Faculty

Frank Alexander ATC Physician Extender Columbia Orthopaedics Frank Alexander, MS, ATC serves as our athletic trainer and physician extender. Frank joined Team Ahmad in the summer of 2015 already having a well-established background in Sports Medicine. He is responsible for history taking, evaluation of throwing athletes, patient education, and post-operative care and instruction, such as removing sutures and seeing patients in the recovery room. Frank earned his Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Dominican College and a Master’s degree in Kinesiology from AT Still University. Prior to joining Dr. Ahmad’s team, he worked as an athletic trainer at the high school and collegiate levels as well as with Major League baseball players and Olympians. An athlete himself, Frank played baseball and football in high school and continued his baseball career in college. Once he finished his competitive career and knowing he wanted to stay around sports, athletic training and sports medicine held the key to that door. Frank is an expert in patient education for all our patients and can answer any and all questions you may have at any stage of your care, whether it is non-operative or operative. A native New Yorker, Frank lives in Rockland County with his wife Kelly and their dog, Louie.

Ken Cieslak DC, ATC Athletic Trainer Teaneck High School Ken has been in the field of athletic training for over 28 years. He is a 1989 graduate of the Kean College athletic training program, and completed his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1995. Since 1997, he has been employed at Teaneck High School, serving as the Certified Athletic Trainer, in addition to having a practice of Chiropractic in Bogota, NJ. He is also a preceptor in the Montclair State University AT program. He has served as the Nominations Chair for ATSNJ for the past 3 years, and has served on the Convention Proposal Review Committee of the NATA. Appreciating and enjoying the role education plays in our profession, he has been fortunate to lecture on a variety of topics, both locally, and at the national conferences of the NATA and NSCA, as well as the EATA. He lives in Wayne, NJ, and has been married to his wife Eileen for 26 years. They have two children, Erin and Tim.

Gwen Cleaves ATC Clinical Coordinator Kean University ATEP Gwen has been clinical education coordinator for the BS in AT at Kean University for the last 17 years. She is also a lecturer in the School of Physical Education, Recreation and Health. Her other duties include Assessment Coordinator for the BS in AT and advisor to the national athletic training honor society Iota Tau Alpha – Alpha Lambda Chapter at Kean University. Gwen has been a site visitor for the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education since 2009. She has been a practicing clinical athletic trainer at Kean University, Ramapo College, Louisiana State University and East Carolina University. In 1984 she participated in the LA Olympics as an athletic trainer working with men’s and women’s gymnastics teams from around the world. Gwen graduated from East Carolina with a Masters in Physical Education and from West Chester University with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education with a concentration in Athletic Training.

Christopher Flores ATC Co-owner Rooted Rehab Chrisaka “FLO” has been in the fitness industry for over 17 years. He hasa passion and love for training other people and seeing the changes in their lives. He has been certified by both W.I.T.S. and NASM. Chris attended Kean University forhis B.S. in Athletic Training.He currently works as the head Athletic Trainer for Westfield High School. He is also the owner of Flo Fitness, Flo Fitness Publishing, and Rooted Rehab LLC. FLOFitnessis a people-first gym geared towards helping high school athletesand everyday athletesreach their goals.On top of juggling FLO and hisfull time high school job, Chris is an adjunct professor at Kean University where he teaches strength fitness and personal fitness. He is also a preceptorfor Kean University, Montclair State University and Seton Hall University’s athletic training programs. Chris has become a Master Instructor for the company Animal Flow and teaches movement-based training for them around the globe.

Rob Flowers DO Physician RWJ Barnabas Health Dr. Robert Flowers is a board-certified family medicine physician. He attended medical school at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine. He then completed a residency in family practice at Overlook Medical Center, where he was chief resident. Dr. Flowers went on to complete a sports medicine fellowship at the Overlook Medical Center. He maintains many professional memberships, including the American Osteopathic Association of Sports Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Michelle Gilsenan DO Physician RWJ Barnabas Health Michele Gilsenan, DO FAOASM specializes in family practice and primary care sports medicine. Presently, Dr Gilsenan works for CityMd and is a Team Doctor for Union School District athletic teams, and Medical Director of Kean University Rehabilitation. Previously, she was chief medical officer of Sports Extra Primary Care Sports Medicine and Beams and Gilsenan LC in which she also held the position of Program Director of Osteopathic Sports Medicine Fellowships of Union Hospital, Atlantic Health System/Overlook Medical Center and Barnabas RWJ Health System/Saint Barnabas Medical Center. Dr. Gilsenan was also Team Physician for Kean University, USA Women’s Waterpolo World Olympic Champions, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), NJNY Hitmen of XFL, Seton Hall University Wrestling and Women’s Basketball. In addition, Dr. Gilsenan was Team Physician for many years to local schools: Millburn, Cranford, Clark, Garwood and Watchung Hills. Dr. Gilsenan was an adjunct clinical professor for Rutgers University (previously UMDNJ) in Newark, the Seton Hall University Physician Assistant Program in South Orange, and New York Institute of Technology/New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Gilsenan is a fellow, past president, past committee chair of the Education and Evaluation of Sports Medicine and International Committee Chair of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine (AOASM). She is presently member of the American Osteopathic Academy (AOA) Examination Committee of Sports Medicine and past member of AOA Bureau Specialist. Dr. Gilsenan delivers local, state, regional, and national invited presentations in her field.

