Who we are
Marijeanne
Liederbach, PhD, PT, ATC, CSCS, is the Owner of PT Plus and the
Director of Research and Education for the Harkness
Center for Dance Injuries at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases.
She has a PhD in Biomechanics and Ergonomics from NYU and has served as
Instructor of Kinesiology at Columbia University. Throughout the 1980's,
Dr. Liederbach headed the athletic training services for The Joffrey Ballet
while serving as Supervisor of Sports Physical Therapy at the Nicholas
Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma at Lenox Hill Hospital.
She has provided backstage therapy for hundreds of dancers and dance companies
including The English National Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Company,
Merce Cunningham Dance Company and Ben Vereen's various Broadway shows.
Dr. Liederbach has authored numerous papers and chapters and has lectured
internationally on topics pertaining to the prevention and care of sports
and dance injuries. She is a member of the Editorial Review Board of the
Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, the National Advisory Committee
for the American Physical Therapy Association's Performing Arts Practice
Analysis, the DanceUSA Taskforce on Dancer Health, the Performing Arts
Medical Association and the Research Committee of the International Association
for Dance Medicine and Science for whom she Chairs the Standard Measures
Consensus Initiative. She is also an Affiliate Member of the American
Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. Dr. Liederbach danced professionally
for many years and is still an active choreographer whose critically acclaimed
work has been shown in Europe and throughout the United States.
Vanessa
Muncrief, DPT, MSPT, is a Senior Physical Therapist specializing
in manual therapy and dance medicine. She danced and modeled professionally
in NYC before receiving her Master of Science and Doctorate in Physical
Therapy from Columbia University - College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Dr. Muncrief has served as on-site medical officer and anatomy instructor
for Dance Theatre of Harlem and has worked backstage for numerous performing
companies including, Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, Wicked, and Cirque
du Soliel. She is a Certified Pilates Teacher and a Registered Yoga Teacher.
Dr. Muncrief also practices at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases’
Harkness
Center for Dance Injuries where her goal is to integrate
yoga, Pilates, and alignment awareness into the traditional physical therapy
model. Dr. Muncrief is a contributing health consultant for Woman’s
World magazine and is an active member of the International Association
for Dance Medicine and Science and the International Association of Yoga
Therapists.
Natalie
Imrisek, MSPT, CSCS, graduated from Columbia University College
of Physicians and Surgeons with a Master of Science in Physical Therapy.
She specializes in manual therapy, sports related injuries, dance therapy
and has provided on-site physical therapy services to Broadway, Off-Broadway
shows and various dance companies. Natalie integrates Pilates therapy
into her treatments and is currently training to become a Certified Pilates
Teacher through Pilates Method Alliance. Natalie herself enjoys running,
biking and dance and has participated in several events (New York and
SF marathon, Tucson and NY century bike rides, and various triathlons
in California). Returning to triathlons after a few years off she is currently
training for the NYC triathlon in 2010.
Erika
Kalkan, PT, DPT, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who graduated
from Temple University, a nationally recognized program of excellence.
Prior to her physical therapy education, Dr. Kalkan was a modern dancer.
Being awarded the “Promising Artist Scholarship”, she attended
the University of the Arts and graduated with a B.F.A. in modern dance
performance with honors. With over twenty years of dance training and
performance experience with a focus of various styles of jazz and modern
dance techniques, Dr. Kalkan has had the opportunity to perform in local
venues in New York City and Philadelphia as well as with the dance company,
Eleone Dance Theater. Dr. Kalkan has worked backstage at numerous Broadway
productions and has provided physical therapy services for the Paul Taylor
Dance Company. Dr. Kalkan currently works for the Harkness
Center for Dance Injuries providing onsite physical therapy
at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance as well as at PT Plus, P.C. in
City Center.
Sally
Donaubauer, DPT, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes
in Pilates-based rehabilitation and dance medicine. Upon graduation from
the University of Iowa with a degree in Exercise Science, Dr. Donaubauer
moved to New York City where she danced professionally for several NYC-
based modern dance companies. In 2000 she completed her Pilates certification
at the Kane School of Core Integration, and served as a Pilates instructor
on their teacher training staff until entering the Doctor of Physical
Therapy program at the University of Southern California. At USC, she
received several academic achievement awards, including the Order of the
Golden Cane Award, which is the highest honor awarded to graduates from
the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy. In addition to providing
physical therapy and teaching Pilates at PT Plus, Dr. Donaubauer is also
on the treatment and education team at the Harkness
Center for Dance Injuries, New York University Medical Center
– Hospital for Joint Diseases.
