Dr. Sheyi Ojofeitimi, PT, DPT, OCS, CFMT, is the Founder and Director of Boundless Roots Inc., as well as the Director of Therapy Services and Health & Safety Advisor at Alvin Ailey. In her multifaceted roles, she oversees both physical and mental health services while providing essential guidance on emergency medical and infectious disease protocols. Notably, she developed exposure and return-to-work protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic, successfully preventing outbreaks within the organization.
She co-designed and implemented an in-house conditioning program that facilitated the safe return of dancers to rehearsals and live performances after a seven-month hiatus, all without any time-loss injuries. Additionally, her comprehensive injury management program has led to a remarkable 37% reduction in overuse injuries and a 33% decrease in time-loss injuries, resulting in significant cost savings of one million dollars.
Beyond her leadership roles at Boundless Roots Inc. and Alvin Ailey, Ms. Ojofeitimi is the Co-founder of the Dance Ready Project. This initiative aims to enhance care standards for dancers by providing assessment tools, conditioning programs, and wellness education.
Ms. Ojofeitimi’s academic journey began at Fordham University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and African Studies in 1994. She initially worked as a personal assistant to jazz legend Abbey Lincoln and as an Executive Assistant at the Terrie Williams Agency before shifting her focus to physical therapy. She earned a Master of Physical Therapy from West Virginia University and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Alabama State University. She also holds certifications as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and as a Certified Functional Manual Therapist (CFMT) from the Institute of Physical Art.
A dedicated researcher, Ms. Ojofeitimi served for a decade as a senior research associate at the Analysis of Dance and Movement (ADAM) Center, where she contributed to the rebuilding of a biomechanics lab and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications. Her current research centers on developing evidence-based health and wellness assessment tools and protocols to reduce injury rates and healthcare costs within dance organizations.
Ms. Ojofeitimi also chairs the Screening Committee of Dance USA’s Taskforce on Dancer Health and serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science. Her extensive contributions reflect her unwavering commitment to advancing dancer well-being through both advocacy and scholarly work.
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