Faculty & Staff

Donald J. Rose, MD, is Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon and Director of the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, as well as Director of Ambulatory Surgery at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. He is Clinical Associate Professor at New York University’s School of Medicine and is the Orthopaedic Consultant to numerous dance companies including Alvin Ailey, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Buglisi/Foreman, Erick Hawkins, Cirque du Soleil, City Center and the Joyce Theatre, as well numerous dance schools including SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance and the Joffrey Ballet School. Dr. Rose has lectured nationally and internationally and written numerous chapters and papers on topics in sports medicine, dance medicine, and arthroscopic surgery. He is on the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science and the Bulletin of the Hospital for Joint Diseases. Dr. Rose is the 1997 recipient of the prestigious Documents of Dance Award and received the 2002 University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Distinguished Alumnus Award. For more information, log onto: www.donaldrosemd.com

David S. Weiss, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon in private practice in New York City, specializing in dance medicine. He is Associate Director of the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries and is Clinical Associate Professor at New York University School of Medicine. Dr. Weiss is orthopaedist to the Mark Morris Dance Group, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Parsons Dance Company, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Les Ballets Trocadero de Monte Carlo and, for their New York engagements, Cirque du Soleil. He staffs a weekly performing arts medicine clinic on-site at both the Juilliard School and New York University. Dr. Weiss is orthopaedic consultant to numerous other dance companies, dance schools, and Broadway theatrical productions. He has served as President (2001-2003), Vice-President (1999-2001) and on the Board of Directors of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. Dr. Weiss has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Performing Arts Medicine Association, and is Deputy Editor of the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science. He lectures frequently on dance medicine, nationally and internationally. Dr. Weiss received his MD degree from Yale University School of Medicine in 1981. For more information, please go to: www.med.nyu.edu/clinicians/weissd01.html

Marijeanne Liederbach, PhD, ATC, PT, CSCS, is a physical therapist and certified athletic trainer with a PhD in Biomechanics and Ergonomics.  Since 1993 she has been the Administrative Director and Director of Research and Education for the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries at the New York University Medical Center Hospital for Joint Diseases.  Prior to her current appointment, Dr. Liederbach headed the Dance Medicine Services for The Joffrey Ballet while serving as Supervisor of Sports Physical Therapy at the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma at Lenox Hill Hospital and Instructor of Kinesiology at Columbia University.  Dr. Liederbach has provided backstage therapy for hundreds of dancers, dance companies and Broadway shows and has authored numerous papers and chapters as well as lectured internationally on topics pertaining to the prevention and care of dance injuries. She is a member of the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, the National Advisory Committee for the American Physical Therapy Association's Performing Arts Practice Analysis and the DanceUSA Taskforce on Dancer Health.  She is also an Affiliate Member American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, a Founding Member and former Board Member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Chair of its Standard Measures Consensus Initiative. Prior to her career in Dance Medicine, Dr. Liederbach danced professionally for many years and worked as a choreographer.  Her critically acclaimed work has been shown in Europe and throughout the United States.

Debra Spina, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Pace University. She has been employed at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases since 1998 and joined the Harkness staff as Executive Assistant in February 2000. Ms. Spina manages the daily operations and works with the Center’s uninsured dancers to provide affordable healthcare and financial assistance.

Physical Therapy and Athletic Training Staff

Alison Deleget, MS, ATC, trained as a classical ballet dancer before attending Indiana University on scholarship as a ballet major. She then transitioned into athletic training, and completed both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Athletic Training at Indiana University. During her graduate studies, she served as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Indiana University Ballet Theatre. She was certified as a pilates rehabilitation specialist through Polestar Education. Ms. Deleget currently works for the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries as a clinical specialist, providing backstage athletic training services for various Broadway shows and dance companies. She conducts injury prevention assessments for dancers in New York and surrounding areas, and presents lectures and workshops to the dance community as well as at international dance-medicine conferences. Ms. Deleget is on faculty at Dance Theatre of Harlem serving both as the on-site athletic trainer and anatomy instructor for the Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble Company.

