HISTORIC TRIANGLE — “Ten Questions with” is a series that allows readers to get to know local business leaders, volunteers and community members in the Historic Triangle.
This week, meet Tony Grillo.
What is your job title and description?
Senior Physical Therapist at Pivot (now Athletico) Physical Therapy. As a PT in an
outpatient setting, I treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions. I help people to
recover from injuries, surgeries, and physical limitations to return to a normal lifestyle
and the hobbies they enjoy.
Who do you interact/work with regularly?
In direct patient care, I interact with folks of all ages, from early teens to the elderly. I
also interact with other healthcare professionals including physicians, surgeons, nurses,
dentists, athletic trainers, and case managers, to name a few.
How do you/your organization interact with the local community?
In addition to providing healthcare services, we are regularly involved in an assortment of
community events such as health fairs, sporting events, races, and professional
conferences, to name a few. Public awareness and education are something I am a big
proponent of. Additionally, many of our clinicians regularly advocate for our own
professional interests as well as the interests of patients and all healthcare providers at
both the local and national levels.
What is something about your job most people wouldn’t know about?
I think many people don’t know the depth and breadth of conditions we see and treat as
Physical Therapists, and unfortunately this includes other healthcare providers. The majority of musculoskeletal problems have the potential to benefit from our services, and in a vast number of conditions, PT is actually the most effective intervention. There is an enormous amount of research showing the interventions we provide offer a high level of effectiveness at a low cost to the healthcare system. In many cases PT is the intervention of choice, offering a much better alternative to surgeries, injections, or narcotic pain medications.
How do you define success?
I would define professional success in the clinical setting as finding a work environment
that fosters autonomy, flexibility, and puts the interests of the patient and clinician first.
One that both embraces and encourages the most up-to-date treatments and treatment
principles and allows the clinician to work at the top of their professional level. Having
co-workers you respect and have fun with, and a patient population you enjoy working
with are an essential part of that as well.
What is your most successful accomplishment to date?
While there are various forms of success, one that really felt good happened this year. As
the current President of the Virginia Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, I helped to get some significant legislation passed which removed most of the barriers to referral. This allows folks to come see us directly as first-line providers for diagnosis and treatment.
How long have you lived/worked in the Historic Triangle?
I have lived in Williamsburg for over 20 years, and worked in Williamsburg and Newport
News clinics for the majority of that time.
What is your favorite part of being in the Historic Triangle?
It sounds corny, but I like living in an area where there is so much history. So many influential people lived in this area and much of the foundation of our country began right
here. I find that incredibly fascinating.
What do you do for downtime/to relax?
I like to go fishing when I get the chance or BBQ. Most often I find myself spending
time with my wife Monica, kids Ben, Lily, and Alex, and our Golden Retriever, Hamilton.
What is the next step in your journey?
I currently do some teaching with professional continuing education as well as do some
adjunct teaching with a couple of universities. I would like to continue to grow that
aspect of my career and have a nice balance of clinical practice and teaching.
Do you want to learn more about your community and the people who live and work in the Historic Triangle? We are looking for people with interesting jobs, super volunteers, or community leaders to showcase. Reach out to let us know if you (or someone you know) would like to be considered for Ten Questions.
