Helping Others Live Their Best Life

By the age of 14, Nicole Maniscalco (B.S. ’14, D.P.T. ’17) knew for certain she wanted to be a physical therapist (PT). And now, she can’t imagine doing anything else.

^{Nicole Maniscalco is a member of the New York chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), she has participated in the organization’s Delegate Assembly, Capitol Hill Day, APTA New York Lobby Day, and other events to advocate for her profession.}

“When I was a teenager, my grandmother needed physical therapy, and they treated her so kindly—like family,” remembers Maniscalco, a senior physical therapist and coordinator for program development at Northwell Health Rehab At Home. “It felt incredibly moving to witness that, and I knew then that’s what I wanted to pursue. It’s the best decision I ever made.”

As a legacy student, Maniscalco was familiar with New York Institute of Technology because of her father, James Maniscalco (B.T. ’07), who earned a degree in electrical and computer engineering. When she learned about New York Tech’s dual degree program, in which students can earn a bachelor’s degree in life sciences and a doctorate in physical therapy in six years, it seemed like the ideal place for her. After earning her Doctor of Physical Therapy, Maniscalco continued her education through a 13-month orthopedic residency, completing clinical rotations through multiple institutions. At the last one—Northwell Health, where she had volunteered as a teenager—she felt at home. She joined the Northwell Health physical therapy team full time in 2021.

In her work, Maniscalco believes being at home can be beneficial for patients, too. In fact, for certain patient populations, such as older adults, postpartum patients, oncology patients, pediatric patients, and others, Maniscalco says doing PT rehabilitation in the comfort and privacy of their home is safe, comforting, and oftentimes essential.

“In-home assessment provides optimal safety and more opportunities for patients who are unable to physically get to an outpatient clinic. Perhaps they are immunocompromised, unable to drive, have a newborn, or prefer the one-on-one care that home treatments offer,” Maniscalco says. “Treating in the home expands our ability to provide access to care.”

As senior physical therapist, Maniscalco treats patients, and as an administrator, she leads program development, mentors other clinicians, and helps to improve day-to-day activities at Northwell Health. She assists in leading the strategic planning, helping to expand care across Long Island. She and her team were nominated for the Team of the Year Award at Northwell Health’s 2024 President’s Awards because of their strong communication and teamwork to ensure all their patients receive the care they need.

She credits her New York Tech professors with giving her the care she needed while completing her doctoral degree.

“With a goal to excel, I remember being stressed over my grades, and a teacher told me, ‘Just breathe and take your time to truly learn. This isn’t like undergrad. This is your career; this is life,’” Maniscalco says. “No other teacher had ever guided me like that. The continuous support from your professors and classmates while you’re going through the physical therapy program helps you to believe in yourself and never give up pursuing your dreams.”

In addition to her clinical work and leadership at Northwell Health, Maniscalco has also become a community leader. As a member of the New York chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), she has participated in the organization’s Delegate Assembly, Capitol Hill Day, APTA New York Lobby Day, and other events to advocate for her profession. For example, she recently lobbied for legislators to support the Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act, a bill supporting women’s health.

“It’s particularly important to me because we offer a women’s health program for Rehab At Home,” she says. “And that’s a benefit of in-home treatment. It can be challenging to make appointments when a newborn baby may have other plans for your schedule. When we can come to you, you can take care of yourself so you can better take care of others.

“That’s the reason I love being a physical therapist. It’s more than a career to me,” she adds. “I love seeing people living their best life.”