Misericordia University Announces Seven Faculty Promotions

Misericordia University (MU) announces the promotion of the following seven faculty members from the rank of non-tenured assistant professor to non-tenured associate professor: Laurie Brogan, PT, DPT; Gina Capitano, Ed.D.,R.T. (R)(ARRT); Lori Charney, OTD, OTR/L, CAS, CLA; Nicole Evanosky, PT, DPT; Dawn Evans,  OTD, OTR/L;  Heather Fritz, PT, DPT, and Sheryl E. Goss, MS, R.T. (R)(S) (ARRT), RDMS, RDCS, RVT, RVS, FSDMS.

Laurie Brogan, PT, DPT, is a board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy 
and a certified exercise expert for aging adults who is beginning her 11th year instructing full-time in the physical therapy department.

Brogan teaches “Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy,” “Clinical Skills,” and a professional issues course that focuses on business and leadership in physical therapy.

Brogan earned an Associate of Science Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant at Pennsylvania State University, a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from College Misericordia and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Misericordia University.

Brogan has served at MU as secretary of the Academic Policies Committee and as a member of the Faculty and Student Research Committee. She co-chaired the Interprofessional Education Taskforce.

She co-authored three peer-reviewed articles between 2019 and 2023 and completed six peer-reviewed presentations since 2020, most of which focused on interprofessional education and clinical decision making. She co-authored the textbook Professionalism in the Practice of Physical Therapy–A Case-Based Approach (McGraw Hill 2024). 

She serves her profession and community as a member of the National Senior Games Association and American Physical Therapy Association’s Academy of Geriatrics National Taskforce; she volunteers weekly at Allied Services Hospice Center and serves as church council member and vacation bible school group leader at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

Gina Capitano, Ed.D.,R.T. (R)(ARRT), is the chair of Misericordia University’s Medical Imaging Department and a full-time faculty member of that department. 

Her primary responsibilities include program administration as well as teaching “Medical Terminology,” “Introduction to Medical Imaging,” “Radiographic Image Production with a Concentration in Digital Imaging,” and “Radiation Biology and Protection.” 

She also serves as the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO).

Capitano earned her master’s degree in education from Misericordia University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Radiography from College Misericordia. She earned her Doctorate in Leadership and Professional Practice from Trevecca Nazarene University.

Between 2019 and 2021, she presented “Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety,” as part of the NECPA-IPEC Faculty Professional Development Series and the webinar “Leading Your Imaging Team from Dysfunctional to Accountable.” She co-authored the peer-reviewed journal article, “Student Perceptions of Interprofessional Socialization through Acute Care Simulation.” She also presented “Zoom…Broadening Perspective Through A Collaborative Team Approach” at the Pennsylvania Society of Radiologic Technologists’ (PSRT) annual conference.

Capitano serves as a professional mentor to participants of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists Student Leadership Development Program.

Lori Charney, OTD, OTR/L, CAS, CLA, is the chair of Misericordia University’s Occupational Therapy Department and program director of the Entry-Level OTD program.

Charney received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy (OT) from College Misericordia. She later obtained a post professional master’s degree in OT and a clinical doctorate at MU. Her doctoral capstone was the development of a sensory/social summer camp for students with autism which included a research component to determine the effectiveness of pairing sensory activities and social skills instruction to improve social participation. Charney presented this research project, several student research projects and various community programs that she has developed at the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) conference and many other national and international conferences in Ireland, France, and Canada.  

Charney teaches “Program Development and Grant Writing,” “Community-Based Practice,” “Occupations in Autism Spectrum Disorder,” “Designing Implementing and Evaluating Quality Programs,” “School-Based Practice,” and “Vision Rehabilitation.” She is also a doctoral capstone mentor.

Charney is an advanced mentored clinician in sensory processing disorder from the Star Institute and is a certified autism specialist. She assists in the coordination of the integrated studies program at MU and is also the faculty advisor to the Cougars for Autism Awareness Club. Charney successfully completed the AOTA Academic Leadership Institute in 2023 to attain the credential of certified leader in academia. She also is an author of a chapter in the research textbook, Kielhofner’s Research in Occupational Therapy: Methods of Inquiry for Enhancing Practice.