J. Timothy Sensor ATC Member Athletic Training Advisory Committee, New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners J. Timothy Sensor is a member of the Athletic Training Advisory Committee to the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners and has served in this position since 2006.

Jessica Springstead ATC Coordinator - Athletic Training Services Atlantic Health Systems Jessica graduated from Kean University with her Bachelors of Arts with a concentration in athletic training. She then completed a graduate assistantship at Salisbury University earning her Master of Education in Post Secondary Education. She has worked at variety of settings including high school, division I and division III collegiate settings over the past 15 years. She completed her educational doctorate in Higher Education with her dissertation on “The effects of videocasts on student learning in a health care discipline” from Seton Hall University. She has held various positions for both the D2 and ATSNJ over the last 10 years. Jessica has been an adjunct professor for an assortment of courses at Kean University, Union County College, and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Currently she is the coordinator of athletic training services at the Center for Concussion Care & Physical Rehabilitation at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ. She oversees the athletic training staff and the medical fitness program, as well as assists with management of concussion patients within the center. Additionally, she is an crazy avid runner who has completed 6 marathons and one ultra marathon and counting. And last but not least she is a proud mom of 5-year-old twins, Addison and Sebastian.

Ryan Stevens ATC Clinical Supervisor RWJ Barnabas Health Overseeing operations, process improvement, and marketing/relations for four physical therapy clinics, nine outreach athletic training partnerships, and a Performance Fitness service line, Ryan currently serves as Manager of Operations with RWJ Somerset. With over 14 years of expertise as a certified athletic trainer and certified strength & conditioning specialist in various healthcare and fitness settings, he has supervised growing outreach sports medicine programs at two large hospitals, developed numerous start-up athletic training sites and a start-up fitness business, and has created and delivered many engaging educational programs geared towards fitness and sports medicine professionals and the general public. In addition to being a graduate of the Penn State University athletic training program, Ryan is also uniquely trained in advanced areas of leadership and interpersonal skills via his Master's Degree through SUNY New Paltz in Humanistic & Multicultural Education and various other leadership and communications curriculums. You can find Ryan on his Facebook public figure page and on Instagram at @RStevensATC.

Jim Thornton ATC Head Athletic Trainer - Clarion University Past President - NATA James L. Thornton, a highly respected, dedicated and experienced athletic trainer, is in his 27th year as head athletic trainer at Clarion University in 2016-17. A 2016 inductee into the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame, he received the D-II "Athletic Trainer of the Year" award from the NATA in June 2008 and is committed to the continual advancement of the profession of athletic training. Certified by the Athletic Training board of Certification, Thornton is a Performance Enhancement Specialist certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and has served as an education liaison and consultant to NASM for 13 years. Thornton has an extensive background of 33 years in athletic training and collegiate sports experience. He has helped develop performance enhancement programs at multiple universities with content being used at both the baccalaureate and masters degree levels. Thornton was the President of the NATA from 2012 through 2015, a three-year term. Prior to his election as NATA President, he served the NATA as both Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors, serving as the Director of District II. Thornton continues to serve as the Athletic Training liaison to the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee since 1997. He is the contact person for all NCAA wrestling in regards to weight-class certification procedures and the rules regarding disposition of athletes with skin infections. Thornton was a graduate assistant athletic trainer at University Of The Pacific beginning in the Fall of 1987. He was awarded his Masters Degree in Sports Medicine at U.O.P. in 1989 and posted an outstanding 3.8 GPA. He was then hired by U.O.P. as Assistant Athletic Trainer in the Fall of 1989 and remained in that position until coming to Clarion in June of 1990. A native of Mt. Pleasant, Utah, Thornton was a five-sport athlete at North Sanpete High and was graduated in 1977. From 1981-83 Thornton was the owner/manager of Jim's Restaurant in Mt. Pleasant before deciding to enroll at Utah State University. He served as a student athletic trainer for four years under Dale Mildenberger for football, wrestling, women's gymnastics, baseball, women's softball and track. He earned a B.S. Degree in Biology and Exercise Science in 1987 from Utah State. Currently, Thornton is a member of the Clarion University faculty as well as an adjunct faculty member at California University of PA and Duquesne University. Jim and wife Bridget have daughters Mattison, Maci and Maya