Jordan Feigenbaum is an experienced strength coach who also has his medical degree and residency training. In addition to a veritable laundry list of credentials, Jordan is also an elite powerlifter who currently holds one of the top 20 totals of all-time (source: Powerlifting Watch). If he’s not coaching, training, or playing doctor, you’ll likely find Jordan hopping a plane to somewhere fun or reading a book.

Education & Credentials

• Eastern Virginia Medical School- Doctor of Medicine (2016)
• Saint Louis University School of Medicine- Master’s of Anatomy and Physiology (2012)
• Truman State University-Bachelor of Science in Biology (2008)
• Starting Strength- Starting Strength Coach and Seminar Staff Member (2012-2018)
• National Strength and Conditioning Association- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (2008- Present)
• United States of America Weightlifting- Club Coach (2009-Present)
• American College of Sports Medicine- Health and Fitness Specialist (2008-Present)
• CrossFit- Level 1 Instructor (2009-Present)

Performance

Austin Baraki, MD is a practicing Physician, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, educator, and coach. He completed his undergraduate degree in Chemistry at the College of William & Mary, his doctorate in medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, and Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

After a 15 year competitive swimming career through the collegiate level, he discovered the barbell and began training for strength and competitive powerlifting. He has coached individuals ranging from beginners of all ages to national and internationally competitive athletes.

His interests include complex diagnostic challenges, medical education, the application of strength training in the context of medical conditions & aging, as well as musculoskeletal pain & rehabilitation. He enjoys reading, writing, teaching, and spending time with his wife, Dr. Loraine Baraki.

Leah Lutz is a full-time Barbell Medicine coach and oversees much of the administrative work here. Previously a teacher, primarily in middle school English, she now coaches full-time, in-person and online. With personal experience in major weight loss (130 lbs) and going from fearing the gym to competing internationally, in addition to having years of experience in teaching and training, Leah now works with a wide variety of clients (college students to grandparents, new lifters and competitors), loves connecting with each one, and hopes to provide plenty of education, personal interaction, and motivation throughout the coaching relationship.

Her personal powerlifting accomplishments include: World Classic Championship USA team member, multiple IPF World Classic medals, 1st place 2016 USAPL Raw Nationals, 72 M1 class, and multiple CA state records in the 63 and 72kg classes.

Thomas Campitelli began his barbell coaching career in 2009 and his clients have included the elderly and infirm as well as national and international competitors in powerlifting.  Based out of sunny Oakland, CA, he travels extensively throughout the US and the world to coach and lecture at barbell seminars. Tom works with lifters of all levels of ability both in-person and remotely, and has many years of experience assisting his trainees at competitions where he provides a calm demeanor and an excellent eye for attempt selection. He brings an expansive understanding of human movement and strength programming as well as a compassionate approach to his coaching that enables his clients to succeed at their varied pursuits.

Dr. Loraine Baraki is a U.S. Army Officer and Gynecologic Surgeon/Obstetrician, currently practicing and teaching at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. She holds her medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School and completed residency training at Brooke Army Medical Center, before subsequent assignments at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, and William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, TX.

Dr. Baraki draws inspiration from her military family background, emphasizing athletic achievement and self-improvement throughout her career. She has trained and competed as a track sprinter, endurance running, CrossFit, weightlifting, and Powerlifting, where she ranked as the No. 6 powerlifter in the U.S. in her weight class at the 2019 USA Powerlifting Raw Nationals. Dr. Baraki combines her expertise in Women’s Health and strength training by advocating for exercise, including resistance training, throughout life, including as part of perinatal and perimenopausal care.

After graduating high school, Rheece began a 4-year Bachelor of Economics & Bachelor Applied Finance degree. Following this, Rheece realized a life behind a desk wasn’t for him and soon after switched over to a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science, from which he graduated in 2016.

Throughout his studies in sports science Rheece worked as a Strength & Conditioning Coach at Hunter Sport High School in Newcastle and interned at various elite sporting organizations including The New South Wales Institute of Sport.

Rheece has previously competed as a national level swimmer but now enjoys competitive Powerlifting and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Rheece became a Starting Strength Coach (SSC) in 2017 and relinquished this credential in 2019, and now, in addition to SST duties, is an online coach with Barbell Medicine.

