT, 2008-present)), exercise (CEEAA, 2014) and movement strategies (tai chi, qigong) to help PTs and PTAs promote optimal aging and wellness in their patients/clients. She is the Director of Mentoring for the UW-Health and Meriter Unity Point Orthopaedic Residency program. In 2008, she developed a tai chi–based group Movement Awareness and Exercise Program for Persons with Chronic Conditions for UW-Health Interprofessional Pain Clinic. Her research team developed Tai Chi Prime (TCP), a National Council on Aging evidence-based falls prevention program for community-dwelling older adults (Gerontologist, 2019). This program has also been culturally adapted (Inclusive TCP) for persons of color (African American/Black and Latinx), including full Spanish translation.

Course Description: This course will discuss the art and science of modern manual therapy and use outcomes from joint play assessment to design specific mobilization/manipulation treatment strategies for patients. Participants will receive body mechanics advice for manual therapy from the Tai Chi PT, as well as guidance on how to keep your future clinical manual therapy toolbox up to date. Participants will practice some skills!

Kyle is a 2006 graduate of Marquette University. He passed the CSM exam in 2012. He started the Emergency Department Physical Therapy program at UnityPoint Meriter Hospital in 2017. Clinical interests include low back pain and he has presented on using clinical practice guidelines for low back pain within the emergency department at conferences.

Mike Cropes, PT, DPT is a co-chair of the APTA WI Pain SIG and an assistant professor at UW-Madison, where his scholarly work focuses on the implementation of contemporary pain management practices. He has completed physical therapy residency and fellowship training, earning recognition as a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy (OCS) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT). Come join Dr. Cropes in a discussion of his recent article “Exploring Pain Phenotyping in Cervicogenic Headache Management” published in the December 2025 issue of Current Pain and Headache Reports.

Course Description: Drawing from his recent publication in Current Pain and Headache Reports, Dr. Cropes will explore the application of pain phenotyping to the diagnosis and treatment of cervicogenic headache. This course will provide students with a deeper understanding of pain neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and practical tools for integrating pain phenotyping models into clinical practice.