BarBend Expert Network

BarBend’s Expert Network features some of the world’s top minds in strength training and strength athletics. Our Experts each of years of training, competition, academic, coaching, and practical experience across a wide range of strength disciplines and methodologies. The Expert Network is comprised of Olympians, World Record holders, coaches, researchers, dietitians, and historians; these individuals bring a range of experiences to our site through the content they write and articles they help verify.

For your reference, BarBend articles that have been Expert Verified feature a special callout at the top identifying the individuals in our network who have read and reviewed that content.

Aastha Kalra MD

Aastha Kalra, MD

Dr. Aastha Kalra specializes in obesity medicine and metabolic health. She is the physician founder of Weight Zero MD, a telemedicine clinic focusing on “diabetes reversal.” She is board certified in internal medicine.

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Andy Galpin

Andy Galpin, PhD

Andy Galpin has a PhD in Human Bioenergetics as well as a Masters in Human Movement Sciences. Dr. Galpin is a tenured professor and scientist at CSU Fullerton where he is the Director

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Angelo Gingerelli

Angelo Gingerelli, CSCS

Angelo Gingerelli was named Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coordinator at Seton Hall in the fall of 2005 and has extensive experience in both professional and collegiate athletics. Before coming to Seton Hall, Gingerelli

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Brad Baldwin

Brad Baldwin, BS, MS, CSCS

With over 12 years of personal training experience, a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in exercise science/sports psych, and the NSCA’s gold standard certification for strength and conditioning coaching, Brad is one of the

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Chad Wesley Smith

Chad Wesley Smith

Chad Wesley Smith is the owner/founder of Juggernaut Training Systems and one of the most accomplished strength athletes of recent years. With a background in track & field, Smith took his 2 collegiate

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Cheryl Haworth Olympian, Weightlifter

Cheryl Haworth

Cheryl Haworth is a 3-time Olympic Weightlifter and World Record Holder. Cheryl was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. She graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2006 with a

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Craig Kleinberg, CSCS, USAW-L1

Craig is a Director of Coaching at Athletic Lab. Craig also manages Athletic Lab’s coaching education, including the on-site coaching mentorship program. He earned his MA in Exercise Physiology from the University of

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Cristian Plascencia

Cristian Plascencia, BS, CSCS

Cristian Plascencia began learning how to optimize human performance and movement when he was 13 years old. After spraining his ankle playing competitive basketball, he realized that physical therapy and performance training would

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Dina D'Alessandro, MS, RDN

Dina R. D’Alessandro, MS, RDN

Dina R. D’Alessandro is a registered dietitian and dedicated nutrition professional with over 20 years of experience in the culinary, corporate, and healthcare industries. She is the founder of DishWithDina, a virtual platform

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Mike T. Nelson, PhD, MSME, CSCS, CISSN

Dr. Mike T. Nelson

Mike T. Nelson, PhD, MSME, CSCS, CISSN, is a research fanatic who specializes in metabolic flexibility and heart rate variability, as well as an online trainer, adjunct professor, faculty member at the Carrick

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Eric Trexler

Eric Trexler, PhD, CSCS*D, CISSN

Eric started lifting at the age of 12, and has been hooked ever since. Eric has a background in powerlifting and strength coaching, and has been competing in natural bodybuilding since 2011. Now

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Gabrielle Fundaro

Gabrielle Fundaro

Gabrielle Fundaro is an ACE-certified Health Coach trained in motivational interviewing and the Monash Low-FODMAP program.A former Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Georgia Gwinnett College, she holds a Ph.D. in Human Nutrition,

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George Matic, M.D.

George Matic, M.D. practices Primary Care Sports Medicine and non-operative Orthopaedics at Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. He is fellowship-trained in Primary Care Sports Medicine at The Ohio State University and completed his

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Gianna Masi

Gianna Masi, RDN, CISSN

Gianna Masi is a registered dietitian and sports nutritionist in NY/CT. She’s a Program Manager and RD for Stronger U, and is the founder of Gritty Nutrition LLC. Gianna previously worked with the

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Greg Nuckols

Greg Nuckols has over a decade of experience under the bar, and a BS in Exercise and Sports Science. He’s held 3 all-time world records in powerlifting in the 220 and 242 classes.

