David R Hanna, PT, DPT, MS, ATC, LAT –
Fall 1980 - Fall 2120
Associate Professor I
Current Position
Biography
Dr. David R. Hanna, a native of Wheeling, WV, began his career in athletic training in 1996 at West Liberty State College.
He was graduated from West Liberty in 1993 with a bachelors degree in communication with a minor in biology and earned a master’s degree in athletic training from West Virginia University in 1996.
From 1996-1999 he worked as an athletic trainer for West Liberty, West Virginia University Institute of Technology, and the University of South Dakota.
In 1999, Hanna was employed by Wheeling Hospital (WVU Medicine) to serve as the head athletic trainer for the Wheeling Nailers of the East Coast Hockey League and the Ohio Valley Greyhounds of the Indoor Football League. He spent six years in this position before resigning in 2005 to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree at Wheeling Jesuit University.
Upon graduating Hanna developed, directed, and successfully oversaw accreditation in athletic training curricula at Wheeling University and West Liberty University. Over the last two decades, he has mentored and graduated dozens of students who have entered the health care workforce as athletic trainers in clinics, high schools, and professional sports, while many have continued their educations in a wide variety of graduate schools in athletic training, physician assistant, counseling and psychology, physical therapy, and medical school.
For the last three years he has served as a graduate faculty for the Exercise Physiology Program, teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses. His professional and scholarly development allowed him to achieve tenure and full professor status at West Liberty University.
He now takes on a new role as Core Associate Faculty in the Southern California University of Health Sciences DPT Program where he will have additional duties as Assistant Director of Clinical Education. Hanna is an actively practicing PT in sports medicine/ortho and early intervention, as well as a collegiate ATC for Wheeling University. His areas of research interest focus on biomechanics and sports performance, endurance sports and nutrition performance, plant-based nutrition and performance, ergonomics in the workplace, and nutritional needs of demographic areas in adolescents. He enjoys, golfing, triathlon racing, cycling, gardening, and most outdoor activities. He resides in Wheeling with his wife Carrie and three children Grace, Lily, and Wilson.
Degrees
D.P.T., Physical Therapy, Wheeling University, Wheeling, WV 26003-7712, West Virginia, United StatesDissertation: Problem Based Learning Efficacy in Undergraduate Athletic Training Programs
B.Sc., Athletic Training, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United StatesDissertation: Efficiency of a 6% Carbohydrate Electrolyte solution vs. water regarding absorption rates
B.A., Communication/Biology, West Liberty State College, West Liberty, West Virginia, United StatesDissertation: N/A
Professional Licensures (Healthcare)
Physical Therapy, West Virginia, United States, PT-002676, Active, 2007, December 2025, 1588094643
Ohio PT Compaq, Ohio, United States, CP026407T, Active, 2024, December 2025, 1588094643
LAT-Licensed Athletic Trainer, West Virginia, United States, A001120, Active, 2017, June 2025, 1588094643
LAT-Licensed Athletic Trainer, Ohio, United States, Active, 2024, December 2025, 1588094643
Certifications (Healthcare)
Board of Certification Athletic Training, Athletic Trainer Certified, Sports Medicine, 089602399, 1996-08-01, 2028-02-01, Yes
American Heart Association, BLS First Aid and CPR, 11, 2023-09-08, 2025-09-08
Work Experience
2024 - Ongoing
PT/prn, Edwards Absolute Kinetics, St. Clairsville , Ohio, United States
2023 - Ongoing
Athletic Trainer/PT prn, Wheeling University, Wheeling, West Virginia, United States
2022 - 2025
Full Tenured Graduate Professor Exercise Physiology, West Liberty University, West Liberty, West Virginia, United States
2013 - 2022
Department Chair/Program Director/Athletic Training Program, West Liberty University, Wheeling, West Virginia, United States
2008 - 2013
Department Chair/Program Director/Athletic Training Program, Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, West Virginia, United States
1999 - 2005
Athletic Trainer, Wheeling Nailers ECHL/Wheeling Hospital, Wheeling, West Virginia, United States
Athletic Trainer, Ohio Valley Greyhounds/Wheeling Hospital, Wheeling, West Virginia, United States
Hospital / Clinical Appointments
Athletic Trainer, Wheeling Hospital September 1999, July 2007
Physical Therapist, Wheeling Hospital August 2008, July 2018
Interests
Health and Wellness Movement, Nutrition, Health and Wellness, Movement, Demographics of Populations
Musculoskeletal Movement and Orthopedics, Injuries, Sports Endurance Athletic Populations
