BY YASMINE GRIMBLE

STEVEN GARCIA RECENTLY JOINED the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy as an assistant professor of clinical physical therapy. With a passion for anatomy, kinesiology and research, Garcia brings a wealth of knowledge to the Division, where he will be teaching in the DPT program. His research focuses on observing risk factors and preventing osteoarthritis in the knee. Here are five more things to know about him as he begins this next chapter at USC.

1. Garcia’s returning to his roots.

A Los Angeles native, Garcia is excited to return home after spending seven years, earning his PhD at the University of Michigan and complete postdoctoral training at the University of Illinois–Chicago. Despite being a lifelong Trojan football fan, he never expected to be presented an opportunity to work at USC. But the Division’s research reputation changed that. “It’s truly a dream come true to begin my career with such a passionate group of researchers, educators and students,” Garcia says, adding that his homecoming is made even more exciting by the collaboration opportunities ahead.

2. It was an undergrad anatomy class that ignited Garcia’s passion for learning.

Garcia’s journey into kinesiology began with a love for athletics, but it was an anatomy course at California State University –Fullerton that solidified his decision to pursue this field. “It was the movement anatomy course taught by Dr. Guillermo Noffal that really sealed the deal for me,” he recalls. From there, he interned in a biomechanics lab, immersing himself in research and academic life for the first time. He credits this experience for setting the stage for his career aspirations in education and research.

3. His research focuses on knee osteoarthritis.

Garcia’s research centers on understanding the factors that contribute to knee osteoarthritis, particularly in individuals recovering from ACL injuries. “One of the reasons we see early onset knee osteoarthritis is because individuals with ACL injuries often walk with impaired gait patterns,” Garcia explains. His work aims to understand how small changes in daily movement impact cartilage adaptation and help maintain knee health over time. He plans to incorporate his research findings into his teaching, offering students real-world applications for the anatomical concepts they learn.

4. Garcia’s excited to pass the torch to aspiring researchers and clinicians.

As part of the Division’s anatomy core, Garcia will be teaching musculoskeletal and analytical anatomy courses. For him, anatomy was the first course that sparked his love for kinesiology, and he’s eager to pass on that excitement to his students. “My professors and mentors had a powerful impact on my life’s trajectory,” he says. “It’s shaped who I am for the better, and I plan to share that in my interactions with the next generation of researchers and physical therapists.”

5. Garcia is an audiophile.

Outside of academia and research, Garcia is an avid music lover who listens to an impressive amount of music daily — around 100,000 minutes each year, according to his Spotify Wrapped. “I love the experience of unwinding to an album as much as I do getting deep into my work with music playing in the background,” he says. While he appreciates the convenience of streaming music on the go, in his spare time he enjoys spending time with his partner and friends appreciating the sound quality of records on vinyl.