Faye E. Dilgen, MSPT, is senior dance physical therapist at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, where she has treated dancers from a variety of companies and schools. She has provided backstage physical therapy for Merce Cunningham Dance Company and Molissa Fenley and has developed curricula for the Feld Ballet School and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Ms. Dilgen received her graduate physical therapy education from Long Island University, where she has served on faculty as Adjunct Professor of Cardiopulmonary Function. Ms. Dilgen is a PhD candidate in Pathokinesiology at New York University and has been Section Editor of the Practical Applications column for the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science. She has presented her research at a number of professional dance medicine venues.

Marshall Hagins, PhD, PT, attended North Carolina School for the Arts as a ballet major before moving to New York where he danced both on and off-Broadway. Prior to accepting his current appointment at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, Dr. Hagins worked at West Side Dance Physical Therapy where he treated members of the New York City Ballet. He has also treated members of the American Ballet Theatre, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, and served as the company physical therapist for the White Oak Dance Project led by Mikhail Baryshnikov. Dr. Hagins has published original works on clinical topics in dance medicine and has presented numerous papers before the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. He is currently an Associate Professor with the Division of Physical Therapy at Long Island University and is the physical therapy consultant for the Mark Morris Dance Group. Dr. Hagins also owns a small private practice in the Mark Morris Dance Group Center called Brooklyn Arts Physical Therapy.

Marc Hunter-Hall, MPT, received a BFA in dance from Point Park University and a BA in music form Indiana University of Pennsylvania before coming to New York.  Mr. Hall spent 12 years performing in musical theatre including the Broadway production of CATS and the national tour of OKLAHOMA!  In 1997, Mr. Hall graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago with a Master of Physical Therapy, and received the 1997 Award for Clinical Excellence.  He has served as Adjunct Instructor of Kinesiology at Columbia University and as Adjunct Professor with the Division of Physical Therapy at Long Island University.  Mr. Hall specializes in manual therapy and Pilates-based rehabilitation and is a clinical educator at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries.  He is the senior physical therapist at PT Plus, P.C. in the City Center Theatre Building and also owns a small practice, Encore Physical Therapy, specializing in providing on-site care for the Broadway community.

Vanessa Muncrief, MS, PT, DPT is a physical therapist specializing in manual therapy and dance medicine.  She danced and modeled professionally in NYC before receiving her Master of Science and Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.  Dr. Muncrief has served as on-site medical officer and anatomy instructor for Dance Theatre of Harlem and has worked backstage for companies like Merce Cunningham, Wicked, and Cirque du Soleil.  She is a Certified Pilates Teacher through the Pilates Method Alliance and is a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200 hour level through the Yoga Alliance.  She received her teacher training at OM Yoga and has studied for the last 14 years throughout the US and India.  Dr. Muncrief currently works with both the Harkness Center of Dance Injuries and PT Plus, P.C. in City Center.  She has a small private practice integrating yoga therapy into the more traditional physical therapy model and acts as a contributing health consultant for Woman’s World magazine.

Megan Richardson, MS, ATC, is a certified athletic trainer (ATC) and on staff at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries as a clinical specialist and research assistant. She has provided backstage coverage to numerous dance companies and Broadway shows. Ms. Richardson has presented on issues related to dancer health and rehabilitation both nationally and internationally. Currently she serves as Chair of the Member Relations Committee of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science and as a committee lead on the Performing Arts Work Group of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Ms. Richardson attended George Washington University on scholarship for dance, where she received her undergraduate degree in Athletic Training. She earned a Master of Science in Kinesiology at Indiana University while serving as the primary ATC for the Indiana University Ballet Theatre. Ms. Richardson has performed with numerous modern dance groups in both New York City and Washington, DC.

Emily Sandow, MSPT, DPT, is a physical therapist at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries. She also provides on-site physical therapy services to many dance companies and Broadway shows. Dr. Sandow holds an undergraduate degree from New York University in Mathematics, graduated with honors from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons with a Master of Science in Physical Therapy, and completed her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Columbia. She received the Columbia University faculty award for "Outstanding Student Research". Dr. Sandow has presented original dance-related biomechanics research at dance medicine and physical therapy conferences. She has been a consultant and model for Dance Teacher Magazine. Dr. Sandow trained in ballet and modern dance at the High School of Performing Arts and the School of American Ballet, and has performed in New York City.