Organizers

Meet the Adaptive Coalition Members

Donald Kasitinon, M.D., Director and Founding Member

Dr. Kasitinon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UT Southwestern. He is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) and sports medicine. Dr. Kasitinon received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas, where he also competed on the tennis team. He earned his medical degree and completed a PM&R residency at UT Southwestern, where he served as Academic Chief Resident. He gained advanced training through a nonoperative sports medicine fellowship at Stanford University and, while there, served as a Co-Chair of the VA Palo Alto Adaptive Sports Program.

Dr. Kasitinon is the Head Team Physician for the UTA Movin’ Mavs and Lady Movin’ Mavs and provides medical coverage for other adaptive sports events in the metroplex, such as wheelchair tennis. He also serves as a Team Physician for the Dallas Mavericks, the Head Primary Care Sports Medicine Team Physician for Dallas Trinity FC, and a Team Physician for Dallas Baptist University. Dr. Kasitinon’s primary clinical interests include adaptive sports, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and regenerative medicine/orthobiologics.

Vincent Lee, D.O.

Dr. Lee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UT Southwestern. He is board-certified in PM&R. Dr. Lee received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Western University of Health Sciences. He then completed his residency in PM&R at Burke Rehabilitation in White Plains, New York, where he served as Chief Resident and earned Resident of the Year recognition. Dr. Lee gained advanced training in sports medicine through a fellowship at Geisinger Health, where he was honored as Fellow Teacher of the Year.

Dr. Lee has extensive experience in team and event coverage across professional, collegiate, and high school athletics. He also provides ringside coverage for combat sports events, including USA Boxing’s Dallas Golden Gloves and Muay Thai competitions, and has supported endurance and adaptive sporting events such as the New York City Marathon and Special Olympics. Dr. Lee’s clinical interests include musculoskeletal ultrasound, combat sports medicine, adaptive athletics, and medical education.

Doug Garner, Founding Member

Mr. Garner has made a profound and lasting impact on adaptive sports, particularly wheelchair basketball. His multifaceted career includes roles as a coach, researcher, technical classifier, and advocate. He has worked at all levels of wheelchair basketball, from youth to intercollegiate, and was inducted into the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Hall of Fame. As a technical classifier for both the NWBA and International Wheelchair Basketball Federation, Mr. Garner helped ensure fair competition worldwide. He has authored a book on speed training for wheelchair athletes and contributed to research in adaptive sports.

Beyond basketball, Mr. Garner has also coached athletes in wheelchair track and field, table tennis, weightlifting, and tennis. At the University of Texas at Arlington, he led key adaptive sports programs, including founding the Lady Movin’ Mavs and initiating a wheelchair tennis team. His advocacy work includes co-founding the Adaptive Sports Coalition in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Mr. Garner’s career is a testament to his commitment to athlete development, inclusion, and the growth of adaptive sports.

Darlene Hunter, Ph.D., Founding Member

Dr. Hunter is a trailblazing leader in adaptive sports and a powerful advocate individuals with disabilities — especially women. A three-time Paralympian in wheelchair basketball, she won gold in 2016 and bronze in 2020. Before basketball, she was an elite track athlete, showcasing her athletic versatility and resilience after a spinal cord injury at age 4.

Beyond competition, Dr. Hunter has held key leadership roles, including CEO of the NWBA and Chair of its Women’s Division, where she helped grow teams nationwide. She also founded the only free women’s wheelchair basketball camp in the U.S. and serves as an athlete representative to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

An academic and licensed social worker, Dr. Hunter teaches at UT Arlington and holds advanced degrees in public health, social work, and family studies. Recognized as a Toyota Everyday Hero in 2017, she continues to inspire through her work in advocacy, education, and community empowerment, leaving a lasting legacy in adaptive sports and beyond.

Lindsay Chapman, PT, DPT

Dr. Chapman is a physical therapist turned community advocate whose career blends clinical expertise with a passion for accessibility and outreach. After earning her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from UT Southwestern in 2011 and has spent over a decade practicing in diverse rehabilitation settings. She later transitioned into marketing with the company Rehab Without Walls, using her healthcare background to raise awareness for neurorehabilitation services.

She is also deeply involved in community engagement, actively collaborating with local nonprofits in the DFW area. She plays a key role in updating UT Southwestern’s community resource spreadsheet, ensuring patients and providers have access to accurate, up-to-date support options. Her work bridges healthcare and community services, reflecting a strong commitment to improving access, continuity of care, and overall well-being.

Cezar Olivas

Cezar Olivas is a distinguished alumnus and leader at UT Arlington, currently serving as the Assistant Director of Adapted Sports and Recreation. His journey with the university began in the 1990s, when he was recruited by legendary coach Jim Hayes to join the Movin’ Mavs, UTA’s world-renowned wheelchair basketball team. Mr. Olivas graduated in 1999 with degrees in political science and Spanish, a foundation that supported a prolific international athletic career.

As a premier athlete, Mr. Olivas represented the Mexican National Team and competed in the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. Before returning to his alma mater, he spent 15 years with PER4MAX, where he specialized in designing custom competitive sports wheelchairs for athletes globally.

In his current role at UTA, he oversees elite adapted sports programs, including the men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams. He played a pivotal role in the 2026 transition of these programs into the UTA Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, further cementing the university's reputation as a pioneer in disability sports and inclusion. Through his leadership, Mr. Olivas continues to mentor the next generation of student-athletes, emphasizing the life lessons of preparation and resilience he learned on the court.

Tristine Lam, CPO

Tristine Lam is a certified prosthetist and orthotist at Snell Prosthetics and Orthotics in Little Rock, Arkansas. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from the University of Texas at Austin, and her Master of Prosthetics-Orthotics from UT Southwestern. Ms. Lam has been involved in leading adaptive climbing meetups in the DFW area since 2019, with the goal of providing individuals with disabilities the opportunity to experience rock climbing. She is now a director of the Climbing Access Project (elCAP Adaptive), an adaptive climbing group with the mission to increase access to the sport through rock climbing education and grow a more inclusive climbing community. She plans on using her experiences in the field of O&P and adaptive rock climbing to help others stay mobile, healthy, and physically independent.

Lindsey Haberman, CTRS

Lindsey Haberman is a certified therapeutic recreation specialist at UT Southwestern, where she uses recreational therapy to support patients' recovery and well-being. By incorporating individuals' personal interests into their rehabilitation, she helps foster emotional, physical, and social healing. Mrs. Haberman plays a vital role in connecting patients with adaptive sports and community resources, ensuring they maintain active, fulfilling lives after leaving the hospital.

Passionate about inclusion, she advocates for accessible programming for people of all abilities and across all stages of life. Her work bridges clinical care and community engagement, empowering patients to regain independence, joy, and a sense of purpose through therapeutic recreation.

Kennedy McRuffin, M.H.A.

Kennedy McRuffin is an administrative associate in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at UT Southwestern. She holds a Master of Healthcare Administration degree and supports departmental operations with a focus on organization, coordination, and communication.

Ms. McRuffin also assists with adaptive sports initiatives and serves as the primary point of contact for Dr. Kasitinon. She is dedicated to providing efficient support and ensuring seamless coordination for faculty, staff, and community partners.