Joe Bernardo

Therapist

Hi everyone!
My name is Joe and I’m honored, as well as excited to be a member of the Orthopaedics Plus team. I’m originally from Rhode Island, however I initially began my transition to becoming a Massachusetts resident, when I pursued an undergraduate degree at Merrimack College in Health Sciences. It was here that I encountered my first exposure to physical therapy, through my Anatomy & Physiology professor. In addition to teaching us about the human body, he was a practicing PT, who would often relate concepts we were learning in class to the patients he was currently treating (HIPPA compliant of course). From a young age, I always knew that I wanted to help others in some way, however at this point in my life, I found it difficult to specify that dream. During these talks, it was as if a lightbulb went off in my brain and I found my purpose, this was a way to help other people while marrying my interests in the human body and exercise. Fast forward to several shadowing experiences, internships, and a few stints as a rehab aide and I was certain, being a physical therapist was the dream that I would now pursue.
As if four years at Merrimack wasn’t enough, I stayed for a fifth year to complete a Master’s degree in Exercise Science and then shortly thereafter, I was accepted into Boston University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. As you might expect, completing a Doctoral degree during the midst of a global pandemic was challenging to say the least, but I am forever grateful for the expert tutelage and wisdom from the faculty at BU, which helped me to improve both my PT skills and who I am as a person. During my time at BU, I became acquainted with Orthopaedics Plus during my second clinical rotation and I became enamored with their philosophies of PT care, specifically implementing a patient first mentality while ensuring that health and wellness is not a concept simply relegated to the instances when injury or illness arise, rather it is a lifelong journey. I’m thrilled to be starting my PT career back under this same roof where I learned so much as a student a short time ago.
On a more personal note, when I’m not doing things PT related, you can find me spending time with my friends and family (including my almost 10 year old Shichon, Sofia, who just happens to be the love of my life…just don’t tell my girlfriend). My girlfriend, Sofia, and I currently live in Quincy, however we are looking to move to the North Shore quite soon! In addition, like most PTs, I’m extremely active and love lifting weights and running, hoping to eventually run a marathon someday soon. Aside from physical activity, I’m an avid reader and movie/music buff, a frequent concertgoer, and a guitar player.
Lastly, I also just wanted to share that I am a person who stutters. In a nutshell, there are times when my words seemingly are stuck, and it may take me a bit longer to produce these words. It is a neurological condition, solely involving the production of speech and it is one of the greatest gifts that God has bestowed on me. It’s taken me a long time to say that, but it has taught me the importance of listening and the value that words can carry with them, both skills that have helped to improve my practice as a PT. I would love to discuss this further with anyone who has questions, as I would love to draw more awareness to this condition that is often misunderstood.
I hope this brief insight into my journey towards PT and my personal life has provided you with a brief snapshot into who I am, and I look forward to meeting you all in person very soon!