Joe Pemberton is a strength coach and owner of Sydney Strength Training, and Hobart Strength Training, in Australia. Previously a Chartered Accountant, Joe found corporate life didn’t give him the same buzz as helping people change their lives through training, so in 2011 he started coaching full-time.

Although Joe has an athletic background as a national level swimmer, strongman competitor, and powerlifter, his real interest lies in helping beginners and the general population incorporate training into their lives in a sustainable way.

When he isn’t coaching or training, Joe spends time with his wife and 3 kids, and if he’s lucky he might sneak into the bush for a dirt bike ride!

Education & Credentials

• Registered Dietitian, RDN
• San Diego State University, Bachelors of Science in Foods and Nutrition (2010)
• San Fransisco State University, Graduate Certificate in Dietetics (2011)

He manages strength and conditioning plans for a variety of athletes ranging from powerlifters (up to competitive regional and national level lifters), Olympic weightlifters, strongman competitors, fencers, and mixed martial artists. His best lifts include a 600-lb back squat, 403-lb bench press, and 606-lb deadlift. When he ventured into Olympic weightlifting, Hassan snatched 113kg and clean and jerked 136kg in competition.
Hassan earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Montclair State University before moving into the strength and conditioning field. His current focus and continuing self-education revolve around individualizing training for peak performance while placing a premium on the health and well-being of athletes.

Derek is a residency trained physical therapist currently operating Miles Rehab and Performance out of RTS Barbell in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior he worked as the Advanced Clinical Specialist at Stanford Children’s hospital working primarily with the youth athlete population. He worked at the University of Florida for 10 years in sports medicine, treating a variety of athletic injuries from overuse to post-operative. He remains involved in the peer reviewed process for academic journals and has spoken at national conferences on topics such as the utilization of resistance training in rehabilitation and in the introduction of power training into post-operative protocols. 

Charlie Dickson is a licensed physical therapist, strength coach, and competitive powerlifter who specializes in evidence-based strength training, pain and injury rehabilitation, and performance focused coaching. He earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Radford University and graduated Summa Cum Laude with his Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise from Virginia Tech.

With over 18 years of strength training experience and 11 years of coaching experience, Charlie has worked with hundreds of clients ranging from beginners to competitive strength athletes. His coaching approach blends clinical reasoning, practical programming, and real-world lifting experience to help clients train effectively while navigating pain, injury, and performance goals.

Charlie is especially passionate about helping lifters move beyond fear-based narratives around pain and injury. Rather than relying on quick fixes or overly rigid “corrective exercise” models, he emphasizes progressive loading, individualized exercise selection, and sustainable training strategies that allow people to keep building strength over time.

As a competitive powerlifter, Charlie won the 2018 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) Junior World Championship in the 83kg class and has competed successfully at the national and international level. His experience as both a clinician and high-level strength athlete gives him a unique perspective on the demands of serious training, long-term athletic development, and returning to performance after setbacks.

Charlie has written several articles on the Barbell Medicine website about strength training, rehabilitation, and injury management, translating research and clinical concepts into practical guidance for lifters, athletes, and coaches.

Credentials:

• Doctor of Physical Therapy, Radford University (2020)
• B.S. Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech (Summa Cum Laude, 2017)
• Licensed Physical Therapist in Arizona and Virginia
• 18+ years of strength training experience
• 2018 IPF Junior World Champion, 83kg class
• 2019 USAPL Raw Nationals 93kg Silver Medalist
• 2017 USAPL Raw Nationals 83kg Silver Medalist
• 2016 Arnold Pro Raw Challenge 83kg Gold Medalist and Best Overall Junior Lifter

Areas of Expertise:

• Strength Training
• Powerlifting Coaching
• Pain and Injury Rehabilitation
• Return to Training After Injury
• Exercise Technique
• Hypertrophy (Muscle Building)
• Barbell Training
• Evidence-Based Programming
• Performance Coaching
• Long-Term Athletic Development

Cameron Clowser is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of Virginia and is located in Virginia Beach. He graduated with his B.S. in Physical Education with a concentration in Exercise Science from Old Dominion University in 2016. After receiving his undergraduate degree, he moved on to graduate school where he earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Sherman College of Chiropractic in 2020, where he also received an award for Clinical Excellence. He is a part of both the online performance and rehab team here at Barbell medicine.

