Sports Medicine Interdiscplinary Team

Dr. Beau Gedrick, D.O.		Beau Gedrick, D.O. joined the NSU Sports Medicine Team in 2014. Dr. Gedrick currently serves as Team Physician for Nova Southeastern University, as well as Assistant Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice at NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSUCOM). He also currently serves as Medical Director for NSU Athletics and Medical Director for NSU's Athletic Training Education Program. Dr. Gedrick was born and raised in Clinton, Indiana and graduated with B.S. in biology and minor in chemistry from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Gedrick is a graduate of the Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where he spent an extra year of his training focusing on Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. He went on to an Emergency Medicine residency at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Twp., Michigan; a suburb of Detroit. Dr. Gedrick completed his Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where his primary responsibility was caring for all the student athletes participating in NSU’s division II athletics program and working with many of the surrounding community’s specialists and high schools. During his fellowship, he was trained in the area of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Guided Injections and non-operative orthopedic care. Dr. Gedrick is board certified in Emergency Medicine and expects to be board certified in Primary Care Sports Medicine after his examination in the spring of 2016. His strong areas of interest include Musculoskeletal Ultrasound, Platelet Rich Plasma Injections, Osteopathic Manipulation, Concussion Management, and athletic event coverage. In addition to his duties at NSU, Dr. Gedrick also serves as Team Physician and Medical Director for some South Florida area high schools.
Dr Steve Russo PhD		Beginning in August of 2007, the Sports Medicine Staff welcomes the addition of Dr. Stephen Russo. Dr. Russo will serve as the sports psychologist for NSU athletics as well as maintaining clinical responsibilities in the Sports Medicine Clinic in the University Center. Dr. Russo brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to NSU. He has provided performance enhancement services for athletes of all ages and skills level, including positions with the International Junior Golf Academy and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Center for Sports Medicine. An accomplished author and lecturer, Dr. Russo has been published in several peer reviewed journals and has conducted workshops at professional conferences everywhere from Denmark to Columbia to here at NSU. Dr. Russo received his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and from there went on to earn his Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University. He is also a member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 47 (Exercise and Sport Psychology), and is a Professional Member of the American Psychological Association.
Steve Pfister MS, PT, OCS
Peter Sprague Peter A. Sprague, PT, DPT, OCS		Since coming to NSU in 2011, Peter Sprague, PT, DPT, OCS, MTC practices as a Physical Therapist in the Sports Medicine Clinic and is an Assistant Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice in NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. Sprague provides NSU student-athletes and the surrounding community with a high level of rehabilitative medicine while supporting the NSU Sports Medicine Interdisciplinary Team through research efforts. Originally from the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts, Dr. Sprague graduated from Quinnipiac University with his degree in Physical Therapy in 1993. He received his Manual Therapy certification in 1998 and a post-professional Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2008 from the University of St. Augustine for the Health Sciences. Dr. Sprague is a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialty Practices (ABPTS) and sits on the Specialists Academy of Content Experts for the ABPTS. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Orthopaedic Section of the APTA, the Sports Section of the APTA and the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. His current area of research is in the prevention of athletic injury and the effects of pain and previous injury on motor control. He currently lives in Fort Lauderdale with his wife and enjoys free diving, hiking, and running.
Marilyn Gordon Ed.D., RD, CSSD, LDN		Marilyn Gordon EdD RD CSSD LDN is a South Florida native. She began her career as a Clinical Dietitian but quickly observed that most diseases can be prevented and optimal health maintained through healthy food choices and physical activity. She earned a Master of Science degree in Exercise Science and transferred from a clinical position to outpatient wellness and cardiac rehabilitation at a hospital-based fitness center. In addition to the wellness position, she began teaching health, fitness, and nutrition at a local college. In 2007, she accepted the Nutritionist position at Nova Southeastern University. Her NSU responsibilities include: nutrition assessment, education, and implementation of Medical Nutrition Therapy for NSU students, faculty, and staff. She is the Sports Dietitian for NSU Athletics and Board Certified as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics by The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly known as The American Dietetic Association). Dr. Gordon works closely with NSU’s student-athletes on both an individual and team-wide basis to optimize their nutrition.
