Meet the experts

Ben is a recent graduate who completed his physical therapy education at Concordia University Wisconsin. During his undergraduate and graduate studies, Ben worked as a certified personal trainer and developed an enthusiasm for helping clients reach their unique goals. Ben is interested in manual therapy and has taken coursework specifically geared toward joint mobilization and manipulation skills guided by current evidence. Ben is passionate about expanding his reach as a physical therapist, specifically in the orthopedic realm, and will participate in an orthopedics residency program through the Milwaukee VA Medical Center.

Carolyn Smaka, AuD, is the Editor-in-Chief at Continued. Leading a dynamic team of editors, she directs the development of world-class continuing education course libraries that span multiple disciplines. Prior to Continued, Carolyn provided audiology care in diverse clinical settings and served in leadership roles in the hearing industry. Her dedication to audiology is reflected in extensive volunteer work with professional associations, and she is a past recipient of the Joel Wernick Award from the Academy of Doctors of Audiology.

Carolyn is passionate about the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and is excited by its countless applications in the education and healthcare sectors. As an AI ambassador, she continuously upskills through professional development, research, and early adoption of AI tools for work and play. She leads her team’s efforts in incorporating AI into their workflows to streamline processes and bolster staff engagement. 

Dana B. Thomas, MS, PT, has been practicing as a physical therapist for nearly 30 years. She has worked at WakeMed Raleigh Hospital, a large trauma center/tertiary care hospital, for over 28 years. Special interests include vestibular diagnoses, stroke, brain injury/concussion, neurological/neuromuscular diseases, and complex medical diagnoses. She is currently employed in the role of Clinical Specialist, Vestibular and Balance Assessment and Treatment, where she serves as an expert clinician and a resource to other clinical staff, including physicians, midlevel practitioners, and other therapists. Ms. Thomas has a strong interest in the accuracy of diagnosis/team approach to diagnosis and has co-authored three articles on this topic