Cameron’s love for strength training and physical fitness developed during high school where he was first introduced to the weight room during his sports development. He has a passion for powerlifting, but also enjoys training/educating recreational lifters and the beginner who is just discovering resistance training and its benefits.

Claire is a lifelong athlete and nationally competitive powerlifter herself, and has been competing since 2018. Her most notable competitions include making the podium at 2019 Raw Nationals and placing first at the 2020 Arnold SBD Pro American in the 72 kg class. She holds multiple state records for powerlifting as well.

When not training or coaching, you can find Claire hiking up mountains to find a quiet place to read.

Powerlifting Bests

177.5 kg Squat, 115kg Bench, 200 kg Deadlift

Sal’s primary focus when working with a general population client is to find a fun and effective training structure. This typically involves in depth discussions prior to a plan being created, and constant follow up to ensure progression, adherence, and enjoyment. 

For competitive athletes, Sal shifts his focus to efficiency and adherence. Competitive athletes can expect detailed feedback on technique, as well as programming that is designed to maximize the benefits of each session. 

When Sal isn’t actively coaching clients, he is coaching and educating his staff to ensure they are providing personal training services that are second to none. 

Nick Occhipinti is an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Centenary University where he emphasizes the effects of exercise on health, performance, and aging. As a coach and clinician, Nick has guided everyone from D1 athletes to fitness novices toward better health, improved performance, increased fitness, and injury resiliency. His coaching philosophy is evidence-based and client-centered, delivering impactful and effective programs and meaningful coaching tailored to the individual. 

Throughout his career, Nick has coached hundreds of clients to new levels of strength, improved endurance performances, helped them achieve body composition goals, and build their own healthy, fit lifestyle. He is passionate about communicating principles and practices that clients can immediately apply to their lives, cutting through the noise in the health and fitness industry. Nick regularly writes about strength training, recovery, exercise technique, nutrition, and the psychology of pain and injury. 

Nick has been certified by most major health and fitness organizations including the NSCA, ACSM, NASM, and USAW. He frequently attends seminars and conferences to better his understanding of health, fitness, and behavior change to improve his teaching and coaching. Outside of his professional life, Nick enjoys spending time with his family, lifting weights, running, hiking, spending time outdoors, traveling, and playing music. He also enjoys reading, writing, cooking, and occasionally binge-watching TV with his wife.

Credentials:

• Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)
• Master of Science (MS): Exercise Science
• Bachelors of Science (BS): Exercise Science
• Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
• 15+ years of coaching experience in person and remotely

Areas of Expertise:

• Recovery & Injury Prevention
• Strength Training
• Hypertrophy (Muscle Building)
• Fat Loss
• Sports Performance
• Nutrition Coaching (non-clinical)

Chase Wills is a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Coach who provides evidence-based guidance and behavior change counseling to help people of all ages, health statuses, and fitness levels achieve their nutrition-related goals. His particular areas of expertise include weight management, performance nutrition, and medical nutrition therapy for cardiometabolic disease and risk factor management. 

Chase’s coaching style emphasizes a strongly personalized approach, practical guidance, support and accountability, and progress over perfection. He believes that long-lasting health and fitness progress is created through small, sustainable changes that build on one another over time. 

Outside of work, Chase enjoys exercising, playing guitar, and spending time outdoors and traveling. 

Credentials: 

• Registered Dietitian 
• Certified Personal Trainer
• B.S. in Nutrition & Dietetics
• B.S. in Kinesiology 

Areas of Expertise:

• Weight and body composition management
• Performance nutrition for both strength and endurance training
• Medical nutrition therapy for cardiometabolic disease and risk factor management

Eliud Sierra is a licensed chiropractor in the state of Illinois and is located in the NW suburbs of Chicago. Eliud graduated with his Bachelor’s of Science degree and his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 2021. 

Eliud has been a strength and fitness coach since 2017 and is also a bodybuilder who competes in the Men’s Physique division of the NPC. His love for health and fitness started at a young age and are what inspired him to start his own rehab focused chiropractic clinic shortly after graduation. He is part of both the online performance and rehab team here at Barbell Medicine.