MLS NEXT Tier 2 Staff 2025-2026

Ryan Kimball is a senior level II physical therapist at Duke Sports Medicine, with over 10 years of experience working with soccer athletes, and has been recognized by U.S. Soccer as a preferred provider for physical therapy. He is a board-certified specialist in sports physical therapy and holds advanced certifications in orthopedic manual therapy and dry needling. His clinical interests include bridging the gap between rehab and sports performance, return to play protocols and testing batteries, and injury risk reduction interventions.

In addition to his role as a clinician, he serves as the soccer outreach and performance coordinator, and is the Managing Director of the FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence at Duke Sports Medicine, where he leads initiatives in soccer-specific clinical care, return to play protocols, education, and research. He has lectured for international audiences at the annual FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence | U.S. Soccer Soccer Medicine Symposiums. He also serves as the medical coordinator for The Soccer Tournament (TST).

Brandon Surber is a senior level II physical therapist, athletic trainer, and performance specialist with Duke Sports Medicine. He is a board-certified specialist in sports physical therapy as well as a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the NSCA. Alongside his clinical and outreach responsibilities, he also works with the Sports Performance Program at Duke Sports Sciences Institute integrating technology, testing batteries, and data to assist with performance enhancement.

His clinical interests include hip arthroscopy, ACL reconstruction, and tendinopathies with a major focus in return to performance testing and decision making. In addition to mentoring with the Duke Sports PT resident, he provides didactic educational content related to the hip and hands-on application of technology such as portable dynamometers and force plates in the rehab process. He serves as the coordinator and lead for the journal club program as part of the sports fellowship and residency at Duke. His other educational responsibilities include guest lecturing and lab assistance with the UNC DPT program along with lab assistance with the Duke DPT program.

Michelle Roberts is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy. She received her athletic training and Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees from Slippery Rock University. She completed Benchmark Rehab Institute's Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program prior to transitioning to working in the outpatient setting at Duke Health. She serves as the site supervisor at the Holly Springs clinic, provides staff mentorship, and is involved in soccer medicine through Duke's FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence.