Tony Ellis shares his inspiring journey of working with elite athletes throughout his PT career

Columbia PT '11 grad Anthony ‘Tony’ Ellis PT DPT MS², Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist, recently served on the medical staff for the USA Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Dr. Ellis has also served on the medical staff at the Track and Field Olympic Trials for the 2016 Rio and 2021 Tokyo Olympics and delightfully acknowledges the privilege to serve at the Olympic Trials

and 2022 World Athletics Championships with fellow Columbia DPT graduate Dr. Chris Margallo (08) who is currently serving on the medical staff for TEAM USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“It’s truly an honor to work in collaboration with a wonderful group of sports medicine physicians, sports chiropractors, athletic trainers, and sports massage therapists assisting our best track and field athletes achieve their highest level of performance. As, stated by a fellow staff member this year, “it is amazing to be a part of a group of clinicians that come together from all parts of the country as an efficient, cohesive team, as if we worked together every day”.

“In that context, a profound degree of sharing clinical and continuing education experience occurs and you always leave with a bigger toolbox.”

 Dr. Ellis’ work with elite athletes began 37 years ago as Strength and Conditioning Coach of his undergraduate alma mater, University of Georgia’s Women's Gymnastics team from 1987 - 1989. The team included two 1984 Olympians, Andrea Thomas (Canada) and Lucy Wener (USA). Dr. Ellis’ conditioning regimen played an integral role in the team’s NCAA Division I 1989 National Championship, with team member Corinne Wright earning Individual All-Around Championship Honors.

Following his tenure as Strength and Conditioning Coach, Dr. Ellis was compelled to apply his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management Information Systems, in a nine-year corporate career as a Technical Account Analyst, in the field of Information Technology. Although thoroughly enjoying a successful, constantly intriguing career in IT, with sincere appreciation, Dr. Ellis maintained an indefatigable interest in the realm of health, wellness, and sports performance.The unremitting interest prompted Dr. Ellis to gradually transition from corporate IT to three health care related graduate programs culminating with Columbia’s DPT program.

Prior to matriculating in Columbia’s DPT program, Dr. Ellis completed a M.S. degree in Exercise Science and Rehabilitation, from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, in 2001, with a clinical focus on Cardiac Stress Testing and Outpatient Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation. He subsequently completed a M.S. degree in Human Nutrition, from the University of Bridgeport, in 2004, with a focus on Therapeutic Nutrition and Nutrient-Gene Interactions. With an enduring resolve to provide effective care in physical rehabilitation, disease management, wellness education, and sports performance Dr. Ellis completed Columbia’s DPT program. He feels immensely blessed to be able to incorporate every aspect of his educational pursuits and genuine interests in comprehensive care of his patients and athletes. Dr. Ellis began working with USATF and other international elite track and field athletes in 2013.

He has also served on the medical staff for:

• IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships (2016)
• USATF Indoor Track & Field Championships (2016)
• USATF National Club Track & Field Championships (2013, 2015, 2017)
• IRONMAN North American Championships (Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada) (2013)
• New York City Marathon (2011 – Present)

In 2016, Dr. Ellis completed a highly renowned Performance Therapy Certification program directed by legendary coaches Dan Pfaff and Stu McMillan at ALTIS, then located in Phoenix, Arizona (now based in Atlanta, Georgia). ALTIS provides coaching, performance training, and support services for numerous elite US and international athletes, including a considerable number of Olympic champions and professional athletes of essentially every sport imaginable.

At 58 years old (quickly approaching 59 in October), Dr. Ellis maintains, what he refers to as, a ‘comfortable vigorous training regimen’, continuing to compete in events ranging from the 5th Avenue Mile to completion of 24 marathons to date. He is an avid runner, cyclist and sports enthusiast. He is a member of his birth town Atlanta Track Club and a certified USA Track and Field Level 1 Coach specializing in performance conditioning, injury prevention and rehabilitation for sprinters, distance runners and field athletes.

Dr. Ellis is the owner of Physio Wellness Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Runners Clinic located in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn. The practice provides rehabilitation and wellness

physical therapy services, along with adjunct nutrition evaluation/consultation, performance conditioning and race training programs. Additionally, the practice sponsors community outreach workshops in Fall Prevention.

As a fortunate and inspired survivor of a rare neurovascular disease, requiring a cumulative seven years (2000 – 2006) of rigorous treatment, involving nine major surgical procedures. Dr. Ellis’ personal experience as a patient confronting a daunting health challenge provides profound insight and empathy in his professional care.

Dr. Ellis is tremendously grateful for every aspect of his Columbia DPT education. He reflects daily on something directly taught during the program. Without exaggeration, he can honestly recall very specific clinical pearls, stated by almost every full-time faculty member and several lab instructors. Since graduation, those specific incidences continue to inform aspects of his daily care of patients.

Dr. Ellis and his wife, Susie, are Brooklyn residents and the proud parents of three industrious young men, ages 23, 20 and 14.