Paul M. Spano, D.P.T. '18, PT, Restores the Dreams of Injured Athletes

An unfortunate ice skating accident that almost brought an end to Dr. Spano’s 15-year career in competitive pair figure skating, marked the beginning of his journey in physical therapy. While practicing in an ice show, he suffered a fall that damaged his tendons and ligaments in his foot and ankle, forcing him to withdraw from the performance. Having been skating since he was nearly three years old, the setback was devastating.

When discussing his long and intensive therapy with his neighbor and longtime family friend, she invited Dr. Spano to join her in her neurorehabilitation sessions, exposing him to a different type of therapy. Seeing the types of balance and gait training she had to undergo for recovery was fascinating for him, different from the sports rehabilitation he was going through.

"I saw physical therapy not just as a way to restore quality of life, but as an opportunity for people to rediscover themselves and move in ways they never thought possible," said Dr. Spano. "I never imagined returning to competition, just as my neighbor doubted she’d walk as well as she used to. Being part of that process, seeing its impact on both of us, that’s when I knew this was the profession for me."

With a bachelor’s degree in pre-medical studies, Dr. Spano was drawn to NYMC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program for its problem-based learning format. “Meeting the faculty during my interview, including the department head, allowed me to learn about their passions and the purpose behind the program’s design,” explained Dr. Spano. “At that point, I knew this was the best program for my learning style. I'm a very passionate person. Seeing this dedication mirrored in the staff and seeing how much they loved being educators made it clear that this was the program for me.” This was also the reason behind him coming back to teach at his alma mater in 2021.

Dr. Spano worked at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital for almost five years after earning his doctorate. He treated patients diagnosed with neurologic, orthopedic, amputation, cardio-pulmonary, and oncology-related conditions. Early in his career, he encountered one of the memorable cases he has been a part of.

"I had an 18-year-old patient who underwent a cerebellar stroke, which left her unable to move her body at all," recalled Dr. Spano. "The severity of the stroke caused her to have to relearn how to move. Her main goal going through rehab with me was to be able to go to school, graduate college, and walk down the aisle for graduation. I worked with her for about five years. The most memorable moment for her, her family, and me was when she put on her cap and gown and used a walker to walk for graduation with her mom at her side. The amount of emotion that everyone had throughout that day will stay with me forever."
 
While working at Burke, Dr. Spano became a volunteer for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s Sports Medicine Volunteer Program. In the program that predominately relies on a team of volunteers, he helps athletes who are rehabilitating from their various injuries in preparation for competition in both domestic and international events at their facility in Lake Placid, New York.  

"It has been a highlight of both my career and my life," exclaimed Dr. Spano. "I had the opportunity to work with some of the world's best athletes, witnessing their passion firsthand, and collaborating with some of the best medical professionals—other physical therapists, physicians, chiropractors, and massage therapists—was an incredibly unique and rewarding experience."

Along with teaching at NYMC, Dr. Spano serves as a senior physical therapist at NYU Langone Health. He specializes in sports medicine, overseeing the care and rehabilitation of patients recovering from advanced orthopedic and sports-related injuries. The advice he shares with future physical therapists comes from a profound personal lesson—one he learned after losing his grandmother to a brain tumor and facing his father’s diagnosis with the same condition. 

"Working in health care comes with its challenges, and the emotional toll of patient care only adds to the difficulty of our work," said Dr. Spano. "Our profession faces many hurdles, and we can't afford to lose great therapists—our patients deserve the best care possible. Just as we advise our patients to have a support system and a healthy balance in their lives, we need to do the same."