FallProof™ Staff
Program Director: Debra Rose, PhD
Debbie Rose, Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Fullerton, Director of the Center for Successful Aging and Co-Director of the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence. She teaches and conducts research in the area of motor control and learning, and balance and mobility disorders, in particular. Dr. Rose is nationally and internationally recognized for her work in the area of fall risk reduction programming and has served as a research consultant to a number of different organizations and companies over the course of the previous 10 years. Her research in the area of fall risk reduction in the elderly has been published innumerous peer-reviewed publications. Her work in this area is also well supported by a number of research grants (exceeding $1.5 million). The innovative fall risk reduction program she developed was recently recognized by the National Council on Aging as one of seven programs nationwide that promotes a healthy, active lifestyle. She is a fellow of the Research Consortium of AAPHERD and past Executive Board Member of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity.
FallProof Faculty: Courtney Hall, P.T., PhD
Courtney Hall, PT, PhD is the Coordinator of and a Research Health Scientist in the James H. Quillen VAMC Research Enhancement Award Program for Auditory and Vestibular Dysfunction. Dr. Hall is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at East Tennessee State University. She has a specialized clinical practice in the treatment of patients with vestibular and balance disorders. Dr. Hall conducts research in the area of balance and mobility in both the aging population and those with vestibular disorders. Her recent research has been supported by VA grant funding to develop effective exercise intervention to reduce dizziness and fall risk in older adults with non-specific dizziness (i.e., without vestibular pathology). Her research in the area of balance and dizziness has been published in numerous peer-reviewed publications.
FallProof Faculty: Peggy Trueblood, P.T., PhD
Peggy Trueblood, PhD, PT is a Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Physical Therapy at CSU, Fresno. In addition to teaching since 1983, she conducts research in the area of balance and mobility disorders, particularly in neurological populations. In addition, Dr. Trueblood has been conducting fall prevention screenings and intervention for underserved seniors in the central valley for the last 7 years. Dr. Trueblood is the founder and director of the Gait, Balance, and Mobility Research and Education Center at CSU, Fresno and has replicated the Fallproof program in the Fresno area at several community sites.
Assistant Program Director: Karen Schlieter, M.B.A, M.S.
Karen is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in gerokinesiology, and an M.B.A. from the University of Redlands. She is a certified FallProof™ Master Instructor and Assistant Program Director of the FallProof™ Balance and Mobility Specialist Instructor Certification Program. Karen is also an ACE Certified Personal Fitness Trainer and an ACE Certified Health Coach. She teaches FallProof Balance and Mobility classes and physical activity classes at Intermountain Healthcare LiVe Well Center in St. George, Utah. Her Master’s thesis study evaluated the influence of training on the test administration accuracy and scoring reliability when non-clinician physical activity instructors administer and score the Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale. She can be reached at fallproof@fullerton.edu or 657-278-8043.
Master Instructors
Judy Aprile
Judy is a faculty member at Saddleback Community College and Coastline Community College in Orange County, California. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the State University of New York, Geneseo, and a master’s degree in Gerontology from California State University, Fullerton. Judy has worked with over 3,000 older adult students in a wide range of fitness and balance classes, and received Coastline College’s 2009 Teaching Excellence Award. She received FallProof™ Instructor certification in 2001 and was the first to become a FallProof™ Master Instructor. She may be reached at jjjaprile@yahoo.com.
Pat Karlsson Backe
Pat is the owner of Senior Fall Prevention, LLC, whose mission is to provide balance training, education, and resources to our active aging population. Her business is based in Alexandria, VA and she is currently teaching classes for the Kingstowne Senior Center and Gold’s Gym. Pat works with private clients in their home and in her private studio. Pat became a FallProof™ Balance & Mobility Master Instructor in 2006. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland and holds the following professional certifications– Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), American Council on Exercise (ACE), Yoga Alliance (200 RYT), Pilates (Polestar and Peak) and Melt Method Hand & Foot Instructor. Most of Pat’s clients are drawn to her by her expertise and ability to hone in on their individual needs and continue to train long term because of the transformation and value they realize their training sessions bring to their lives. Pat can be reached at pkfit4u@verizon.net or www.seniorfallprevention.com.
