IRONTON — Neil A. Evans, owner of Elite Rehab and Fitness in Ironton, has been selected as Shawnee State University’s physical therapy assistant (PTA) program leader.

Evans is a 1998 graduate of Ohio University. In 1998 he also became a certified strength and conditioning specialist.

He received his doctor of physical therapy degree from Slippery Rock University in 2001.

In 2004, Evans opened Elite Rehab and Fitness. In 2005 Evans became an assistant professor for the Shawnee State University PTA program. He was promoted to associate professor in 2008.

On June 24 Evans became a board certified orthopedic clinical specialist. The American Physical Therapy Association founded the clinical specialist program in 1978 to provide formal recognition for physical therapists with advanced clinical knowledge, experience, and skills in a special area of practice and to assist consumers and the health care community in identifying these physical therapists.

As of 2008, there were less than 5,000 physical therapists that have passed the OCS exam.