Treatment of the Dancer’s Hip and Core (MGB Staff Only) COURSE CLOSED

Lauren Elson, MD is board certified in sports medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation.  She attended Tufts University School of Medicine and did her residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital Columbia/Cornell and completed a fellowship in Sports Medicine at Stanford University. A former professional dancer and instructor of jazz, ballet, tap, hip-hop, African, swing, and salsa, she understands the goals and challenges of the physically active patient.  She has lectured nationally and internationally on dance health and injury prevention to dancers and professional organizations.  She is a Board Member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science and is actively involved with the Performing Arts Medical Association and the Dance USA Taskforce on Dancer Health.  In 2017, Dr. Elson published an introductory guide for practitioners: Performing Arts Medicine.   Dr. Elson has organized the Boston Dance Alliance Dancer Health Day since it’s inception in 2018.

Sara Moriarty, PT, DPT, MS, OCS has been practicing physical therapy for the past 26 years in a variety of roles at academic medical centers, institutions of higher learning, and outpatient private practices. She graduated with a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Ithaca College in 1998, a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the MGH IHP in 2004 and earned her Board Certification in Orthopedic Physical Therapy in 2011. She has maintained involvement in teaching throughout her career at the MGH IHP and University of Massachusetts Lowell and Physical Therapist Assistant Program Director at Bay State College. Dr. Moriarty also served as the Clinical Manager of the outpatient physical and occupational therapy department of Boston Medical Center and the sole proprietor of In Sync Physical Therapy, a specialty clinic created for the care of performing artists. She has been involved in research on treatment-based classification of patients with chronic low back pain and implemented evidence-based exercises and manual therapy for the Biomarkers for Evaluating Spine Treatments. Dr. Moriarty currently works as a clinical specialist in the outpatient department at Massachusetts General Hospital in Waltham where she treats patients, mentors staff and leads the department initiative in spinal rehabilitation guidelines and educational programming.

Emma Nelson, PT, DPT, CSCS, CMTPT/DN is a licensed Physical Therapist at Spaulding Outpatient Wellesley clinic. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and Doctor of Physical Therapy from Creighton University in 2014. She holds multiple certifications, including Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute (APPI) Mat Certification, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Manual Therapist with Dry Needling (CMTPT/DN). Her clinical interests include Performing Arts and Dance Medicine, treating hypermobility disorders, dry needling, myofascial pain management, Pilates-based rehabilitation, and specialized care for foot/ankle and hip/lumbar spine conditions.

Michelle Perry, PT, DPT, OCS graduated from Northeastern University in 2013 with her doctorate of Physical Therapy and started her career in private practice before joining the Spaulding Network in 2023. Michelle has extensive experience treating primarily orthopedic, neuromuscular, and sports related injuries with special focus on Dance Medicine/Performing Arts with experience treating professional, pre-professional, competitive, and recreational dancers and gymnasts. She is trained in APPI Matwork and Reformer Pilates, including special populations ante and postnatal, osteoporosis, scoliosis, hypermobility, and dancers. Michelle is also trained in aquatic therapy, Graston Technique, Dry Needling, and cupping.