SPORTS MEDICINE & SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

Brian Lee, MS, ATC, CSCS - Director of Sports Medicine

Brian Lee joined the LA Galaxy in June 2021 as Director of Sports Medicine. He spent 4 years with Toronto FC, 2015-2019, in the same role, supervising and developing the sports medicine staff across all levels of the club. Alongside, he will oversee all player health and align the clubs processes for rehabilitation for the first team, second team, and academy.

In his short stint between the LA Galaxy and Toronto FC, he was the Sports Medicine Program Manager at the esteemed Children’s Hospital Los Angeles from 2019-2021.

Lee was the Head Athletic Trainer for Chivas USA in 2011 & 2012 and San Jose Earthquakes in 2013 & 2014. He has a bachelor’s degree in Biomechanics from the University of California, Davis, and a Master’s degree in Sports Health Care from the Arizona School of Health Sciences.

Jim Liston, MEd, CSCS - Director of High Performance and Innovation

Jim Liston joined the Galaxy as Director of High Performance and Innovation in January of 2021. This is Liston’s second stint with the Galaxy, as he served the club as the Head of Strength and Conditioning from 1998-2003.

In his role, Liston is responsible for collaborating with the medical staff, performance staff and coaches as they build the optimal training environment for the team and for each individual player. The department will utilize the latest in technology, combined with extensive staff experience, to make sound, informed decisions that will help drive success on the field.

Liston has spent the last six years as the Director of Sports Science for Toronto FC. While in Toronto, Liston was tasked with building a department focused on sport science and innovation, optimal player performance and youth development. During his tenure the club acquired and maximized the power of its Athlete Management System, developed sound programs utilizing the Catapult GPS system and built a TFC-branded application to crowdsource youth soccer talent in Canada.

Liston has also worked with the Columbus Crew and Chivas USA of Major League Soccer. He has served as the State Director of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and as an expert advisor to Children’s Health magazine, and he built a youth activity curriculum for the Sound Body Sound Mind Foundation. Liston received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Massachusetts and a Master’s Degree in Health Science from Springfield College.

Michael Rabasca - Director of Cognitive Performance

Michael Rabasca joined the LA Galaxy as Director of Cognitive Performance this year from Toronto FC. Rabasca joined Toronto FC in 2014 to direct and lead the Department of Cognitive Development, and his work at Toronto included building the department and providing training geared toward TFC’s youth academy and emerging professionals.

In 2015, he joined the first team under the direction of Head Coach Greg Vanney. As Director of High Performance with the first team, Rabasca managed various aspects of cognitive performance during the club’s first-ever MLS Cup playoff berth in 2015, 2016 Canadian Cup Championship, 2016 MLS Cup finalist campaign, 2017 Canadian Cup Championship, 2017 MLS Supporters’ Shield Winners, 2017 MLS Cup Championship, 2018 Canadian Cup Championship and 2018 Concacaf Champions League finalist campaign.

In 2018, he was assigned to manage Toronto FC 2 as head coach, posting a record of 9W-9D-10L. In 2019, Rabasca returned to his role as Director of High Performance with the first team. Prior to joining Toronto FC, Rabasca provided leadership and coaching with Real Salt Lake’s youth academy in Casa Grande, AZ. The academy in Casa Grande was the first residential academy program provided by an MLS organization. In addition, Rabasca served as a scout for U.S. Soccer and worked as a consultant with the NSCAA. He has also been a presenter and speaker at the United Soccer Coaches convention.

Rabasca is a native of New York, where he attended Sachem High School in Lake Ronkonkoma, NY. He played soccer and graduated from the University of New England with a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy.

Tom Williams, MS, UKSCA - Assistant Coach (Performance & Sports Science)

Tom Williams, a native of Wales in the United Kingdom, joined the performance staff during the off season in 2021 as Head of Sports Science & Research.

Williams has extensive experience in professional soccer holding coaching, sport science, strength and conditioning and rehabilitation roles with UK-based teams Mansfield Town FC, Sheffield United FC and Leicester City FC, with whom he won the English Premier League title. 

He has worked in MLS since 2016 initially as Head of Strength and Conditioning at Toronto FC before moving to the LA Galaxy. Williams holds a Sport Science degree from Loughborough University and a Masters in High Performance Sport from the Australian Catholic University, along with UEFA coaching licenses.

His main roles at the LA Galaxy are to deliver on-field preparation, monitor and analyze GPS metrics and deliver strength and conditioning sessions to the first team.

Adam Waterson, BS, ASCA Level II, NASM - Head Strength & Conditioning Coach

Adam Waterson joined the club’s performance team as Head of Strength and Conditioning in January 2018. 

