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Faculty

	Craig Coccia, MD Marquette General Neurosurgery Dr. Coccia's areas of expertise are neurosurgery and spine surgery. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, which is where he also attended medical school. He did his internship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit in general surgery, and his residency there as well but in neurosurgery. He had a fellowship in spine surgery at the Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburg, Pa. He is board certified in neurosurgery.

	J. Bryan Dixon, MD Marquette General Sports Medicine Bryan Dixon is a sports medicine specialist who works to prevent, diagnose and rehabilitate injuries in active people. His practice centers on non-operative orthopedics and the comprehensive medical care of athletes. Bryan has a special interest in shoulder injuries, tendon disorders and youth sports injuries including concussion. Dr. Dixon sees patients at Orthopaedic Associates of Marquette, P.C., in the Peninsula Medical Center. Board certified in sports medicine and family medicine, Dr. Dixon completed his family medicine residency at the Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program, where he was chief resident his final year. He earned his medical degree from Michigan State University - College of Human Medicine. He has completed a sports medicine fellowship at Notre Dame's South Bend Sports Medicine Fellowship Training Program in South Bend, Ind.

	Jan Hillman Marquette General Hospital Jan Hillman is the vice president for government relations, grant develop and planning at Marquette General Health System and Superior Health Partners in Marquette, Mich. Her previous position at MGHS was as executive director of the Marquette General Foundation. Jan also worked as an associate vice president for university development at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio; and as director of grants and research development at the Kettering Medical Center Foundation in Kettering, Ohio. She was the CEO and owner of Hillman Associates, Inc., from 1983-2005. Jan holds a bachelor's degree from Kent State University and a master's from the University of Toledo.

	Matt Jaksetic, ATC Negaunee High School Matt received his Bachelor's Degree from Ohio Northern University in 2007. He then worked as an Athletic Trainer for 2.5 years with Dickinson County Hospital in Iron Mountain working as Head Athletic Trainer with Norway High School and Niagara High School. In 2010, Matt took an Athletic Training position in Sun Valley, Idaho where he wrote a proposal that was unanimously approved by the St. Luke's Hospital Wood River Foundation to fund implementing the ImPACT Program for Sun Valley Youth Hockey. While in Idaho, he was a member of the Summer Institute Sports Medicine Symposium Committee that was held in Twin Falls. Matt was also a speaker on the topic of concussion awareness and management; and also served as a panelist along with Dr. Dave Jensen and Dr. Alex Homaechevarria. In August of 2010, he moved back to the Upper Peninsula to serve as a Clinic and Outreach Athletic Trainer with Bell Hospital. He is currently the Head Athletic Trainer at Negaunee High School and the Bell Sports Medicine ImPACT Program Coordinator. He is also an EMT-Basic with Bell ambulance and a volunteer fire fighter with Ishpeming Township. During his free time he enjoys exercising, playing baseball, fishing, and hunting.

	Chris Kirk, MS, AT Northern Michigan University Chris is an associate professor in Northern Michigan University’s Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department. He also serves as the clinical coordinator for the NMU’s athletic training education program. Prior to his employment at NMU, Chris served as program director for the Lake Superior State University athletic training education program. He has also worked in sports medicine clinics, junior colleges and universities with NCAA Division I and II athletics programs. His career as an educator began as a part-time physical education instructor at St Louis Community College – Meramec in Kirkwood, Mo. Chris has a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Indiana State University and a master’s from Miami University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate of philosophy in educational leadership from Western Michigan University.

	Julianne Kirkham, PhD Marquette General Health System Dr. Julianne Kirkham is a neuropsychologist that works with the rehabilitation team at Marquette General Hospital. She earned her master’s degree and doctorate in clinical psychology from Wayne State University. She did a post-doctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at the University of Michigan. She did her undergraduate work in psychology at Lake Superior State University. Dr. Kirkham has been the leading member of the traumatic brain Injury team at MGH for the past 20 years, as well as seeing patients with a variety of neurological conditions for assessment and treatment recommendations.

	John Lehtinen, MD Marquette General Health System John L. Lehtinen, MD, a board-certified sports medicine physician, is nationally known as one of the most knowledgeable physicians in treating athletic injuries. In the past, John has served on the medical staff for the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China in 2008, the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain in 1992, and was head physician for the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996. Board Certified in sports medicine, geriatrics, addiction medicine and family medicine, Dr. Lehtinen treats a full spectrum of injuries, ranging from active women in mid-life highly prone to rotator cuff tears, to men suffering nagging injuries from biking, or playing basketball, baseball or hockey. He also receives referrals for sports medicine second opinions from all across the Upper Peninsula. Dr. Lehtinen serves as a team physician for Northern Michigan University, the United State Olympic Education Center, the Marquette Electricians Hockey team, Marquette Junior Hockey and Marquette Area Public Schools. He is also a volunteer assistant coach with NMU hockey, and has worked extensively with USA Hockey and has coached hockey at many levels during the past 30 years.

