Name: Cali DeSanto, PT, DPT
School
Ithaca College - Bachelor of Science in Clinical Health Studies. Doctorate of Physical Therapy.
Why did you choose this profession?
I began my college career as a music education and performance major. After a year of listening to myself practice, I decided I wanted a future helping other people rather than trying to improve my own abilities. During this transition, I additionally experienced some major life blows. Two of my greatest mentors from high school both acquired traumatic brain injuries. During this year, I watched their journey of recovery, from coma, to relearning how to talk, move, return to any semblance of life. I found this entire process, and the people who helped them achieve all these small victories, amazingly rewarding, and decided that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others in the same way.
What do you believe is your best quality as a practitioner?
Compassion. There is so many things to be said about compassion, especially as it applies to recovery. Your experience here is not just about exercise, but making YOU better, making your life better. The better I can understand a person, not just their injury and symptoms and impairments, the more I can help them. When you come to therapy you don’t come to be able to stand better on one leg, you come to improve the functioning and movement in your life. Your life is complex; emotional, spiritual, intellectual and many more. The better we understand one another, and we know each other’s goals, the better you will find yourself achieving your goals!
What do you find most interesting about your job?
Interacting with each person. Every person has a different story. No two injuries, pain or symptoms are the same because each person’s life and activity and background are different. By learning your story, and learning about your life, I can learn a lot about how that has changed your body and why your are having the difficulties you are experiencing. The complexities and intricacies of your life show on your body and it is my job to learn your story and unravel the past to find where the dysfunction is coming from so we can learn how to solve it.
Favorite Things/Interests and Hobbies
TV/Movies: Marvel Comic Movies, All Children’s Movies, Grey’s Anatomy
Hobbies: hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking, windsurfing, painting, photography, gardening
Food: Coffee, Thai Food
Sports: Swimming, Diving, Running, Crossfit. Alumni of Ithaca College Women’s Swimming and Diving Team.
School
Ithaca College - Bachelor of Science in Clinical Health Studies. Doctorate of Physical Therapy.
Why did you choose this profession?
I began my college career as a music education and performance major. After a year of listening to myself practice, I decided I wanted a future helping other people rather than trying to improve my own abilities. During this transition, I additionally experienced some major life blows. Two of my greatest mentors from high school both acquired traumatic brain injuries. During this year, I watched their journey of recovery, from coma, to relearning how to talk, move, return to any semblance of life. I found this entire process, and the people who helped them achieve all these small victories, amazingly rewarding, and decided that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others in the same way.
What do you believe is your best quality as a practitioner?
Compassion. There is so many things to be said about compassion, especially as it applies to recovery. Your experience here is not just about exercise, but making YOU better, making your life better. The better I can understand a person, not just their injury and symptoms and impairments, the more I can help them. When you come to therapy you don’t come to be able to stand better on one leg, you come to improve the functioning and movement in your life. Your life is complex; emotional, spiritual, intellectual and many more. The better we understand one another, and we know each other’s goals, the better you will find yourself achieving your goals!
What do you find most interesting about your job?
Interacting with each person. Every person has a different story. No two injuries, pain or symptoms are the same because each person’s life and activity and background are different. By learning your story, and learning about your life, I can learn a lot about how that has changed your body and why your are having the difficulties you are experiencing. The complexities and intricacies of your life show on your body and it is my job to learn your story and unravel the past to find where the dysfunction is coming from so we can learn how to solve it.
Favorite Things/Interests and Hobbies
TV/Movies: Marvel Comic Movies, All Children’s Movies, Grey’s Anatomy
Hobbies: hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking, windsurfing, painting, photography, gardening
Food: Coffee, Thai Food
Sports: Swimming, Diving, Running, Crossfit. Alumni of Ithaca College Women’s Swimming and Diving Team.