2020 Human Performance Conference at JU "Recovery and Resiliency," Friday, March 27, 2020

The 2020 Human Performance Conference has been cancelled

The conference has been cancelled due to the threat of the COVID-19 virus.

An online version of the conference is in development. We will provide further updates of this in the coming months.

Until then, you can view past presentations from 2018 and 2019 using the links below.

Thank you for your understanding.

Jacksonville University will host its third annual Human Performance Conference on
Friday, March 27, 2020 from
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Davis College of Business & Technology

The conference brings together leaders from the fields of Strength and Conditioning, Sports Medicine, and Sports Nutrition. It is a tremendous learning opportunity for scientists, strength and conditioning coaches, personal trainers, dieticians, and any members of a sport science support staff.

Early Bird Pricing (Through March 8, 2020)
Student: $35
Professional: $95
Military/First Responder: $50

After Early Bird (Starting March 9, 2020)
Student: $50
Professional: $135
Military/First Responder: $85

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Submit an Abstract

We are accepting abstracts for poster presentations! Abstracts are due March 13.

Download the call for abstracts, and then submit your abstract for consideration. You will be notified by March 17 if your abstract has been accepted.

Call for Abstracts Submit Your Abstract

2020 Conference Speakers

Please note that the speakers and presentations may change without prior notice.

William J. Kraemer, Ph.D., CSCS*D, FNSCA, FACSM, FISSN, FACN

Topic: "Recovery Methods: How to Optimize Recovery from Resistance Exercise Workouts"

Bio: Dr. Kraemer is a full professor at The Ohio State University heading up the Neuroscience/Neuromuscular Laboratory for the study of human performance since September 2014. He has published over 485 peer reviewed papers in the scientific literature and a multitude of other educational publications. Dr. Kraemer and has published 12 books and with over 58,000 citations. Dr Kraemer is a Fellow in several organizations including the American College of Nutrition (ACN), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He is a past president of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and has served on the Board of Trustees for the American College of Sports Medicine and has been a ACSM chapter president. He has received many awards over his career including an honorary doctorate from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland and in 2006 the NSCA’s Outstanding Sport Scientist award was named in his honor.

Heather A. Hausenblas, PhD

Topic: "The Psychology of Movement: From Sedentary to Regular to Addictive"

Bio: Heather Hausenblas’s fascination with both psychology and health led her to obtain her PhD in health psychology in 1998 from Western University in Canada. She started her career at the University of Florida (1998 – 2011) where she was the Director of the Exercise Psychology Lab in the College of Health and Human Performance. She has been a faculty member at Jacksonville University since 2011. She served as the Associate Dean for the School of Applied Health Sciences (2017-2019) and is currently a Professor of Kinesiology in the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences at Jacksonville University. She is an award-winning researcher, an author, a health advocate, and a regular contributor to both local and national media outlets. Her research focuses on the psychological effects of health behaviors, with a focus on exercise. Dr. Hausenblas is the co-author of six scientific books, and she has published more than 100 scientific journal articles. Her most recent book is titled “The Truth about Exercise Addiction: Understanding the Dark side of Thinsperation.” She enjoys exercising outdoors, spending time with family and friends, and coaching and watching her sons play sports. She resides in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband and three boys.

Carl M. Maresh, PhD, FACSM, FNAK

Topic: "Hydration for Optimum Performance and Recovery"

Bio: Dr. Maresh was recruited to The Ohio State University (OSU) in 2014 as Chair of the Department of Human Sciences in the College of Education and Human Ecology. Currently, he is a Professor of Kinesiology (Exercise Science) and Director of the Exercise Science Laboratories in that department.