	Mark Lovell, PhD University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Concussion Program Mark R. Lovell, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized sports concussion expert and founding director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Sports Medicine Concussion Program. The program is the first and largest program of its kind to both clinically manage and scientifically study the neurocognitive effects of sports-related concussion and develop better methods of post-concussion evaluation to determine when it is safe for an athlete to return to sports following a concussion. Dr. Lovell developed and implemented league-wide neurocognitive testing for both the National Football League and the National Hockey League during the 1990s. He currently serves as a consultant for the NFL, NHL, NASCAR, Indianapolis Racing League, Major League Soccer and the US Ski/Snowboard Teams. He has authored or co-authored dozens of groundbreaking research studies published in major scientific journals involving the assessment of the neurocognitive effects and management of sports-related concussion, particularly in high school and college athletes. He is a frequently invited presenter at international scientific meetings and has edited or co-authored nine textbooks and numerous book chapters. Before joining UPMC in 2000, Dr. Lovell was the director of neuropsychology at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit since 1996. Prior to that, he had been director of neuropsychology and chief of neuropsychological services at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. He is currently a professor of orthopaedic surgery and neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School. In 2003, Dr. Lovell was given the Distinguished Alumni Award at Northern Michigan University. He had also been twice a finalist for the Pittsburgh Business Times' Health Care Hero, Innovation and Technology Award. Mark received a bachelor's degree in psychology at NMU in 1977 and a doctorate degree in clinical psychology at the Finch University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School in 1984. He then completed a post-doctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Nebraska Medical School in 1985. In 1997, he graduated from the Leadership Development Program at the Henry Ford Health System. A diplomate of the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology and fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, he also is a member of the International Neuropsychological Society, American Psychological Association, American Neuropsychiatric Association, Brain Injury Association, Pennsylvania Psychological Association and the Canadian Psychological Association. He is a reviewer for the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience and guest reviewer for Clinical Psychology Review and The Clinical Neuropsychologist.

	Julie Rochester EdD, AT Northern Michigan University Julie Rochester is an associate professor in the Northern Michigan University's Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department. She is also NMU's athletic training program coordinator and the Wildcat Athletics NCAA faculty representative. She received her bachelor's degree from Springfield College, a master's degree from NMU and and doctorate from the University of Phoenix. Julie was recently elected as the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) District 4 Director. She recently receive the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association Golden Pinnacle Award. In 2007, she earned the GLATA's Dedicated Service Award. In 2006, she received the Paving the Way, GLATA Celebrates 40 years of Women in Athletic Training Award. In 2005, she received the Michigan Athletic Trainers Society Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. In 2004, she received the GLATA Captain of the Great Lakes Award.

	Jeanette Tousignant Marquette General Health System Jeanette Tousignant has been practicing physical therapy since 1989, the past 18 years at Marquette General Hospital. She has spent the majority of her career working with people who have sustained neurological related injuries or trauma, including head injury. Jeanette has been fortunate to work closely with Dr. Dixon and Dr. Kirkham helping their concussion patients recover from dizziness, nausea, imbalance and headache symptoms while they safely return to previous activity levels.

	Bruce Trusock, MD Portage Health System Dr. Bruce Trusock is board certified in family medicine and sports medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine. He earned his bachelor's degree at Michigan Technological University and attended medical school at Michigan State University, where he also did his residency. Prior to returning to the Houghton area, Dr. Trusock was in the Family Practice Residency Program at the Midland Hospital Center in Midland. He currently works at Portage Health's MTU Center.

	Jim Winkler, AT Northern Michigan University Jim Winkler is entering his 11th season as athletic training coordinator for NMU's Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Sports Department. Directly responsible for all sports medicine needs of all 300-plus student-athletes, Winkler primarily works day-to-day with the Wildcat ice hockey team while overseeing two full-time assistant athletic trainers. He also teaches in NMU's athletic training program. Winkler was an assistant athletic trainer at Wayne State University in 2000-01. Prior to that he was a staff athletic trainer at Greater Flint Sports Medicine. Winkler earned both his bachelor's degree in health and fitness management and master's in exercise science from NMU.

	Alexis Wolfe, MD Dickinson County Healthcare System Dr. Alexis Wolfe practices pediatric care with the Dickinson County Healthcare System in Iron Mountain, Mich. She attended medical school at the University of Wisconsin.