Chad
Woodard, DPT, CSCS, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who graduated
from Touro College where he was awarded the Maimonides Award for demonstrating
the highest of professional ideals in his graduating class. After graduation,
he was invited to join the faculty of his alma mater as a teaching associate.
Dr. Woodard spent several years doing musical theatre and dance in and
around the New York City area, with a major focus of his training being
in Broadway and tap dancing. In addition to his work as a physical therapist,
Dr. Woodard is a highly sought-after personal trainer possessing expertise
in fitness with certification from the National Strength and Conditioning
Association and Kettle Bell Concepts. Dr. Woodard is, himself, a triathlete,
cyclist, and marathon runner, affording him exceptional insight in his
work with endurance athletes.
Megan
Richardson, MS, ATC, is a certified athletic trainer (ATC) specializing
in manual therapy, Pilates-based rehabilitation and functional training
for performing artists. Ms. Richardson is on staff at the Harkness
Center for Dance Injuries and PT Plus, P.C. She has provided
backstage coverage to numerous dance companies and Broadway shows. Ms.
Richardson has presented on issues related to dancer health and rehabilitation
both nationally and internationally. Currently she sits on the Development
Committee of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science
and is a founding member of the Performing Arts Work Group of the National
Athletic Trainers’ Association. Ms. Richardson attended George Washington
University on scholarship for dance, where she received her undergraduate
degree in Athletic Training. She earned a Master of Science in Kinesiology
at Indiana University while serving as the primary ATC for the Indiana
University Ballet Theatre. Ms. Richardson has performed with numerous
modern dance groups in both New York City and Washington, DC.
Alison
Deleget, MSATC, is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified
Pilates Instructor at PT Plus, P.C. who attended Indiana University on
scholarship as a ballet major before earning both a Bachelor of Science
and Master of Science degree there in Athletic Training. She was certified
as a Pilates Rehabilitation Specialist through Polestar Education in 2002,
and became certified by the Pilates Method Alliance in 2008. She has taught
thousands of dancers and non-dancers alike how to enhance their health
and recover from injury using a unique combination of skills she learned
as a dancer and healthcare professional. Ms. Deleget is a Clinical Specialists
at the Harkness
Center for Dance Injuries of the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
and an on-site provider of Athletic Training Services at many of New York’s
elite dance companies and Broadway productions.
Leigh
Heflin, MSc, has been working in fitness for the past 8 years.
She holds 3 national certifications in fitness, for both personal training
and group exercise, through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and
the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. Additionally, she has
a certificate in Kettle Bell training from Kettle Bell concepts. Currently,
Leigh is in working toward her Pilates certification through the Pilates
Method Alliance. Leigh is a former dancer, holding a Bachelors of Fine
Arts in Dance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and
has danced professionally in New York City and California. In 2006, she
graduated with her Masters in Science in Dance Science from the Laban
Centre, in London UK. Leigh also works at the Harkness
Center for Dance Injuries, where she provides injury prevention
lectures and workshops and coordinates their annual continuing medical
education course. On behalf of the HCDI, Leigh has presented at international
dance and sports science conferences and provided consultation for various
dance and fitness publications.
Beth
Glace, MS, is the Sports Nutritionist and a Research Associate
at Lenox Hill
Hospital’s Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma
where she has been practicing for the past 15 years. She has had extensive
experience in both nutritional counseling and fitness testing of professional
and recreational athletes and dancers. Her research has been published
in many peer-reviewed journals on topics that include efficiency during
running, eating disorders in athletes, metabolic rate in ballet dancers,
and nutrition and blood values in ultra-marathoners. Beth is herself a
competitive runner with particular interest in cross country and track
events. She coaches the Shawangunk Runners in New Paltz, NY, and directs
numerous trail and cross country races throughout the year. In addition,
Beth owns and competes with her horse, Klass Act, in endurance riding
and eventing.