Suzanne Semanson, PT, DPT

Credentials:

  • Licensed Physical therapist (NY & NJ) with over 15 years clinical and teaching experience on and off Broadway, at NYU Langone’s Orthopedic Hospital - Harkness Center for Dance Injuries and Columbia University Irving Medical Center

  • Over 30 years combined experience training/teaching in movement arts including: dance (ballet-Cecchetti Method, contemporary), yoga (ISHTA, Hatha), Martial Arts (Kung Fu, Aikido, Tai-Chi), Pilates Method

  • Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist with the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (since 2014, recert. 2024)

  • Certified Emergency Medical Responder (CPR) with the American Red Cross (since 2004, recertified 2024)

  • Certified Manual Physical Therapist with the North American Institute of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (2017)

  • Certified and Registered Yoga Teacher (2012)

  • Certified Mat Pilates Instructor (2012)

  • Northwestern University - Doctorate in Physical Therapy (2006)

  • University of Michigan - Bachelor of Science in Biological Anthropology (1999)

Suzanne Semanson paschimottanasana

I came to physical therapy as a 17-year-old ballet student rehearsing for the Nutcracker season in my hometown outside of Detroit Michigan in 1994. Fortunately, I landed in the hands of a talented dance medicine physical therapist at a medical center in Detroit. She understood my unique needs and helped rehabilitate me back to a successful Nutcracker season.

The seed was planted . . .

I went on to pursue a dance career after college. After a couple more bouts of physical therapy for various injuries, it was during one specific summer dancing in Chicago that I decided to visit a local and nationally top-ranking physical therapy school, Northwestern University.

The die was caste . . .

After leaving Chicago to complete graduate school requirements in Detroit while working multiple jobs including teaching ballet and Modern dance, and slinging beans at a coffee shop, I moved back to Chicago in 2004, this time as a graduate student in Northwestern University’s doctorate physical therapy program.

Another dream came true when I spent my last clinical affiliation in physical therapy school at a dance medicine clinic in the Broadway theater district in New York City training under Sean Gallagher, BFA, PT. I was geeking out hard on all things dance, Pilates, medicine and science working with dancers in his clinic and in the Broadway theaters. Naturally, I loved every minute of it.

In the 15+ years since, I have been providing customized physical therapy services, yoga instruction and physical therapy education to dancers, nondancers, yogis and physical therapy students in New York City in multiple venues including top medical institutions, backstage on Broadway and everything in between. And I never stop being a student! I continue my own training including contemporary dance with Jana Hicks and yoga with Chrissy Carter. In my clinical practice, I thrive working with clients in which physical therapy “failed them” elsewhere and finally experience relief and recovery through a customized approach of compassionate care integrating their goals, manual therapy, yoga and effective movement re-education techniques to provide true healing so that my clients can finally return to living the life they love.