We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marisa Hentis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marisa below.

Marisa, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

I have always had a love for dance and the arts. It was something that I was constantly drawn back to throughout my education and schooling. I was a stereotypical dancer in high school that a part of the school dance team, studio work and competition sector of dance. I never thought I could make a career out of dancing and it was always something that I “did on the side.” I even attempted to quit dance multiple times to pursue other endeavors but found myself back in the studio and in classes. I ended up auditioning for a small professional dance company when I was 19 and danced for 5 seasons.

My entire family is involved in the medical field, in one way or another, and I knew I would end up in a healthcare career as well. I decided to pursue a career in physical therapy as it combined my want to have a closer relationship with my patients than a hospital based setting and my love of movement and fitness. I did not realize that I could combine my love of dancing and the arts with healthcare until I was dancing professional throughout my undergraduate and graduate school.

In my 3rd season of dancing professionally, I injured my back completing some crazy choreography. I saw a physician that looked at my past medical history and recommended I see a dance medicine specialist. I was in graduate school pursuing my doctorate of physical therapy and did not know that there was a dance medicine speciality. It was the first time I saw any one in the healthcare field that actually understood what it was like to be in graduate school, dancing professionally and coaching/teaching dance at the same time. It was then I decided to change my focus of specialization to dance medicine in order to help other performers feel seen and validated within our broken healthcare system. I took every assignment, every opportunity and every patient I could that had a performing arts background. I shadowed physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists and athletic trainers to see how to work in the field. I even chose my residency based on which programs had knowledge and mentors in the field.

Currently, I am the Director of Performing Arts Physical Therapy Fellowship at University of Southern California. I am passionate about teaching clinicians how to treat performing artists and what makes them a unique patient population compared to generalized sports populations. I am equally passionate about informing performing artists (and all artists in general!) that there are healthcare providers who understand the field and the pressures intimately in order for everyone to reach their full potential. It is this symbiotic relationship between patient and healthcare provider that can make all the difference in extending someone’s career or even improving their capabilities to be performing beyond what is expected.

I am fortunate to be supported by an academic institution that also wants to further the field of physical therapy, especially in such a niche specialization. Dance Medicine was well established before I started my career but it was not well known to those outside the lens. I would advise any young professional to find your passion and then blend it into what you want your career to look like. This may seem out of the box but if you remain passionate, it will be seen by others and your clients. Staying true to your passions and desire is more important than conforming to “a stereotypical” career in your field. I also advise that once you have succeed in your field to share the wealth and knowledge you gain. There is room for everyone at the table and by teaching and lifting others up, you will continue to grow.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I have aimed every step of my career towards the performing arts. I took every assignment in graduate school and put a performing arts spin on it. I even reached out to the director of our program to let him know we do not talk about the performing arts enough and how can we add this into our curriculum. This was the foundational steps to improve trust and my reputation within the performing arts. I also joined committees on a national and international level to meet other clinicians and network through them. This helped my professional reputation, but not necessarily my reputation with clients.

I believed that what helped my reputation with clients specifically was providing individualized treatment and actually listening to my clients story. In order to get them back to what they love to do, I need to know them as a person first and a performer second. They are not just a performer, but rather performing is something they do. It has helped me build relationship with my patients that can take their care to the next level. Lastly, I try to work at pro-bono clinics and screenings whenever my schedule allows it. I try to help clients that maybe cannot afford healthcare the way they should. I still provide the same type of patient care and attention to detail as I do with paying clients. I want all patients and performers to receive the highest quality care possible, regardless of the location of services.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I am a big believer in the autonomy of learning but always having an open door policy. I have had some fantastic mentors and supervisors (as well as some not so great ones) that have shaped my leadership style. My favorite management style includes open communication and transparency about current status, financial state and progress made. This includes constructive feedback, positive reinforcement and open communication. However, this only works if it goes both ways. I expect a team to provide feedback to myself just as much as they may need feedback as well. This is great in theory but only works if everyone is open to honest feedback, positive and negative, without retaliation or ramifications. Also, there needs to be time available to actually have these conversations. Sometimes a brief check in with no agenda and allowing either person to speak their mind is more effective than an jam packed agenda.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pt.usc.edu/faculty/marisa-hentis-pt-dpt-ocs-cscs/
• Instagram: @mghentis
• Other: https://pt.usc.edu/programs/residencies-fellowships/performing-arts-physical-therapy-fellowship/

Image Credits

John Hobbs via University of Southern California