Heather Southwick

Heather Southwick is a physical therapist specializing in performing arts medicine who joined The Micheli Center, returning to Boston Children’s Hospital, following a long tenure at Boston Ballet. Since 2011, she was the Director of Physical Therapy for Boston Ballet, managing health and wellness programs for the professional company dancers and building partnerships among healthcare providers across the region. From 1996-2011, Heather was a staff physical therapist at Boston Children’s Hospital, primarily treating the professional and student dancers at Boston Ballet. She has also treated and managed the care for numerous Broadway shows.

An active member of the Dance/USA Task Force on Dancer Health, Heather currently manages the research protocol for the standardized screening and injury surveillance project for professional dancers. She has done extensive work in the areas if screening and injury prevention for dancers. A regular presenter at conferences throughout the United States and Canada, Heather also co-wrote several informational papers for the Dance/USA Task Force on Dancer Health regarding the safe return to the dance studio during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her professional affiliations include the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science and the Performing Arts Medical Association.