Born and raised in southern California, he attended universities in California, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Wyoming, receiving his PhD in Zoology and Physiology from the University of Wyoming in 1981. His first professional appointment was at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, Missouri where he directed patient rehabilitation programs for the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and conducted research in cardiovascular physiology and fluid regulation. He was then recruited to MRI Global in Kansas City where he served as a Senior Research Scientist in the Departments of BioOrganic Chemistry and BioBehavioral Sciences conducting federally-funded research on prophylactic and treatment drugs directed at chemical surety material, and on health responses to 60 Hz field exposure. Prior to moving to OSU, Dr. Maresh was a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Kinesiology at the University of Connecticut, where he held joint appointments in the departments of Physiology & Neurobiology, Nutritional Sciences, Physical Therapy, and the School of Medicine. He served eight years as Chair of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for Studies Involving Human Subjects, and served on the Connecticut Institute for Clinical & Translational Science IRB at the UConn Health Center. During research leaves, he was a Visiting Scientist in the Department of Pediatric Cardiology at the Baystate Medical Center, Worster, MA, and a Visiting Professor in the Clinical Translational Research Center and the Pediatric Exercise and Genomics Research Center at the University of California-Irvine.

His contributions have influenced the way people view the importance of exercise across the lifespan, including the efficacy of structured exercise in clinically compromised patients. His research on physiological responses to different environmental stressors, and on optimum methods of hydration, has greatly increased our knowledge of how the human body manages such challenges and has wide applications to injury and disease prevention, and performance enhancement in both neutral and extreme environments. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts and delivered hundreds of invited and keynote presentations. His extramural funding, in excess of 15 million dollars, has been secured through grants from government, corporate, and professional agencies. He is a member of seven professional organizations, having served on Boards of Trustees, as President, and Associate Editor. He has served as a manuscript reviewer for numerous scientific journals, and on Peer Review Panels and/or Study Sections for NIH, DOD and NASA. He is a Fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Academy of Kinesiology.

Tunde K. Szivak, PhD, CSCS, TSAC-F

Topic: "Stress, Performance and the Tactical Athlete"

Bio: Dr. Tunde K. Szivak is an Assistant Professor in the School of Health Sciences at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. She earned her PhD in kinesiology from The Ohio State University, her MA in kinesiology from the University of Connecticut, and her BS from the United States Military Academy (West Point). Her research interests focus on applied stress physiology, tactical human performance optimization, and recovery and resilience strategies. Her past research centered on hormonal and physical performance responses to high-stress military training (Navy Survival, Evasion, Resistance & Escape (SERE) training). Her most recent work is focused on the effects of seated load carriage on various performance indices. Dr. Szivak earned her commission from the United States Military Academy in 2003 and is a former collegiate athlete, having competed for the West Point powerlifting team. Her military assignments include two year-long combat deployments to Iraq (2004 and 2007) while assigned to the 101st Airborne Division. She continues to serve in the United States Army (Reserve).

Brian Carroll

Topic: "Gift of Injury"

Bio: Brian is world class powerlifter with over a decade of elite class powerlifting under his belt. Coming back from a devastating back injury in 2012 that broke multiple bones and that most experts said he would never recover from, he has returned to the pinnacle of world-class lifting (while 100% pain and symptom free) and is now dedicated to helping others avoid the same mistakes that he made in the past through private and group coaching. Brian’s impressive recovery has given him the opportunity to teach and deliver talks to physical therapists, chiropractors, medical doctors, professional strength & conditioning coaches and experts from all facets of sport, on how to avoid injury, while building anti-fragile strength and resilience in athletes.

Sara Lynn Terrell, PhD, CSCS*D, USAW-1 & J. Mick Lynch, MD, Ph.D.

Topic: "Femoroacetabular (FAI) Treatment Options"

Bio: Dr. Sara Terrell is an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science and the Exercise Science Program Director at Florida Southern College (FSC). She completed her undergraduate degree at Adrian College and Masters and Doctorate degree at Eastern Michigan University. Prior to working at FSC, she served as an Assistant Professor of Exercise Physiology and the Adult Fitness Coordinator for an employee disease state management and wellness program [Ohio Northern University] where she developed and managed exercise programs and worksite fitness initiatives for multiple employees. Dr. Terrell garnered eight years of collegiate athletic experience, working as an assistant women’s basketball coach with direct responsibility in strength and conditioning programming for women’s basketball.

