Dr. Willis grew up in the San Bernardino/Redlands areas of the Inland Empire in Southern California. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science (BS) in Exercise and Sports Medicine with an emphasis in Human Performance from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA in 2011. During his time there he served as a lab assistant in the Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology courses, where they got to use the same 3D equipment that Pixar studies uses to create their amazing films. He then went on to receive his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Loma Linda University in 2014, where he was presented with the Dean’s Award, the Clinical Excellence Award, and the Fred B. Moore Mission Service Award upon graduation. Loma Linda University has also since named Dustin a Rising Star in 2017 as well as a Distinguished Alumni in 2022. Immediately after graduating, Dr. Willis completed the Orthopedic Residency Program at Rancho Physical Therapy in Murrieta, CA in 2015, after which Dr. Willis passed his Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) exam. In 2016, he then completed two fellowships concurrently, both Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s Sports and Manual Therapy Fellowship, as well as the Lower Extremity Biomechanics Fellowship at the Movement Performance Institute, both located in Los Angeles, CA. This led to him becoming distinguished as a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT). The following year, Dr. Willis joined the inaugural cohort for Azusa Pacific University’s Movement Performance Fellowship in 2017, where the focus was on studying the art of movement science using the principles of Movement Systems Impairments (MSI) and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS). Dr. Willis has also completed the required coursework and mentorship in pain neuroscience in order to become a Therapeutic Pain Specialist (TPS), a certification in applied functional science through the Grey Institute (CAFS), as well as become a performance specialist (XPS) through EXOS.

Additionally, Dr. Willis is nearing completion of his PhD dissertation, which looks to provide a better understanding of the patient-provider interaction and the underlying mechanisms for the healing power of empathy and compassion.

When not in the classroom, Dr. Willis works for The Los Angeles Lakers, Quantum Performance, and Move Lab Los Angeles, where he helps professional and recreational athletes to help keep them healthy, recover from injuries, and perform at an optimal level.

PT, California, United States, 42183, Active, 2014, February 2026, 1730571134

Type: Residency, Rancho Physical Therapy, Residency, Orthopedics, Murrieta, California, United States, January 2015, January 2016

Type: Fellowship, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Fellowship, Sports, Los Angeles, California, United States, February 2016, February 2017

Type: Fellowship, Movement Performance Institute (USC), Fellowship, Lower Extremity Biomechanics, Los Angeles, California, United States, January 2016, January 2016

Type: Fellowship, Azusa Pacific University, Fellowship, Movement Performance, Azusa, California, United States, February 2017, February 2018

Summer 2017 - Ongoing

Rising Star, 2017, Loma Linda University

Summer 2022 - Ongoing

Distinguished Alumni, 2022, Loma Linda University

Musculoskeletal/orthopedics, Sports, Patient-Provider Interaction, Sociocultural Aspects of Human Interaction, Human Interaction, pain experience, & movement, Inclusion & Inclusivity, Sports (Basketball), persistent pain