Dr. Andrew DeStefano, pT, OCS, FIT
Certifications and special training
Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Fellow in Training (FIT) in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT)
Board- Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (OCS)
Certified in Spinal Manipulation Therapy (cert. SMT)
Certified in Dry Needling (Cert. DN)
Certified in Vestibular Rehab Specialist (Cert. VRS)
Certified in Blood Flow Restriction Training (Cert. MST)
Certified Clinical Instructor through APTA
Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT)
Certified Nutrition Coach (Pn1)
Originally a native of New York State, I attended Ithaca College, where I earned my Doctorate of Physical Therapy (2012) and bachelor’s degree in Clinical Health Science (2010).
As a lifelong athlete, my passion for sports has provided an ideal foundation for a career in physical therapy. With an interest in promoting overall health and wellness, I minored in nutrition during my undergraduate study and am a Certificated Personal Training (CPT) through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), as well as a certified nutrition coach through Precision Nutrition (Pn1). This training bolsters my approach to patient education and evidence-based practice.
I am a strong believer in the importance of continuing education. Through my career, I have continued to expand upon my background in sports-based orthopedics by becoming a Board Certified Orthopedics Clinical Specialist (OCS), as recognized by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. As of July 2022, this is a distinction held by less than 20,000 physical therapists nationally. I am also currently a Fellow in Training with the American Academy of Manual Therapy’s (AAMT) Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT). This intensive post-graduate program includes extensive classroom and mentored clinical experience focusing on the management of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions, using specific and high-skilled manual techniques coupled with therapeutic exercise. With completion of this program, I will not only gain distinction as a Fellow, but will also earn a Diploma of Osteopractic. I have already completed Certification in Dry Needling (Cert. DN) and Certification in Spinal Manipulation (Cert. SMT) through AAMT, and am a certified Vestibular Rehab Specialist (Cert. VRS) through the American Musculoskeletal Institute. With this extensive knowledge, my goal is to optimize quality of care and the quality of my patients’ lives. As an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), I have served as a mentor to young clinicians in the APTA of Massachusetts Mentorship Program and am a Certified Clinical Instructor (CI) for student physical therapists on clinical internships.
I believes that developing relationships with patients rooted in trust and effective communication is integral to effective treatment outcomes, and I count compassion and empathy as among the most important traits a physical therapist can possess. With these values and my extensive clinical knowledge, I had the honor to be voted by my community as the “Best Physical Therapist” in the 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards, organized by the Patriot Ledger.
In my free time, I stays active through strengthening and conditioning, put my nutrition background to use while baking and cooking, engage my mind by reading a wide range of nonfiction books, and am the grateful human companion of a photogenic cat named Penny.