Dr. Terrell is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS*D) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and has USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coaching Certification. Dr. Terrell has been an active professional member of the NSCA, currently serving as the Florida State / Provincial Director while also serving on the National Women’s Committee. In her career, she has also worked as an Exercise Specialist for the University of Michigan MFIT Health Promotion division with responsibilities in personal training, fitness testing, group exercise class instruction, exercise counseling, wellness programming, and fitness center management. Her current research interests span the multitude of her professional experiences, from sport performance, to reducing barriers to exercise, to high impact pedagogical practices.

J. Mick Lynch, MD, Ph.D

Topic: "Femoroacetabular (FAI) Treatment Options"

Bio: Mick Lynch is a professor of Health Sciences within the Exercise Science program at Florida Southern College. He trained as a family physician at the University of Kentucky prior to a primary care sports medicine fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute with Drs. Whiteside and Andrews. He then served as one of the team physicians at Penn State.

He volunteered a great deal with the U.S. Olympic Committee and traveled with various national teams. He has written thirteen book chapters and been a co-author with forty-one published articles. Mick is also the holder of a patent on a rehabilitation device. He became an Honorary Member of the National Athletic Trainers Association in 2008.

Meghan Braun, PT, DPT, MTC, CSCS

Topic: "Restoring the Athlete Mindset Following Injury"

Bio: Meghan Braun is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, certified strength and conditioning specialist, Emergency Medical Responder, and certified in manual therapy. She received her Doctorate degree from the University of St. Augustine in 2012, and is the owner of Body Mechanics Physical Therapy. She has worked with athletes throughout her career from youth-adult age groups to provide strength and conditioning, injury prevention and assessment, and physical therapy services to patients and athletes across the Jacksonville area.

In North Florida, she has been coaching at the high school level for the past 10 years, helping to start the lacrosse programs at St. Augustine High School and at The Bolles School. She is currently the Mandarin HS Head Coach and has been with the program for the past 6 seasons. She has also coached and had guest appearances at multiple summer clubs and leagues throughout Florida. Coach Braun is also the Head Coach selectee for the 2018 & 2019 North Florida Regional HS National Teams, and recently competed as a player & coach with the United World Games Women’s International League in the 2018 Prague Cup, and 2019 Lowlands Tournament in Amsterdam.

Prior to coaching in Florida, Coach Braun started several youth and middle school programs in Dallas, TX including The Hockaday School, Dallas Lax Club, Bridge Lacrosse, and the GameBreakers and Bratva Camps. She also was the assistant coach to her Alma Mater, University of Dallas (DIII) lacrosse program. In addition to playing lacrosse, she also played basketball at UD. Throughout her lacrosse career she was a four year letter winner, named MVP (2007), and held records for the most career games, goals, and points (2007). At the Lax Box, Coach Braun brings experience and knowledge in sports management and athletic development which optimize the facility operations. Her mission is to build better athletes, and to help develop North Florida to become the next destination for lacrosse talent.

Travis Anderson, M.A.

Topic: "Is it feasible to monitor physiological readiness and recovery using steroid biomarkers?"

Bio: Travis is currently a Ph.D. student (ABD) at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, under the advisement and mentorship of Dr. Laurie Wideman. Travis’ research interests are focused on the quantification of exercise-induced fatigue and fitness development, and specifically how biomarkers can be used to garner insight to the physiological readiness of an individual. His dissertation work examines the effect of acute exercise on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, particularly as it pertains to circadian rhythm disruption. The Exercise Physiology Laboratory at UNCG is also a leader in innovative applications of heart rate variability metrics to provide a non-invasive alternative to monitoring endocrine systems. Travis’ past experience as an athlete and coach have resulted in a focus on athletes; however, his long term research goals are to develop these monitoring methods for use in the general population to aid in the promotion of lifelong exercise behaviors.

Conference Agenda