On this episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, Jenna Kantor and Katie Schmitt join me to discuss Fairytale PT. Jenna Kantor, SPT and Katie Schmitt, SPT, both physical therapy students from Columbia University, developed Fairytale PT, a movement-based musical program where children get to actively participate in shows based on popular fairytales.

In this episode, we discuss:

-The ambitious beginnings of Fairytale PT and the dedication of Jenna and Katie to their mission

-How Fairytale PT incorporates therapeutic exercise into the choreography

-Interprofessional collaboration with occupational therapy students

-Jenna and Katie’s vision for Fairytale PT and how you can get involved

-And so much more!

Physical therapy schools without performance backgrounds can still participate in Fairytale PT. Jenna stresses, “It’s not about talent, it’s about enthusiasm.”

Navigating the medical world as a pediatric patient can be scary and intimidating. Katie clarifies the challenge as, “How do we give these kids a break and how do we give these parents a little bit of a break and take them out of the beeping and the sounds and the doctors coming in and out and rushing around.”

In a fun environment, Fairytale PT is able to achieve therapeutic goals as Jenna states, “The movements the kids are doing are extremely healthy for them.”

For more information on Jenna:

JENNA KANTOR (co-founder) is a bubbly and energetic girl who was born and raised in Petaluma, California. Growing up, she trained and performed ballet throughout the United States. After earning a BA in Dance and Drama at the University of California, Irvine, she worked professionally in musical theatre for 15+ years with tours, regional theatres, & overseas (www.jennakantor.com) until she found herself ready to move onto a new chapter in her life - a career in Physical Therapy. Jenna is currently in her 3rd year at Columbia University's Physical Therapy Program. She is also a co-founder of the podcast, "Physiotherapy Performance Perspectives," has an evidence-based monthly youtube series titled "Injury Prevention for Dancers," is a NY SSIG Co-Founder, NYPTA Student Conclave 2017 Development Team, works with the NYPTA Greater New York Legislative Task Force and is the NYPTA Public Policy Committee Student Liaison. Jenna aspires to be a physical therapist for amateur and professional performers to help ensure long, healthy careers. To learn more, please check out her website: www.jennafkantor.wixsite.com/jkpt

For more information on Katie:

I fell in love with Physical Therapy when I realized that with it, I could breathe on my own. My background is as an actor. I have done Shakespeare in New York, film and television in Los Angeles and ran a travel web series with my husband where, for five years, we went to every state and reviewed bed and breakfasts.

It was when I challenged myself to run a mile, that I realized the more I work out and listen to my body the less I need medicine. I learned what it is like to breathe without inhalers, steroids or machines. Today I am an avid cyclist and third year student at Columbia University Medical Center working on my Doctorate in Physical Therapy.  

There is so much about PT that I love. My clinicals have been in outpatient orthopedics at Miccass Physical Therapy in New York and Imagine Physical Therapy in South Carolina and sub-acute rehab at The New Jewish Home. I have spent time with dancers and Broadway performers, on the inpatient TBI floor at Bellevue, observing at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and with the outpatient cardiopulmonary PT team at Columbia University Medical Center. From all my experience to my husband's story of recovery from a car accident and coma when he was a teen, I have realized that PT affects many aspects of life. My goal is to help little kids learn how to breathe, help patients fight cancer and help dancers perform to their peak.

Resources discussed on this show:

Jenna Kantor Website

Fairytale Physical Therapy Website

Jenna Kantor Facebook

Jenna Kantor Twitter

Jenna Kantor Instagram

Jenna Kantor LinkedIn

Physiotherapy Performance Perspectives

Katie Schmitt LinkedIn

APTA Blog on Fairytale PT

The 90 Day Year

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Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!

Xo Karen

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