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Greg Sutton

Greg Sutton

Greg Sutton is a nutrition, fitness, and athletics addict. During his time working as a full-time Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach under the company he co-owns, Evolve to Excel, he has been able to

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Hennis Tung-barbend

Hennis Tung, MS, RD

Hennis is a New York City-based Registered Dietitian (RD). She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science and Nutrition from the Ohio State University, before completing her Dietetic Internship and Master’s in Clinical

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headshot-of-barbend-expert-jake-dickson

Jake Dickson, CPT-NASM, USAW-L2

Jake is a University of North Carolina graduate at Wilmington with a B.S. in Exercise Science. He began his career as a weightlifting coach before transitioning into sports media to pursue his interest

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Jim Elli

Jim Elli

Jim has been working with powerlifters for the last 6 years of his life. After realizing engineering wasn’t his path in university, he invested everything into becoming the best powerlifting coach he could be.

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Justine Hays M.S., R.D., C.D.N.

Justine Hays is a Registered Dietitian with a background in business, medical research, and clinical and community nutrition. She received her Master’s in Dietetics from D’Youville University. Justine is also passionate about writing

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Kyrie Furr, CF-L2, USAW-L1

Kyrie is a graduate of Winthrop University with a degree in Sport Management. Kyrie is a CrossFit Level 2 coach. Kyrie also holds CrossFit Mobility, CrossFit Gymnastics, CrossFit Kids, USA Weightlifting Level 1,

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Leyla Shamayeva MS RD

Leyla Shamayeva, MS, RD

Leyla is a registered dietitian and editor with over 7 years’ experience in digital health communications. As a registered dietitian, she is passionate about sharing factual, actionable, and personalized information. She’s a functional

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marissa meshalum

Marissa Meshulam, MS, RD

Marissa Meshulam ​is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist currently living and working in NYC. Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Marissa moved to NYC in 2018 to finish school to become an RD. She has

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Matthew Poplin

Matthew Poplin, MD

Dr. Matthew Poplin is a powerlifter, outdoor enthusiast, and family medicine physician in Charlotte, NC. He has a passion for educating lifters on evidence-based exercise science, nutrition, and medicine. He co-runs an Instagram

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Mike Israetel, PhD

Mike Israetel, PhD

Dr. Mike Israetel holds a PhD in Sport Physiology, and is currently the head science consultant for Renaissance Periodization. Mike was formerly a professor of Exercise and Sport Science in the School of

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Mitchell Hooper CSCS

Mitchell Hooper, CSCS

Mitchell Hooper is a professional strongman and a clinical exercise physiologist from Barrie, Ontario Canada. He currently holds the Static Monsters world record and national records in the deadlift and atlas stone. Mitchell has

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Tracie Haines-Landram, CSCS*D

Tracie is a certified Nutrition Coach with Stronger U Nutrition and an adjunct professor at The University of Scranton.  She earned a MS in Exercise Science from Appalachian State University, a BS in

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Trevor Kashey, PhD

Trevor Kashey has a Ph.D. in biochemistry with emphasis on cellular energy transduction (which he completed at the age of 23). He began his formal scientific career as a high school student, doing non-small

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Zachary Long

Zachary Long, DPT, SCS

Dr. Zach Long is a physical therapist in Charlotte, North Carolina, and runs the industry-leading fitness website The Barbell Physio where he is a trusted resource to thousands of athletes, coaches, and health

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Zack Telander

Zack Telander

After playing four years of  Division 1 Lacrosse at the University of Vermont, Zack graduated in 2013 and began coaching and competing in CrossFit. In 2015, after receiving his USAW-Level 1 Certification, Zack

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