Our Instructors
GRIP Approach instructors have studied together for multiple years and are selected based on their mastery of the material, the clarity of their instruction, and their efforts to advance their field. GRIP Instructors have extensive knowledge of the anatomy and neurology involved in movement and apply this to clinical practice and performance. Our instruction team has extensive training in methods outside of GRIP and readily applies advancements in research to our instruction.
Dr. Benjamin Fergus
Dr. Benjamin Fergus is a board-certified chiropractic physician specializing in the rehabilitation of chronic and complex cases. He works closely with collegiate, professional, and olympic athletes on injury recovery, injury prevention, and performance strategies. He is a certified DNS practitioner and DNS Certified Exercise Trainer. He is the owner of Cornerstone Health in Evanston, IL and serves as the clinic director.
He is the founder of GRIP Approach Educational Seminars as well as the creator of the GRIP Clinical Series & GRIP Performance Series. He speaks internationally on topics of healthcare, motor control, injury prevention and the role of fascia in the sensory nervous system.
Creator & Head Instructor
-GRIP Clinical Series
-GRIP Performance Series
-GRIP TEAMS
Denny Wongosari Denny Wongosari, MS, ATC, LMT
Denny is a licensed athletic trainer and a massage therapist. Originally from Indonesia, Denny received his BS Athletic Training degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2012, and a post-professional MS Athletic Training degree from Indiana State University in 2015. He received his massage therapy diploma from the Soma Institute, Chicago in 2017. He works closely with Dr. Fergus at Cornerstone Health. He has extensive experience working in both collegiate and clinic settings and has worked with elite high school, college, and professional athletes. He currently serves on the board of directors for Illinois Athletic Trainers Association as Region 1 Representative.
Lead Instructor-
GRIP Clinical Series
GRIP Performance Series
GRIP TEAMS
Kazu Tomooka
Kazu is a NATA Certified Athletic Trainer, NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, and JATI Certified Advanced Coach. He is a 1998 graduate of the University of Florida. His MLB career spanned a decade as a strength & conditioning coach for the Florida Marlins (intern), Montreal Expos (head), and Washington Nationals (head). Since 2009 he has been the performance director and general manager of Dome Athlete House in Tokyo, Japan where he oversees the training of olympic, professional, and collegiate athletes.
Kazu lectures internationally on topics of athletic training, sports performance, and injury prevention. He is an assistant instructor for the GRIP Performance Series.
Assistant Instructor-
GRIP Performance Series
Stevie Panteleakos, MS, LAT, ATC
Stephen Panteleakos became an Athletic Trainer because it combines his love for helping others, problem solving, and exercise into one career. Stephen received his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at Seattle Pacific University and earned his Master of Science in Athletic Training at the University of Idaho. As a student, Stephen had the privilege of performing a year-long intensive clinical internship at Cornerstone Health, with direct mentorship supervision from Dr. Benjamin Fergus and his team. Currently, Stephen treats a diverse patient population through his work as a civilian contractor with the Department of Defense in addition to working privately with individual clients on injury rehabilitation and human performance in youth, masters, and performing arts athletes. Stephen has advanced training in orthopedics, manual therapy, concussion assessment and rehabilitation, and patient-driven care. Stephen believes in treating the whole patient through evidence-based care, patient-focused goals, and clinical expertise. When he is not treating patients Stephen enjoys spending time with his family, getting strong, and petting as many dogs as possible.
Assistant Instructor
-GRIP TEAMS
Interning Instructor
-GRIP Clinical Series
Brett Boddicker, DAT, SCAT, ATC
Brett serves as an athletic trainer in a collaborative multidisciplinary PT practice in South Carolina where it is there mission to provide elite sports medicine & physiotherapy services to the upstate South Carolina. Our office serves a wide variety of patient demographics, including youth athletes, high school athletes, collegiate athletes, and weekend warriors finding new ways to stay strong and live a healthy lifestyle with functional strength training.
He earned his bachelor's Degree in Athletic Training from Central College, followed by his Doctorate in Athletic Training (DAT) from Indiana State University, where he was also a Graduate Assistant AT at Terre Haute North High School, provided medical services to over 400 high school athletes.
For 2 years, Brett served as a clinical athletic trainer at Cornerstone Health, with direct mentorship from Dr. Benjamin Fergus, Denny Wongosari and their team.
He is passionate about teaching people how to control their body, increase strength and durability, and live life to its fullest potential.
Assistant Instructor
-GRIP TEAMS
Interning Instructor
-GRIP Clinical Series
Dr. Robert Newhalfen
Dr. Robert Newhalfen is a board-certified chiropractic physician specializing in rehabilitation, biomechanics, and sports performance. He has extensive post-graduate experience in Motion Palpation, biomechanics, MDT, Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS), Active Release Technique (ART), Global Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention (GRIP), pediatric rehabilitation, temporomandibular dysfunction (TMJ and TMD) and various other areas. He is the owner of Motus Integrative Health and serves as the clinical director of their 2 locations.
Dr. Newhalfen is a lead instructor for the GRIP Performance Series and an assistant instructor for the GRIP Clinical Series
Assistant Instructor
- GRIP Clinical Series
-GRIP Performance Series
