Taylor Dorado, DPT

In fall 2026, Russell Sage College Physical Therapy graduate and Adjunct Professor Taylor Dorado, DPT ’23, will begin a highly competitive Sports Physical Therapy Residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. The residency includes a clinical placement with the NHL’s Dallas Stars. 

An athlete who played Division I soccer in college, Dorado long envisioned a career in sports. She decided on PT after observation experiences in various settings as an undergraduate biology major. A subsequent observation with the athletic trainer for the Adirondack Thunder ECHL team inspired her interest in supporting high-level athletes as a board-certified Sports Clinical Specialist. Her residency brings her closer to that goal.  

In the following Q&A, Dorado shares what she is looking forward to during her sports PT residency and how Sage’s DPT program prepared her for this next step. 

How did the opportunity with the Dallas Stars come up?

I was looking for programs that had a large emphasis on hockey. I applied to UT Southwestern for this reason, as they have opportunities to work not only with sports and orthopedic certified specialists in their clinic, but also under PTs who work in professional and collegiate sports, including the Dallas Stars NHL team, Dallas Pulse professional indoor volleyball team, and Dallas Trinity professional women’s soccer team.

Tell me what responsibilities you anticipate.

I don’t begin the residency until September, but I will be working with the Stars two to three mornings per week and attending the home games. Additionally, I will be working in UT Southwestern’s outpatient clinic for 20-25 hours per week, participating in didactic work that prepares me for my specialty exam, receiving mentorship, and acting as an adjunct for a sports medicine class. I’ll also have opportunities to work with the other teams that I mentioned with some supplemental research opportunities. 

What led you to your interest in becoming a PT?

I always knew that I wanted to work in athletics in some capacity. As an undergraduate, I performed observation hours in various PT settings and really enjoyed the outpatient and sports setting. I grew up in and around sports and played soccer in college, so working in an active field where there is a lot of variability and change was what sold me on the PT profession. Working with high-level professional athletes became more of a goal within the last few years, when I was observing under the athletic trainer at the Adirondack Thunder. 

I was attracted to Russell Sage because of its physical therapy program’s articulation agreement with Siena, which was where I received my undergraduate degree. 

Sage provided me with a lot of connections that were abundantly helpful during the application process for a sports physical therapy residency. I am very thankful to have received help from Assistant Professor Sarah Salvatore, DPT, on application materials and from alumni such as Arthur Wayne Baker, DPT, who also completed a sports residency and is currently in an upper extremity fellowship. 

You are an adjunct at Sage! What appeals to you about being involved in PT education?

I really enjoyed being an adjunct for the neuroanatomy lab this past fall, and I am looking forward to continuing this while I am in my residency at UT Southwestern. I think it’s important to give back to the PT community because there are so many different facets and things to know about the profession. I also think that DPT programs can feel really stressful and overwhelming and it can be helpful for students to see recent grads who made it through the same program they’re in, who are loving the profession and are happy with their jobs. 

Do you also have a clinical practice? 

I currently work in the Malta office of Capital Area PT and Wellness, which is partially owned by Assistant Professor Andrew Gaetano, DPT, who teaches Gross Anatomy and Neuroanatomy. I see a little bit of everything, but it’s predominantly ortho in nature with post-op patients for total joints, general aches and pains, and athletes. 

Is there anything you would like to add?

I’m incredibly thankful for all of the preparation I received from Sage, both during my time as a DPT student and afterward during the sports PT residency application process. They are doing a lot of work to help alumni when we seek them out, and it’s a credit to the culture they’re creating that alumni feel comfortable seeking them out for post-graduate assistance!