Our Mission

Our Vision

Dr. Sheyi Ojofeitimi is a licensed physical therapist with over 20 years of experience and a leader in the fields of dance medicine, injury prevention, and health and wellness. She is the Director of Therapy Services and Health & Safety Advisor at the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, where she oversees physical and mental health services for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, and The Ailey School.

In these roles, she develops and implements comprehensive injury management, conditioning, and infectious disease protocols. Her achievements include reducing overuse injuries by 37% and time-loss injuries by 33%, as well as creating protocols that prevented COVID-19 outbreaks within the organization during the pandemic. These initiatives have saved the organization millions in health-related costs while supporting dancers' return to rehearsals and live performances after prolonged interruptions.

Dr. Ojofeitimi is the Founder and Director of Synthesis Physical Therapy and the Co-founder of the Dance Ready Project, which provides assessment tools, conditioning programs, and wellness education to improve care standards for dancers worldwide. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and African Studies from Fordham University, a Master of Physical Therapy from West Virginia University, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Alabama State University. She is an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and Certified Functional Manual Therapist (CFMT) with advanced training in visceral mobilization, craniosacral therapy, trigger point needling, the Thoracic Ring Approach, and Fascial Counterstrain techniques. Dr. Ojofeitimi specializes in treating lumbo-pelvic and sacro-coccygeal dysfunctions and has a deep interest in the connection between gut health, mental well-being, sleep, and chronic pain.

As a dedicated researcher, Dr. Ojofeitimi spent a decade as a senior research associate at the Analysis of Dance and Movement (ADAM) Center, where she co-authored over 17 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to rebuilding a biomechanics laboratory. She is the co-author of Chapter 3, Using Scientific Research to Reduce Injury Risk and Maximize Performance, in the book Dance Injuries: Reducing Risk and Maximizing Performance. Additionally, she has developed evidence-based health and wellness protocols that reduce injuries and improve performance in dance organizations.

Her upcoming article, Guidelines for Returning to Dance Following Concussion: Adaptations from Sport Concussion Literature, will be published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice. Dr. Ojofeitimi currently serves as the Treasurer for Dance USA’s Taskforce on Dancer Health, is member of Dance USA’s Board of Trustees, and continues to advocate for dancer well-being through her research, education, and clinical leadership.