Dr. Damaschke received his BS in Physical Therapy from The University of Texas Medical Branch. He subsequently completed his MS in Physical Therapy with an emphasis in orthopedics at Finch University of Health Sciences and his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. In 2016, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a degree in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service in Higher Education. His dissertation focused on the assessment and acquisition of knowledge related to prevention, health promotion and wellness in the health professions. Dr. Damaschke’s clinical practice has been performing primary musculoskeletal care and prevention, health promotion and wellness within the United States Navy for 20 years, and he served for two years aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis-CVN 74 as the Ship’s Physical Therapist and Health Promotion Officer. He has presented at the Association of Schools of Allied Health Sciences national meeting; Illinois Physical Therapy Association (IPTA) conferences, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) national meetings, and APTA Combined Sections. In addition, he has given a variety of invited presentations in the community and continuing education programs in the areas of musculoskeletal kinesiology and functional anatomy, health promotion and wellness, primary musculoskeletal care, diagnostic imaging for rehabilitation specialists, and differential diagnosis.

Dr. Damaschke is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. He currently serves as the Secretary for the IPTA Board of Directors and an Illinois delegate to the APTA House of Delegates. Previously he has served on the APTA Awards Committee, was the Vice-President of the IPTA, an Illinois delegate to the APTA House of Delegates and served on the IPTA Prevention, Health Promotion and Wellness Committee. He is an active member of the APTA and IPTA and serves as an Assembly Representative for the Northern District to the IPTA Assembly of Representatives.

At the University, Dr. Damaschke serves as the Co-Director of Student Affairs in the College of Health Professions and is an active faculty member teaching in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program in the areas of prevention, health promotion and wellness; orthopedics; kinesiology; anatomy, anatomic imaging; and physiology. He developed and implemented RFUMS’s inaugural health promotion and wellness initiative-Healthy U! for students, faculty and staff and co-chairs the Healthy U! Wellness Council.