Robin Chernos-MacLeod
Robin is a registered physiotherapist in Calgary, Alberta. She received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Alberta. She has been working with older adults both in acute care and in the community. She currently works with the Seniors Health Program/Calgary Fall Prevention Clinic. Robin became a certified FallProof Balance and Mobility Specialist Instructor in October 2010, and a certified Master Instructor in 2012. She teaches balance and mobility classes and provides vestibular rehabilitation and clinical education. Robin can be reached at robin.chernos@albertahealthservices.ca.
Corrie Davis, P.T.
Corrie is a registered physical therapist in Canada with her degree from McMaster University in Ontario and is the first certified FallProof™ Master Instructor in Canada. Corrie currently works for Vancouver Coastal Health as a consultant providing direct client care, education and program development and implementation for older adults in long term care facilities. Corrie and her husband operate a private physical therapy practice in West Vancouver, BC, where Corrie offers private consultation for older adults with mobility and balance issues. She can be reached at corrie.davis@shaw.ca.
Dale Graham
Dale is a Canadian physiotherapist with a special interest in gerontology and fall prevention. She has practiced physiotherapy in community, facility, and private settings since her 1983 graduation from Queen's University in Ontario. She obtained a Master of Rehabilitation Science in 2008 from the University of British Columbia. She is an online instructor for the Canadian Fall Prevention Curriculum, and with the University of British Columbia. She currently works part-time in long term care and hospital settings, and has taught FallProofTM Balance and Mobility classes in recreation centres on Vancouver Island since 2010. She certified as a FallProof™ Master Instructor in October 2012. Dale can be reached at dalegrah@gmail.com.
Sue Grant
Sue Grant, certified FallProof™ Master Instructor, is also certified by American Council on Exercise and the Arthritis Foundation. She holds a Professional Certificate in Fitness Instruction and Exercise Science from UC San Diego, specializing in both Personal and Group Fitness Instruction. She is also a fellow of the Gary Gray “Gift” Institute.
Sue is happy to be the supervisor of the Older Adult Fitness Program at the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA in Encinitas, California, where she teaches a FallProof class from October – June. To contact her at the YMCA, you may call (760) 942-9622 ext. 1571, or you can email her at sgrant@ymca.org.
Cathy Harbidge
Cathy Harbidge is a Registered Physical Therapist who received her degree from the University of Alberta. Cathy has been working within the field of senior’s health for the past 20 years, initially in an acute care setting, and for the last 10 years with the Calgary Fall Prevention Clinic, in Calgary Alberta, Canada. Cathy became a certified FallProof™ Balance and Mobility Specialist in January 2008, and a certified Master Instructor in 2011. She teaches FallProof™ classes, and provides vestibular rehabilitation for clients at the clinic. Cathy can be reached at cathy.harbidge@albertahealthservices.ca.
Danielle Hernandez, M.S.
Danielle Hernandez is a Master FallProof™ Instructor and a certified personal trainer with a strong desire to enhance the quality of life in her older adult clients through fitness and wellness. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and then in 2007 she completed her Master of Science in Gerokinesiology from the same university. As a student, she worked in the Center for Successful Aging as a graduate assistant in the FallProof™ Balance and Mobility program. Danielle is currently working in Corona Del Mar, CA at Oasis Senior Center as a Personal Trainer and FallProof™ Instructor. To contact her at Oasis please call (949) 718-1818, or you can email her at hernandez.danielle.m@gmail.com.
Karen Russell
Karen Russell has been a certified FallProof Master Instructor since 2001. She currently resides in Prescott, AZ, where she works as a physical therapist assistant/rehab manager at Prescott Samaritan Village. In addition to using her FallProof skills one-to-one with clients on a daily basis, she also owns F.A.B. Fitness, L.L.C., which specializes in group FallProof classes and older adult personal training. Karen can be reached at fabfitness@live.com.
Janet Schroder
Janet is a registered physical therapist working with Alberta Health Services. She received her Bachelor of Science P.T. at the University of Alberta. Janet has worked in acute care as clinical leader in med/neuro services and in rehabilitation services for seniors. She obtained her license in acupuncture when working with palliative care. She is presently working at the Calgary Fall Prevention Clinic / Seniors Health. Janet became a certified FallProof Balance and Mobility Specialist Instructor in 2008 and a certified Master Instructor in 2011. She can be reached at janet.schroder@albertahealthservices.ca.