She has extensive experience in developing programs in the community and the public school system such as a district-wide sensory program, an assistive technology program, an outdoor sensory playground and a three-tier sensory program for Mohegan Sun Arena.

Nicole Evanosky, PT, DPT, whois in her 12^th year as a full-time faculty member at MU, has been the director of clinical education for the past 12 years and is responsible for the clinical education curriculum. 

Evanosky earned her Master of Science in Physical Therapy and her doctor of physical therapy from Misericordia University.

She has taught professional issues content as well as the course “Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy.”  She continues to treat clinically with the geriatric population.

She presented peer-reviewed research at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) this past spring. She also presented a peer-reviewed poster at the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Conference.

Evanosky serves on the Clinical Education Committee and is an NTT representative to the University’s Faculty Senate. She is an active member of the Pocono Susquehanna Clinical Education Consortium.

Dawn Evans,  OTD, OTR/L,  has been teaching at MU for 30 years and has served as the doctoral capstone coordinator since 2019.

She currently teaches “Professional Behaviors Seminar,” “Occupations Seminar,” “Professional Writing Seminar,” “Psychosocial, Behavioral, and Interpersonal Processes Across the Lifespan” “Pre-fieldwork and Cultural Competence,” “Introduction to Doctoral Professionalism and Scholarship Seminar,” “Capstone Experience,” and “Geriatric Care Manager I.”

Evans holds a doctor of occupational therapy degree, Master of Science degree in Organizational Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy with a minor in psychology from Misericordia University.

While teaching at Misericordia, Evans also practiced at Community Counseling in Wilkes-Barre, Farview State Hospital maximum security prison, local senior centers, day cares, and private practice in geriatrics. 

Evans held offices in the Greater NEPA American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and was board president of the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.  Evans has presented at numerous state and national occupational therapy conferences throughout her academic career. She is a member of the Editorial Review Board for the academic journal OT in Mental Health.

In 2015, Evans founded the annual David Evans Color Run scholarship for Holy Redeemer High School students who attend MU.  

Heather Fritz, PT, DPT, in her 12^th year teaching at MU, is the assistant director of clinical education and a board-certified clinical specialist in neurologic physical therapy.

She earned a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Misericordia University and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Scranton.

Fritz teaches “Neuromuscular PT 1,” “Professional Issues 4,” and “Integrated Clinical Experience.”

Fritz had an article published in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy in June of 2023 entitled “Vestibular Rehabilitation as an Early Intervention in Athletes Who Are Post-concussion: A Systematic Review.” She co-authored this article with Gabby Babula, Ed Warunek, Grace Nikolski, and Katie Cure.

Fritz has presented six times at peer-reviewed conferences since joining MU.

Fritz is an active member of the Rotary Club of Dallas and served on its board from 2020-2023; she became vice president in 2023. Previously she served as president of the Bloomsburg Rotary Club from 2016-2017 and the Danville Rotary Club from 2009-2010. She is also a Mercy Associate.

Sheryl E. Goss, MS, R.T. (R)(S) (ARRT), RDMS, RDCS, RVT, RVS, FSDMS, chair of the diagnostic medical sonography department has been teaching full time at MU for 23 years.

Goss teaches courses in ultrasound physics and instrumentation, abdominal sonography, obstetrical sonography, vascular sonography and journal and case study.

With over 40 years of professional experience, Goss has performed a variety of sonographic studies that included general sonography, vascular as well as adult and pediatric echocardiography and supervised a busy department for several years of her career. She initiated the sonography program in 2003 and continues to actively update curriculum to meet the needs of the employers. She remains actively involved in both local and national professional groups and professional accreditation organizations.

Currently, Goss sits on the board of directors for the Joint Review Committee for Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) and as an advisor on the Pathways Pregnancy Center’s board of directors.

She was a member of the National Education Curriculum Taskforce, the first curriculum designed to include all ultrasound specialties. She served as chair and editor-in-chief for the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography’s (SDMS) National Certification Examination Review series. Serving 10 years on the board of directors for the SDMS and its foundation in the roles of president and secretary allowed her to network with sonographers and healthcare professionals across the nation.

In 2012, Goss earned Fellow status, the highest membership status awarded by the SDMS; in 2013 she was the recipient of the SDMS Distinguished Educator’s Award, and in 2018, she received the Joan P. Baker Award for contributions to the profession.