Waterson has extensive experience in working with various professional soccer teams throughout Australia and Asia in the National Soccer League, A-League and K-League. These teams include Parramatta Power, 2004 Australian Olympic Soccer Team, Sydney FC, Newcastle Jets, Western Sydney Wanderers and FC Seoul.

Waterson graduated from Catholic University in Exercise and Sports Science. He is a Level 2 Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Australian Strength & Conditioning Association (ASCA). He also holds an Elite Coach qualification through the ASCA. Waterson is currently obtaining his FFA C-Coaching license.

His main roles are to assist the Director of Sports Performance on the field, assist the training staff with end-stage rehab and lead the LA Galaxy strength program. Waterson was born in Baulkham Hills, Sydney, Australia.

Cesar Roldan, MS, ATC - Head Athletic Trainer

Cesar Roldan, a native of Los Angeles, joined the LA Galaxy after serving as Head Athletic Trainer for Colorado Rapids Soccer Club from 2016-2018. 

He has previous experience working as Head Athletic Trainer for Orange County Blues Soccer Club and previous internships with Chivas USA, Seattle Sounders and the LA Galaxy.

He received his undergraduate Kinesiology Degree from Long Beach State University and Master of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Science from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. 

Roldan’s primary role with the organization is day-to-day preventative and rehabilitative medicine while working in conjunction with the Performance and Nutrition department to ensure the highest quality of care for the organization’s athletes.

This is Roldan’s second year serving the club as Head Athletic Trainer and fourth year overall with the LA Galaxy.

Julie Beverige, MS, ATC - Athletic Trainer

Originally from Layton, Utah, Julie Beveridge is starting her first year as an assistant athletic trainer for the LA Galaxy.

She came from Las Vegas, where she was the head athletic trainer for the Las Vegas Lights FC. She has also previously worked with the Washington Spirit, FC Cincinnati and Marshall University and spent time as an intern with Real Salt Lake.

Beveridge received her bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from the University of Utah and her Master of Applied Exercise Science Degree from the University of Louisiana Monroe.

Erica Capellino, MS, RD, CSCS - Sports Performance Dietician

Erica Capellino joins Herbalife Nutrition and the LA Galaxy as a Sports Performance Dietitian. Capellino is a Registered Dietitian and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist who focuses on sports, performance and longevity nutrition.

As a varsity cross country and track and field captain and student-athlete, she received a Master of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan & Longevity, a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology with an emphasis in Applied Physiology and a Minor in Sports Media Studies from the University of Southern California. 

Upon graduating USC, Capellino worked in Performance Nutrition with the Los Angeles Rams, implementing and expanding nutrition related sport science to enhance performance and recovery. She then became the first full-time Team Dietitian for the Los Angeles Chargers. In ensuring nutrition consistency and integrity at home and on the road, Capallino coordinated nutrition for international NFL games in London and Mexico City. 

On top of her experience in football, Capellino worked as a dietitian with the United States Olympic Committee and Team USA, providing optimal training, recovery and nutrition environments in national and international Olympic Games for both the Men’s and Women’s National Volleyball Teams.

Her primary roles are to fuel the LA Galaxy teams through Performance Nutrition and promote personalized longevity on and off the field.

Shunta Shimizu - Team Chiropractor & Scar Tissue Specialist

Shunta Shimizu serves as the club’s Chiropractor and Scar Tissue Specialist since the 2010 season. He was invited to be an intern with the Galaxy in the beginning of 2005 season after treating Cobi Jones and Peter Vagenas.

Shimizu specializes with the active release technique, which breaks down scar tissue build up as a result of wear and tear of the body, injury, and post-surgery. His role at the Galaxy is to keep athletes on the field and speed up the recovery process after an injury.

A former collegiate soccer player, Shimizu graduated from Loyal Marymount University in 2001 where he majored in Psychology. He then graduated from Southern California University of Health Sciences in 2004 and became a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic in 2005. That same year he went on to become fully certified in Active Release Technique.

Team Orthopedist — Bert Mandelbaum

Dr. Mandelbaum is a 1980 medical graduate of Washington University Medical School in St. Louis who completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and fellowship in Sports Medicine at UCLA. He served on the faculty at UCLA from 1986-89 and subsequently joined the Santa Monica Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Group. He presently practices there, serving as the Director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship Program and of the Research and Education Foundation and the Medical Director for the FIFA Medical Center of Excellence in Santa Monica. He is also the Director of Research for Major League Baseball (MLB). He serves on the USOC National Medical Network Advisory Group. He was also appointed as Chief Medical Officer for the World Special Olympic Games 2015 in LA. As a team physician, Dr. Mandelbaum has worked with UCLA Athletics (1985-1989) and Pepperdine University (1990-present), LA Galaxy, and Chivas USA MLS teams. He was the Chief Medical Officer for Women's World Cup Soccer in 1999 and 2003, US Soccer Men's National Teams Physician since 1991, and the assistant Medical Director for Major League Soccer since 1996. He also served as USA Team Physician for Soccer World Cups '94 in the USA, '98 in France, 2002 in Japan and Korea, Germany in 2006, and South Africa in 2010. He served as FIFA medical officer for Brazil World Cup 2014.

