Dr. Rossi Helps Others Move Forward
Ainsley Rossi, D.P.T., PT, OCS, Shares Her Global Path in Physical Therapy
Hailing from Australia, Ainsley Rossi, D.P.T., PT, OCS, assistant professor of physical therapy, started her academic journey at the University of Queensland. Dr. Rossi studied physical therapy, and loved the idea of helping people move better, feel better, and live better. After graduating, she moved to the United Kingdom, where she spent five years as a physical therapist. Dr. Rossi traveled every few months and enjoyed taking her work to different parts of the world. It was during this time that she began to specialize in orthopedic physical therapy, before moving to the United States.
After relocating, Dr. Rossi considered whether to explore an entirely new career path, as she needed to pass the necessary board exams to become licensed in the U.S. Her dedication to physical therapy and witnessing the transformative progress in her patients’ health made it all worthwhile.
Dr. Rossi took an interest in shadowing professors at The State University of New York University at Buffalo, a step that eventually led her to her decision to enter academia. She became an American Physical Therapy Association-credentialed instructor, and she was able to combine her love of physical therapy with the rewarding experience of educating the next generation in her first academic role. Dr. Rossi’s journey as an educator followed her to Atlanta, Georgia, teaching at Emory University. While still practicing full-time, she also took on the role of clinical instructor, finding fulfillment in helping students learn and grow through hands-on experiences.
Dr. Rossi’s next stop was back to the northeast, teaching at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, for nearly five years before starting her role in August at New York Medical College (NYMC). “It's been a journey, but it's been fun,” she says. “Each move has had that moment where I've been able to stop, look around, and be intentional about where I go next.” Dr. Rossi enjoys teaching the foundational courses in physical therapy at NYMC, as well as orthopedics.
Dr. Rossi’s first months at NYMC have been incredibly rewarding, and she’s taking time to enjoy the transition as she builds relationships with the faculty and students. “I love the students, they’re phenomenal,” she says. “They come from all over and have such a great sense of the world. I think I learn more from them than they learn from me”.
Whether it’s taking a new step in her own life or helping patients take theirs, Dr. Rossi is excited for what’s to come.
