Your Health Team, Confirmed.
Elite care isn’t a luxury. It’s the standard.
At the highest level, health is managed by a team—diagnostics, rehab, performance, and data specialists working together to protect the athlete.
Confirmed delivers that model.
Founder Jess Elis spent over a decade leading NBA medical teams and built a trusted network used by top pros across the league.
Now, it’s available to you.
Our Advisory Board functions as your personal medical team, providing direct insight into injuries, surgeries, performance tracking, and long-term planning.
You train like a pro. You deserve care that’s built the same.
ADVISORY BOARD:
Ben Ashworth | Shoulder Specialist
Dr. Daniel Cohen | Force Plate Specialist
Danielle Lafata | Nutrition Specialist
Erik Meira | Knee Specialist
Kyle Sammons | Reconditioning + Return To Play Specialist
Dr. Rich Willy | Bone + Stress Injury Specialist
Ben Ashworth
Rehab: Shoulder Specialist
Ben Ashworth is a globally recognized leader in shoulder performance, known for his innovative work at the intersection of rehab and sport. With over 20 years of experience, Ben has held roles spanning physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, and performance leadership, including his most recent position as Director of Performance.
His expertise in shoulder monitoring was shaped during his time with London Wasps Rugby (2002 to 2005) and further refined through Olympic-level work with British Judo and Team GB in the lead-up to the London 2012 Olympics. Ben’s Athletic Shoulder testing framework blends clinical precision with over a decade of athlete monitoring experience, offering a data-informed approach to injury risk reduction and high performance.
He is currently completing his PhD at Liverpool Hope University, where his research focuses on shoulder fatigue, return-to-play indicators, and neuromuscular profiling. His shoulder force plate testing methodology, originating at Saracens Rugby, has been adopted across professional baseball, MMA, rugby, tennis, and collegiate sport environments.
Dr. Daniel cohen
Performance: Force Plate Specialist
Dr. Daniel Cohen is a leading force in the world of neuromuscular profiling and force platform technology with over two decades of work at the cutting edge of athlete evaluation. He co-founded ForceDecks, the gold standard in force plate systems now used across elite leagues including the NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS, Premier League, La Liga, and Olympic sport programs worldwide.
Following the acquisition of ForceDecks by Vald Performance in 2019, Daniel shifted his focus to advanced analytics, pushing the boundaries of what force plate data can reveal about injury risk, performance trends, and recovery timelines in elite populations.
He currently works as a consultant to teams across the NBA, NFL, NHL, and elite European soccer, offering both performance insights and education on best practices in force-based diagnostics. His work continues to influence how teams use data to individualize care and performance strategies.
Danielle Lafata
Performance: Nutrition Specialist
Danielle LaFata, MS, RD, CSSD, CLT, is a nationally recognized expert in performance nutrition, integrative health, and food sensitivity management, with over two decades of experience working across the highest levels of professional and collegiate sport. She holds advanced credentials including Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) and Certified LEAP Therapist (CLT), and is currently pursuing additional training in Integrative and Functional Nutrition.
Danielle was recently appointed Director of Performance Nutrition for the BYU Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams. Prior to that, she spent four seasons with the Phoenix Suns and Mercury, contributing to the Suns’ 2021 Western Conference Championship, and six seasons with the San Francisco Giants during their 2012 and 2014 World Series wins.
Her experience spans elite sport, military, and clinical settings, including roles with EXOS, the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and consulting work for the Arizona Cardinals, Coyotes, and various tactical units. Danielle has also served as a clinical consultant for SpectraCell Laboratories, supporting healthcare practitioners in interpreting advanced micronutrient and functional lab testing.
Following the acquisition of ForceDecks by Vald Performance in 2019, Daniel shifted his focus to advanced analytics, pushing the boundaries of what force plate data can reveal about injury risk, performance trends, and recovery timelines in elite populations.
He currently works as a consultant to teams across the NBA, NFL, NHL, and elite European soccer, offering both performance insights and education on best practices in force-based diagnostics. His work continues to influence how teams use data to individualize care and performance strategies.
Erik Meira
Rehab: Knee Specialist
Dr. Erik Meira is a widely respected sports physical therapist, educator, and speaker with over 25 years of experience managing complex injuries in elite athletic populations. He is the Director of the Physical Therapy Science Communication Group based in Portland, Oregon, and is board certified in Sports Physical Therapy (ABPTS) and certified in Strength and Conditioning (NSCA).
Known for his clear, often humorous delivery, Erik has lectured around the world from intimate team meetings to keynote stages and consults regularly for top-tier organizations including the NBA, NFL, NCAA, MLS, and WNSL. His expertise spans the hip, knee, and return-to-sport planning, with a focus on biomechanics, decision-making, and team alignment.
He is also the author of Sports Injury Prevention: Anatomy and the creator of PT Inquest, a podcast exploring evidence-based practice in physical therapy. Whether working with players, coaches, or front office executives, Erik brings clarity, communication, and clinical insight to every phase of rehab.
KYLE SAMMONS
Performance: Reconditioning & Return to Play Specialist
Kyle Sammons is a seasoned sports performance specialist with over 15 years of experience in collegiate and professional sports. He holds credentials as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC), and has served in roles ranging from Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach to Director of Sport Science and Reconditioning.
Kyle is widely recognized for his expertise in designing and implementing return-to-play and return-to-sport protocols. He blends advanced movement restoration strategies with performance reconditioning, applying evidence-based methods to accelerate recovery and optimize physical outcomes. His work reflects a deep commitment to restoring athletic capacity while minimizing the risk of re-injury.
Dr. Rich Willy
Rehab: Bone and Stress Injury Specialist
Dr. Rich Willy is a world-renowned expert in bone stress injuries, tendon pathology, and running-related rehab. With over 25 years of clinical experience, he brings a rare depth of biomechanical knowledge and clinical relevance to endurance and tactical athlete populations.
Rich holds a PhD in Biomechanics and Movement Science from the University of Delaware and a Master’s in Physical Therapy from Ohio University. He currently serves as a consultant to Olympic programs, NCAA athletics, and the NBA, offering guidance on managing high-load pathologies such as patellofemoral pain, Achilles tendinopathy, and bone stress injuries.
He has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed studies and leads federally funded research focused on optimizing treatment for injured runners and high-impact athletes. His work is regularly featured in Runner’s World, Outside Magazine, and other mainstream outlets bridging science and performance.
