Orthopedic Conditions

Grant Chu, MD, is an associate clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Chu is also associate director of inpatient East-West consult services at the UCLA Health hospitals.

He's board-certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a diplomate of the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (formerly the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine).

He received a bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Brown University, where he also earned his medical degree. He has a master's in acupuncture and oriental medicine from South Baylo University and a master's in business administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles and a fellowship at the Center for East-West Medicine at UCLA. He has held academic appointments at the University of California in Irvine and the University of Queensland in Australia.

Rachel MacPherson, CPT, is a freelance writer, content strategist, and nutrition coach in the wellness space with nearly a decade of experience. She lives on the east coast of Canada.

Jennifer Payne, MD, is a physician at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.

She earned her bachelor's from the University of St. Thomas, majoring in biochemistry and minoring in theology. She was the first service learning assistant for the service learning program and did extensive volunteer work with Open Arms of Minnesota during this time, including building a library on multiple sclerosis information. She obtained her MD from the Georgetown University School of Medicine, where she was part of the first class to run the Hoya Clinic for people without housing. She also completed an elective in medical writing and editing, working with American Family Physician magazine. Dr. Payne completed her residency in family medicine at Lancaster General Hospital and a primary care sports medicine fellowship at Wellspan Health in York, Pennsylvania. 

She has served on the board of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine and assisted in obtaining speakers and clinical case studies for the physician portion of the conference.

She enjoys reading, all sports (particularly Olympic weightlifting), walking her dog, and spending time with her husband, sons, and their extended family.

Allison M. Fout, PA-C, has 20 years of experience as a Physician Assistant with a career rooted in orthopedic care. Since 2015, she has been a provider at Excelsior Orthopaedics in Buffalo, New York, specializing in sports medicine, joint replacements, fracture care, and a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions.

She works with patients across multiple age groups — from young athletes to aging adults — helping them recover function, reduce pain, and return to the activities they enjoy.

Her dedication to patient-centered care earns the trust of both her patients and colleagues. Beyond the clinic and operating room, she's involved in education and mentorship. She serves as a mentor to fellow clinicians and students alike and works as an adjunct instructor of orthopedics for the PA program at Daemen University, guiding and empowering the next generation of healthcare professionals as they develop their technical skills, knowledge, and confidence.

Scott Haak, PT, DPT, has been a member of the Mayo Clinic staff since 2000. Dr. Haak serves as faculty for the Sports Medicine Fellowship program at Mayo Clinic Florida. He is certified by the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association) as a CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist), is a Certified USA Weightlifting Coach and Certified USA Football Coach, and possesses a MTC (Manual Therapy Certification) from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

Haak is an exercise enthusiast and enjoys running, weightlifting, and sports performance training. He is the president and director of coaching of a youth tackle football organization, JDL Providence Football, and currently coaches high school football and weight lifting.

Heather Jeffcoat, PT, DPT, is a doctor of physical therapy and the founder of Femina Physical Therapy and Fusion Wellness & Physical Therapy, both of which focus on pelvic health and whole-body orthopedic care.

With more than 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Jeffcoat is a leading expert in the treatment of sexual pain and pelvic floor dysfunction, and her Los Angeles (Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Sherman Oaks) and Atlanta-based clinics draw patients from around the world.

She is the author of Sex Without Pain: A Self-Treatment Guide to the Sex Life You Deserve, which is widely used by both patients and healthcare professionals. Jeffcoat regularly lectures internationally on female sexual health, pelvic pain, and interdisciplinary care, and she develops continuing education courses for physical therapists and other providers.

Jeffcoat served as president of the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy from 2021 to 2024, and held multiple leadership positions with the International Pelvic Pain Society from 2014 to 2023, including acting on their board of directors.

Her patient-centered, integrative approach emphasizes functional recovery and empowerment for those experiencing painful sex, endometriosis, postpartum trauma, menopause-related incontinence or pain, and other complex pelvic and chronic pain conditions. She has created multiple programs, including Birth Prep 101, helping hundreds of women achieve the birth and postpartum recovery support they need.

Her passion extends beyond the clinic walls, as she also founded and runs a 501(c)3, Empower Health Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to providing no cost services to low-income and marginalized populations with pelvic health conditions.

She has been a speaker at the following:

• World Congress on Abdominal and Pelvic Pain, Cartagena, Colombia, Post-Conference Course: "Chronic Pelvic Pain Evaluation and Management Strategies," 2024
• American Urogynecologic Association, Advanced Practice, Physical Therapy, and Allied Health Bootcamp: "Pelvic Pain and Sexual Dysfunction Related to PFDs" (AUGS Preconference Course), 2016
• American Urogynecologic Association, Seattle, "Pathoanatomy and Patient Presentations in Sexual Pain Syndromes," co-presented with Nazema Siddiqui, MD, 2016
• UCLA Urogynecology and MIGS Lecture Series, "Continence and Pain Mechanisms Beyond the Pelvic Floor," 2024
• PelviCon National Conference, Atlanta, "The Female Orgasm and Differential Diagnosis of Vaginismus and Vulvodynia," 2022
• Invited lecturer: Pelvic health education, Reproductive Health Access Project, CSU Fullerton, 2024
• Expert panel speaker, Menopause Monologues: The Hottest Show In Town, Hollywood, California, 2025

Course developer and instructor, Female Sexual Function, Dysfunction & Pain, United States, Istanbul, Middle East:

• Sex Therapy for Transgender and Nonbinary Clients, Center for Healthy Sex
• Cyclist’s Syndrome–Pudendal Neuralgia, Beijing (Chinese Olympic Committee)
• Multiple CE webinars and in-person labs across North America

Community Education:

• Creator and host of multiple events in California, Girls’ Night Out: Better Sexual and Pelvic Health
• Guest speaker, LA LGBTQ Center, Duke University SoCal Women’s Group, and Endo Day

Aubrey Bailey is a doctor of physical therapy with a specialization in hand therapy based in Virginia.

Lisa Maloney is a certified personal trainer turned professional writer and editor. She has racked up several thousand hours of hands-on experience with a variety of populations before following her love for words into a career built on writing about outdoor adventures, travel, fitness, and the many delights of living life on the leading edge of your comfort zone.

She's written several award-winning guidebooks about her home state of Alaska and hundreds of newspaper, magazine, and online articles.