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Angelo State PT Prof Tabbed for Olympic Post

August 16, 2011

Dr. Scott Hasson, a professor in the Angelo State University physical therapy program, has been appointed to the Sports Training and Rehabilitation Committee (STRC) of the China Olympic Committee to assist the Chinese Olympic Team prepare for and compete in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

A specialist in orthopedic rehabilitation, Hasson is one of five non-Chinese international members chosen to join the STRC. While initially serving in an advisory capacity, Hasson may eventually travel to China to help its Olympic Team train, and may accompany the team to the London Olympics.

No stranger to top-level athletics, Hasson was a nationally ranked wrestler at Fresno State University and coached wrestling at FSU and the University of Northern Colorado. He was tabbed for the STRC by Fang “Bob” Chen, head of China’s national athletic program, former Chinese Olympic water polo player and a former post-doctoral fellow under Hasson at Texas Woman’s University.

“Bob is also interested in putting together a program to get more former Chinese athletes into the physical therapy and rehabilitation field when they retire,” Hasson said, “because right now, they mostly just fade away. He knew of my background in athletics and my specialty in orthopedic rehabilitation, so he asked me to be one of the international representatives on this committee.”

The new Olympic post is just the latest honor for Hasson, who also received the Outstanding Physical Therapy Researcher Award from the Texas Physical Therapy Association in October.

An ASU faculty member since 2007, Hasson earned his doctoral degree in exercise science from the University of Northern Colorado. He has been honored as a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Physical Therapy Association. He is also editor of the international journal Physiotherapy Theory and Practice.