 Richard Bunch, PhD, PT, CBES - CEO |
Personal and Educational Background | - Dr. Bunch was born in Washington D.C. while his Father was serving in the Air Force but spent the vast majority of his life living in Louisiana. He founded ISR Institute in 1993 after a ten-year tenure in academics at LSU Medical Center where he achieved the position of Associate Professor prior to entering private practice. While working as an Associate Professor at LSU Medical Center, Dr. Bunch started and headed the first Allied Health Research Committee for LSU School of Allied Health Professions, and developed an industrial physical therapy practice at LSU Medical Center, Department of Physical Therapy.
- In 1993, Dr. Bunch entered private practice with a goal to offer a totally integrated system for the proactive treatment of orthopedic disorders by integrating ergonomics, wellness concepts and training, functional capacity testing, and diagnostic-specific physical therapy into a holistic approach that would effectively address the cause and not just the symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders.
- His practice expanded quickly into disability management and total wellness, addressing, in addition to orthopedic problems, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Dr. Bunch, with the assistance of his Senior Vice President, developed one of the most comprehensive and legally defensible functional capacities evaluations (FCE) in the nation known as the WorkSaversm FCE. Dr. Bunch has personally conducted thousands of FCEs for medical physicians, case managers, defense and plaintiff attorneys, and self-referrals. He has been accepted as an expert in functional capacity testing, physical therapy, and ergonomics in both federal, state, and workers compensation courts.
- In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Bunch has become a nationally renowned professional speaker specializing in wellness, occupational health, and ergonomics. In his career to date he has personally lectured to over 1,100,000 employees throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, Europe, Africa and Asia. He has also performed hundreds of ergonomic evaluations, office and field, in both onshore and offshore environments.
- Dr. Bunch resided in Houma, Louisiana most of his life. Upon graduation from high school, he joined the United States Army in 1971 and underwent basic training at Fort Polk, La. Upon completion of basic training he was appointed to serve at Fort Belvoir Military Academy Preparatory School in Virginia near Washington D.C. In 1972, he received an appointment by Senator Allen Ellender to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York where he studied undergraduate college courses with an emphasis on Engineering and Military Science. He made the Dean’s List each year at West Point and was ranked in the top 25 % of his class in leadership. After two years at West Point he transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge to complete prerequisites for physical therapy.
- In 1975, he was accepted to LSU Medical Center’s School of Physical Therapy. After working one year as a physical therapist, he was accepted to LSU Medical Center’s Graduate School Program in Human Anatomy. He received his medical Ph.D. degree in Neuroanatomy with honors in 1983 whereupon he was offered a faculty position at LSU Medical Center, School of Allied Health, Department of Physical Therapy.
Experience | - Dr. Bunch has been actively involved in clinical practice as a licensed physical therapist for over 28 years and has published and presented numerous seminars on the topics of wellness, ergonomics, functional capacity evaluations, identification of non-organic illness behaviors, employee fitness testing, and behavioral based injury prevention to numerous industries and various medical and safety conferences nation-wide and abroad. He is co-author of the book, Conversations on Health & Wellness with Dr. John Gray (Best selling author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are from Venus), Dr. Earl Mindell (Best selling author of The Vitamin Bible) and Dr. Norman Rosenthal (Author of Winter Blues: Seasonal Affective Disorder), and author of the book chapters, “The AMA Guide to Functional Capacity Evaluations”, and “Ergonomics”. He is also author of the Wellness educational booklet, “Back-To-Fitness” that addresses injury prevention and wellness in the occupational environment. Dr. Bunch is currently writing a book, Clinical Ergonomics and Wellness for the Aging Work Population and co-authoring a fitness book with the celebrity, Billy Blanks, Taibo Instructor. In alliance with Moxie media, Dr. Bunch has developed over 20 videos related to safety and injury prevention for railroad, construction, oil production and drilling, and marine industries.
- Dr. Bunch, through his private organization, ISR Institute, provides employee functional testing, various educational and training programs, ergonomic and injury prevention consulting services, and physical therapy services to industries nation-wide. In addition to private practice, he serves as a Clinical Associate Professor at Tulane University Medical Center, Department of Public Health and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of New Orleans (UNO), Department of Psychology. He is a member of the American and Louisiana State Physical Therapy Associations, Offshore Marine Safety Association (OMSA), Delta Safety, and the national and local chapters of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).
Professional and Civic Organizations | - Dr. Bunch is a well-known professional speaker and member of the National Speakers Association (NSA). Based on his experience with patients and occupational injuries and illness, Dr. Bunch provides a dynamic motivational series of seminars that are designed to encourage individuals to make lifestyle and work style changes that will effectively reduce risks of common illnesses and soft tissue disorders that plague employees in industries today. Numerous Fortune 500 companies have realized tremendous cost savings and improved productivity using Dr. Bunch’s programs. Dr Bunch is also a member of Human Factors and Ergonomic Society (HFES), American Society of Safety Engineers,(ASSE), American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and several regional and local safety organizations.
 Ellen Bunch, RN - President |
Personal and Educational Background | - Ellen Bunch, R.N. is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and attended Nichols State University School of Nursing where she received her Registered Nursing Degree in 1975.
Experience | - Ms. Bunch has over 32 years of combined orthopaedic, neurological and acute care nursing experience. She has provided nursing care to a wide range of patients in hospitals, outpatient clinics and home health.
- Ms. Bunch became President of ISR Institute, Inc. in 1995. She coordinates ISR administrative functions and is well known for her broad depth of knowledge in health issues, especially as they pertain to orthopedic and neurological disorders, for her highly organized skills, excellent management style, extreme dedication to detail, and most sincere dedication to providing ISR Institute’s clients and affiliates with the most excellent support and service available.