Chief Medical Officer, Primary Care Physician — Josh Scott, MD

Dr. Joshua Scott is a board-certified specialist in Sports Medicine with over a decade of experience treating athletes in southern California. He was a Division I track and field athlete at Clemson University and received his medical degree and residency in pediatrics from the Medical University of South Carolina. After residency, he completed a fellowship in primary care sports medicine at the University of South Carolina. He currently practices at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute as a primary care sports medicine physician and is volunteer faculty at the University of Southern California. Dr. Scott has worked with the U.S. Track and Field team at the Olympic Trials and U.S Championships in 2016. He has served as a medical consultant for the Los Angeles Dodgers and he currently serves as the lead primary care physician for the Galaxy.

Team Neuropsychologist — Dave Lechuga, PhD

Dr. Iman Abdeshahian, DMD - Team Dentist

Dr. Iman was born in Switzerland and raised in England, educated both in the UK and America before moving to Southern California. He lectures to both dentists and university students, and was previously a clinical evaluator with Glidewell Laboratories. He believes in giving his time and effort to helping those in the community who might not otherwise have access to adequate dental care, and every year his office provides a day of free dentistry to an underserved group in the community.

He has also been involved in dental mission trips abroad, helping bring much-needed medical care to Guatemala, Fiji, Tonga, and Mexico. Highly regarded for his cosmetic work, he is trusted by many celebrity patients to help maintain their oral health, and Dr. Iman’s work can be seen on the front covers of magazines and publications worldwide. His research has also helped support the development of laser-activated skin fillers, laser tattoo removal and clarification of the roles that microRNAs play in post transcription regulation of gene expression.

He currently maintains a private multi-specialty practice in Stanton, California.

Team Chiropractors

George Billauer, DC

Dr. George Billauer has been a member of the Galaxy medical staff since the team's inception in 1996. A 1977 graduate of the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, he has extensive experience in the sports medicine arena. His career has included providing services to organizations such as the LA Dodgers, the LA Kings, the US Olympic Team and UCLA Men's Basketball. His passion is soccer and he is proud to also have been the Team Chiropractor for the US Men's National Team since 1992. His experience with the USMNT spans over 300 matches and 5 World Cups.

Team Ophthalmologist – Rom Kandavel, MD

Dr. Rom Kandavel performs cutting edge cataract and laser eye surgery at the Colvard-Kandavel Eye Center. He recognized as one of the leading eye specialists in Los Angeles and lectures internationally to advance the field of ophthalmic surgery. Dr. Kandavel grew up in the San Fernando Valley. He graduated from the renowned Harvard-Westlake high school. He then attended UCLA, where he received his degree in Biology and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. Dr. Kandavel received his medical degree from UC Davis Medical School where he graduated at the top of his class with AOA honors on a full academic scholarship. In 2013, Dr. Kandavel was chosen as the Team Ophthalmologist for the L.A. Galaxy soccer team, and he also provided eye care for the U.S. Men's National Team competing in the 2014 World Cup games in Brazil.

Team Podiatrist — Howard Liebeskind

Howard Liebeskind, DPM, FFPM RCPS (Glasg), FAAPSM, CAQPSM is a Board-Certified Podiatric Sports Medicine Specialist, Fellow of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Chair of the American Board of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) Examination Committee and first sports podiatrist ever awarded MD Affiliate Status into the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.

He is recognized by many in the national and international sports medicine community as his professions most experienced sports medicine specialists and is the world's longest tenured "football podiatrist."

Dr. Liebeskind has been team podiatrist to the Los Angeles Galaxy since the team's inception in 1996 in addition to serving as team podiatrist to the US Men's and Women's World Cup and National teams for the past 31 years.

His list of high-caliber football associations includes past services as a liaison to Chelsea F.C., Internazionale Milano, Real Madrid F.C. and Manchester United F.C. during their respective pre-season North American tours from 2005 through 2018.

In addition to his work with the Galaxy he is currently a team and consulting podiatrist to the Los Angeles Lakers, South Bay Lakers, Los Angeles Sparks, Angel City Football Club, Pepperdine University and UCLA Athletic Departments.

With a detailed understanding of the biodynamics of athletic footwear, orthotic fabrication and innovative usage of biometric data acquisition systems to enhance athletic performance, Dr. Liebeskind uses his expertise in this area to speak at national and international conferences on these topics, as well as to professional and industrial organizations.

Dr. Liebeskind is a graduate of Syracuse University and the William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.