Faculty

Sarah Fishel, PT, DPT graduated from Ithaca College with her masters and doctoral degrees in physical therapy. After graduation, Dr. Fishel worked as a physical therapist at an inpatient rehabilitation facility in Rochester, NY, primarily working with adult and pediatric individuals recovering from stroke, traumatic brain injury, and other neurologic conditions. She became an ABPTS Board-Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist in 2009 and has maintained this specialization since that time.

In 2014, Dr. Fishel became a faculty member in the Department of Physical Therapy at Ithaca College, primarily teaching courses in neurologic rehabilitation. She also supervises physical therapy students providing rehabilitation for individuals with stroke as part of an interprofessional team at the Center for Life Skills program. Dr. Fishel received training as a Physical Therapy Faculty Scholar through the Parkinson’s Foundation in 2018 and continues to practice clinically through a local skilled nursing facility.

Dr. Fishel’s scholarly interests include investigation of the impact of physical therapy exercise interventions to improve health outcomes for individuals with Parkinson disease and stroke. She is also involved in the investigation of the impact of interprofessional education programs for health professions, and strategies to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in physical therapy.

Dr. Fishel is currently the Chairperson and Director for the Southern Tier District of the New York State Physical Therapy Association and chairs or serves on multiple department and college level committees. Dr. Fishel is a 2021 Dana Teaching Fellow through Ithaca College’s Center for Faculty Excellence where she assists with the Antiracism Institute for Ithaca College faculty. When not at work, you will find Dr. Fishel running or hiking local trails with her family and one year old German Shepard.