- Ms. Bunch coordinates WorkSaver services with industries, and directs her staff of Q.A. nurses and administrative staff to conduct quality assurance reviews of all WorkSaver Fit-For-Duty evaluations and ADA-Compliant New Hire Evaluations. She is instrumental in making certain that all functional testing runs smoothly and efficiently. When required, she ensures that testing guidelines and policies are updated and followed by all WorkSaver clinics. She is also in charge of working with new client acquisitions and helping industries understand the proven benefits of WorkSaver services.
Professional and Civic Organizations | - Ms. Bunch is a member of the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses (NAON) and the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN). In addition to her professional career she is very active in several Animal Rescue Organizations such as Humane Organization for the Protection and Education for Animals (H.O.P.E. for Animals) and the Humane Society.
 Trevor Bardarson, PT, OCS, CBES - Senior VP |
Personal and Educational Background | - Mr. Bardarson graduated with a degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Manitoba, Canada in 1994. He holds numerous credentials. He is certified in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy by the McKenzie Institute USA, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and is currently the Training Director for the Worksaversm FCE Protocol. He is an excellent hockey player but finds it difficult to pursue this interest in the swamplands of Louisiana. However, he has found new pleasures in Louisiana’s saltwater fishing venues.
Experience | - Mr. Bardarson serves as Senior Corporate Vice President of Clinical Operations for Industrial Safety and Rehabilitation Institute and Clinic Director/Partner of ISR Physical Therapy of Houma, LLC. Mr. Bardarson has performed over 800 functional capacity evaluations (FCEs). As a result he is recognized as an expert in physical therapy and functional capacity evaluations in federal, state, and workers compensation courts.
- Mr. Bardarson is astute in business operations and is in charge of expansion of ISR Institute’s corporate services, development and expansion of new clinics, formation of joint ventures, and assessing new business venture opportunities. He combines the rare blend of excellent clinical skills, interpersonal skills, and business knowledge that ensures successful operations of clinic and a method of quality practice that patients and referral sources find very rewarding and effective.
Professional and Civic Organizations | - Mr. Bardarson has also performed hundreds of ergonomic evaluations, office and field, in both onshore and offshore environments. He is a senior faculty member of the CBES Credentialing course and specializes in the application of the McKenzie approach to spinal evaluation to treat injuries of the spine and to prevent spinal injuries. He also specializes in conditioning programs for employees, physical demand validation, and material handling analyses using the NIOSH Lift Equation. He currently oversees Industrial Safety & Rehabilitation Institute’s contract with ChevronTexaco’s and Tidewater’s functional testing program for new and injured workers and assists Dr. Bunch in coordinating rapid response services for industries. Mr. Bardarson is a member of the American and Louisiana Physical Therapy Associations.
 Maria Adams, PT, CBES - VP of Clinic Affiliations |
Personal and Educational Background | - Ms. Adams is a native of Louisiana and received her degree in Physical Therapy from Louisiana State University Medical Center and was licensed in 1980. She has been the owner of her own private practice, Professional Therapy Services, an ISR Institute Clinic Affiliate, located in Harvey, Louisiana since 1985. Ms. Adams joined the administration of ISR Institute in 1996 and has served on ISR Institute’s faculty for the CBES Credentialing Course and has numerous years of experience in ergonomics program development and ergonomics consulting, office and field, in both onshore and offshore environments.
Experience | - Ms. Adams is also an expert in functional capacity testing and disability assessments. As VP of Clinic Affiliations, Ms. Adams is instrumental in assisting ISR’s President in locating affiliate clinics needed for industrial clients. She coordinates and provides WorkSaver certification courses to clinics joining the WorkSaver network. In addition to her clinical practice and administrative roles, Ms. Adams is also active in the Special Olympics for Cerebral palsy International and National Competitions. She has served as the Physical Therapy Consultant to Archbishop Shaw High School since 1980.
Professional and Civic Organizations | - Ms. Adams is a member of the American and Louisiana Physical Therapy Associations and the Louisiana Sports Medicine Society.
Harold Whitlock - Vice President of Safety |
Personal and Educational Background | - Harold Whitlock graduated from East Texas State University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. His major was Industrial Technology with a Minor in Secondary Education. Upon graduation, he organized and initiated a middle school general shop course and instructed metal shop classes within Gladewater, Texas high school. The four years of teaching experience also included providing training for drivers education, supporting various student activities, including initiating and sponsoring the Kiwanis high school service organization, the Key Klub.
Harold worked in the East Texas oilfield during his teaching summers which led to his employment with Sun Oil Company in 1980. He accepted the role of District Safety Coordinator in 1985 and has served in similar roles to his chosen retirement in 2006. From that date, he has performed as a safety consultant for a large independent oil and gas company.
The career as a Safety Professional provided for exposures to a multitude of oil and gas related functions; training both as a trainer and trainee, serving from the district level to the corporate level, domestic as well as the international arenas, onshore and Gulf of Mexico, program development, initiation and facilitation, incident investigations, safety oversight, office and field ergonomic evaluations, and stressing proactive safety performance to individuals and asset personnel.
The span of his career, personal experiences and training, serve as a catalyst for his passion for life and the safety of the individual.
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| ISR Institute
478 Corporate Drive
Houma, LA 70360
| | Telephone | (985) 853-2214 | | Toll-Free | (800) 414-2174 | | Fax | (985) 580-3092 |
| Email: General Information | | | |
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