On the latest episode of Dance Med Spotlight, guest Dr. Marisa Hentis, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS joins our host, Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS to discuss her work as a leader in performing arts physical therapy and faculty member at the University of Southern California (USC).

Our Guest: Marisa Hentis

Dr. Hentis leads the BFA Dance Medicine program at USC, offering wellness screenings, injury assessments, backstage care, and support for dancers during rehearsals, performances, and tours. She directs the BFA Dance Medicine program at USC, providing wellness screenings, injury assessments, backstage care during rehearsals, performances, and tours.

This fall, Dr. Hentis launched USC’s first-ever Performing Arts Fellowship. It’s the first program west of the Mississippi for clinicians wanting to specialize in performing arts medicine. Beyond treating dancer injuries, Dr. Hentis advocates for a holistic approach to dancer wellness. She emphasizes the need for medical, rehabilitation, mental health, and nutritional resources for collegiate dancers.

A few of the topics discussed in this episode:

• Dr. Marisa Hentis’ Journey into Dance Medicine: Learn how she transitioned from traditional physical therapy to dance medicine and how her experiences shaped her approach.
• USC’s BFA Dance Medicine Program: Discover the wellness screenings and treatments Dr. Hentis provides to help over 100 BFA dancers stay healthy.
• Creating a PT-Led Collegiate Dance Medicine Program: Dr. Hentis shares insights on building USC’s dance medicine program and bringing medical care to dance education.
• Launching the Performing Arts Fellowship: The new Performing Arts Fellowship gives clinicians a chance to specialize in dance and performing arts medicine.
• Advocating for Dancers’ Well-Being: Dr. Hentis stresses the need for collegiate dance programs to provide the same health and wellness resources as student-athlete programs.

Connect

To learn more about Marisa and what all she does, check her out online:

• Faculty Link
• Instagram

Join us on Dance Med Spotlight as we talk about supporting dancers in our communities. Subscribe now to stay up to date with all things dance medicine and embark on a journey of curiosity, knowledge, and serving the dance community.

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