Marie Ann Gallano

Trained on two continents

I was born and raised in the Philippines, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in physical therapy at Far Eastern University. I later completed my Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. Since then I have worked in skilled nursing facilities, home health, inpatient and acute rehabilitation, school-based therapy, and outpatient care, which is where my practice is focused today.

What I focus on

My caseload centers on three areas:

• Orthopedic post-op rehabilitation, including joint replacements, fracture and bone repair, ligament repairs, rotator cuff repairs, and spinal surgery recovery
• Muscle imbalances, such as postural issues, a weak core, and the hip, hamstring, and shoulder patterns that lead to pain
• Sports-related injuries, from sprains and tendonitis to stress fractures and overuse injuries

Chronic pain is what brings a lot of my patients through the door, and I know it takes more than exercises to treat it. Anxiety, frustration, and feeling stuck are part of that picture too. I put real weight on patient education, helping people understand their condition and the role physical therapy plays, so they can manage pain with less reliance on medication alone.

One-on-one, every session

I work in a patient-centered practice where every plan fits the person, not a script. One-on-one time lets me build trust, catch what is not working, and adjust in real time, which is why I keep coming back to it. My core value is respect: treating every person’s perspective, differences, and pace with kindness. A line from Saint Francis of Assisi stays with me: “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”

Outside of work, I am usually watching something on Netflix, listening to a podcast, or out for a run.