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Degrees:
- Columbia University, Doctorate, Physical Therapy
- Harvard University, Graduate Certificate, Management
- University of Oxford, Master’s Degree, History of Art
- Boston University, Bachelor of Arts, History of Art, minor in Biology
Certificates:
- Pelvic Floor Level 1 and 2A, Herman & Wallace Institute
- Care of the Post-Partum Patient, Herman & Wallace Institute
- International Sports Conditioning Association, Mat Pilates Certification
- Koh Institute, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)
- National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, Certification I
- National Academy of Sports Medicine, Certified Personal Trainer
- Indo-Row and Shockwave, Certified Indoor Rowing Instructor
- Schwinn Fitness, Certified Indoor Cycling Instructor
- Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, Certified Group Exercise Instructor
- Member of APTA since 2014
Publications and Presentations:
- Wong CK, Stern JR, D’Andrea RF, Loven SL, Panjaki S, et al., (2016). The Risk of Subsequent Amputation Following an Initial Lower Extremity Amputation: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Diabetology and Vascular Disease Research, 4(5), 171-177.
- Stern JR, Wong CK, Yerovinkina M, Spindler SJ, See AS, Panjaki S, Loven SL, D’Andrea RF, Nowygrod R, (2017). A Meta-Analysis of Long-Term Mortality and Associated Risk Factors Following Lower Extremity Amputation. Annals of Vascular Surgery, (4)
- Music Supported Therapy Enhances Upper Extremity Recovery of Function Following Stroke: A Systematic Review, CSM February 2018
- Mortality and morbidity after a lower limb amputation: A Systematic Review, CSM February 2017
There is a common road that leads many people to a career in physical therapy. Most PTs are athletes or have experienced an injury. They have benefited from exceptional, hands-on care that made them a believer of the profession, and they find that helping people recover from their pain and injury becomes a passion for them. Samira was injured in the skiing accident. Recovery from an ACL injury and the grueling rehab that followed was a life changing experience that led her on the path to become a Physical Therapist. Her journey as a patient made her a compassionate healthcare practitioner, a better listener, making the best use of every minute she has with patients.
Samira started her PT career in Orthopedics at a clinic in New York. There, in addition to general orthopedics, she treated a lot of post-partum and pre-natal women with diastasis recti, as well as back and hip pain. She knew that pelvic floor physical therapy would improve the treatment of her orthopedic patients, so she completed her pelvic floor certifications at the Herman and Wallace Institute. ‘I love research, and pelvic floor physical therapy is a relatively new field,’ says Samira, which is one of the elements that makes this field so interesting to her. “There is so much research being done, which means there is the potential to learn new things every day about how to treat patients of every age and gender experiencing anything from incontinence to sexual dysfunction to postpartum complications.”
Samira loves working to solve problems her patients thought they would have to live with forever. She uses a mind-body approach and often incorporates other types of movement and exercise into her treatment plans. With each of her patient relationships, Samira endeavors to give tools that are essential for patients to continue their own healing once they leave the clinic – they need to be empowered to keep making improvements every day.
