Where are you from?
I was born and raised in New York but had the pleasure of living in California for a bit. Hello, San Diego!
When did you first become interested in becoming a PT?
I wish I had more of a “calling” kind of story but, to be honest, it was all because I had a crush on my PT in high school. I hurt my shoulder during wrestling practice and had to go to PT for several months afterwards. She was a great PT and ended up being a key mentor in helping me in my choice to become a PT… but it all started with a crush.
Where did you go to school?
I graduated with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Touro college and did all of my undergrad work in Hunter College. Prior to that, I studied Massage Therapy at the Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy. Since graduating in 2009, I have continued to hold education as a priority in my career. Currently, I am a certified Orthopaedic specialist and hold a manual certification through the North American Institute of Manual Therapy (NAIOMT).
What are some highlights of your career, thus far?
I’ve had the pleasure of listening to and learning from some of the greats in this field but a huge reason i love what I do is because of F2PT. When I started this clinic I designed a practice that promotes education, patient centered care and solid healthcare values. F2PT has launched my clinical experience and education to new heights. I can’t think of a brighter highlight than that. My latest achievement is becoming a Fellow-in-training through NAIOMT. As a Physical Therapist there are so many avenues to further our knowledge and to become a more efficient practitioner. A Fellow is probably the most difficult and clinically applicable credential to hold. It takes years of training and mentorship to achieve.
What are your favorite types of cases to work with?
I tend to attract patients whom are living with injuries or ongoing issues that are a bit of a mystery. Many of my patients have been to several Doctors and PTs with little or no change. Although I find cases like these to be a challenge, professionally, I enjoy just being a help in what can be a frustrating situation.
If you could do anything besides PT what would you do?
I can’t decide between an inventor and a sky diver…
What do you do for exercise?
I have a background in wrestling, martial arts and tennis. On any given day, you could find me lifting weights, doing some bag work or hitting the ball around. Movement is my true passion and I’ll take it in any form.
What are your thoughts on healthcare in the US, today?
We are, as a country, at a historical time in healthcare. The affordable care act has brought healthcare and preventative medicine to the forefront of our day to day lives. Not without its troubles, of course, I believe it gives us, the healthcare practitioners, a chance to step up the quality of care. The days of accepting low quality patient care are thankfully, over.
What experiences do you have with “alternative” healthcare (Acupuncture, Reiki, meditation, etc)?
Before I began working as a PT I was a massage therapist for 10 years as well as a Reiki practitioner. I understand, from first hand experience, how depending on the modality, alternative methods may or may not work well with PT, especially in the first few appointments. I find the best practice is to communicate with the patient’s healthcare team and find a way to incorporate each modality at appropriate times throughout the patient’s rehab.
