Angelica Pastrana, PT, DPT

Angelica earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Columbia University where she was a member of the Columbia Dance Research Team. She spearheaded writing the methodology for investigating the reliability of dance specific screening tools, and the team presented their findings at the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. Her interest in this began in her first year assisting in screenings for professional, BFA, and pre-professional dancers in NYC. In her final semester, Angelica completed elective coursework for performing artists, foot and ankle conditions, as well as an advanced seminar in orthopedics where she co-wrote/presented a masterclass on the relationship between disorders of the cervical spine and temporomandibular joint. Still as students, the pair were then invited to teach their class to Columbia’s orthopedic residents. Angelica received the American Physical Therapy Association’s Minority Scholarship Award for minority community service  throughout PT school and while earning her Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology from St. Edward’s University.

Angelica was classically trained in the Cuban method of ballet, and also participated in cultural dance She later competed at local and national levels for jazz, pro-sport style pom and high kick including affiliations with the National Dance Alliance. These experiences shaped her career choice and fortunately, allowed her to experience a clinical affiliation as a student at Spear’s Center for the Performing Arts. She is thankful for all her other affiliations including experience with sports, geriatrics, intensive neurological rehab, and cardiopulmonary rehab at NYP-Columbia on the cardiothoracic step-down and cardiology medicine units. 

She’s passionate about advancing language equity in healthcare, and pursuing her two fond interests: treating performers and cardiac conditions in the outpatient setting. Understanding the unique demands of performers, she looks forward to helping empower this population, like all her patients, to not only return to their lifestyle, but also become independent in the prevention of injury and upkeep of their health. In her free time, Angelica will take dance or yoga class, find an excuse to buy a cappuccino, go see art or live performances. Or partake in her preferred go-to: try new recipes while binge watching a comfort show or true crime documentary.