Monique Mokha PhD ATC LAT CSCS		Dr. Mokha, Associate Professor, began her role as Chair of NSU’s Exercise and Sport Science Program in 2011. She is a certified athletic trainer (AT) and has her Level II certification in the Functional Movement Screen^TM. Prior to NSU, she was faculty in the California State University system, at Loyola Marymount University, and Barry University. Dr. Mokha received her undergraduate degree from Ohio University in Athletic Training and Health Education, and her Master’s degree from the University of Arkansas specializing in Biomechanics where she also served as an AT for the Hogs. Her Doctoral degree is from Texas Woman’s University specializing in Biomechanics. She is Senior Associate Editor for the International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training, and has held posts as Chair of the National Council on Athletic Training within the National Association of Sport and Physical Education; Co-chair of the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Research and Education Committee; Executive Board member for the American College of Sports Medicine’s Biomechanics Interest Group. She has presented at the state, regional, national and international levels in the areas of sport performance and sport-related injury. Dr. Mokha has published textbook chapters on gait analysis, and sports medicine for special populations as well as authored and co-authored journal articles. Her role will be to support the student-athletes by collecting data and producing research related to injury prevention.
Dr. Erol Yoldas MD		Dr. Erol Yoldas is an orthopedic surgeon on staff at Broward General Medical Center. He also serves as team physician for South Florida’s major league teams, including the Miami Dolphins football team. Dr Yoldas received his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University School of Engineering and his Medical Degree from Yale University School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery internship and orthopedic residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He also was an Orthopedic Sports Fellow at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail Colorado. Dr. Yoldas is board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons and is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine and NFL Team Physicians Society. Dr. Yoldas has been published in medical periodicals and has presented numerous times before his peers. He also provides athletic team coverage for several Broward County high school teams. He resides in Fort Lauderdale with his wife and daughter and enjoys golf, basketball, music, art and travel.
Dr. Dominic Carriera MD		Dominic S. Carreira, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with advanced training from three orthopedic fellowship programs, specializes in foot and ankle, hip arthroscopy and sports medicine while also serving as the team physician for professional sports teams such as the Miami Dolphins. Dr. Carreira received his medical degree, with honors, from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2000. He completed an internship in general surgery and a residency in orthopedic surgery at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Ill. Following his residency, Dr. Carreira completed a Foot and Ankle Fellowship with Dr. Mark Myerson at the Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction in Baltimore, Md. He also completed a Foot and Ankle and Arthroscopic Fellowship with Dr. Pierce Scranton in Seattle, Wash. and a Sports Medicine and Hip Arthroscopy Fellowship with the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo. Dr. Carreira has served as an Assistant Team Physician to both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Ski Teams, Colorado Rockies, Denver Broncos, Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Blaze. He is currently a team physician for professional sports teams such as the Miami Dolphins. He is a member of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society, Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation, American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Association of North America. Active in research, Dr. Carreira has presented his work in arthroscopic techniques and outcomes both nationally and internationally and has been published in numerous medical publications including Foot and Ankle International and the American Journal of Sports Medicine. Dr. Carreira is fluent in Spanish. He enjoys soccer, basketball, and skiing.
Dr. Ira Kotch DMD, FAGD, FLCOI, PA		Dr. Ira Kotch serves as the team dentist for NSU’s student-athletes as well as the Miami Dolphins and Florida Marlins. He received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Chemistry and his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Florida. Dr. Kotch is a member of South Florida Dental Association, American dental Association, International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and the Academy of Sports Dentistry. He currently resides in South Florida with his wife, Eva, and his two sons, Russell and Rori.