donald hooley

PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Don chose to become a Physical Therapist because of his passion for sports and movement, combined with witnessing firsthand the transformative power of Physical Therapy when family members experienced great success with their treatments. He loves helping people overcome physical challenges and return to the activities that bring them joy.

Originally from Ossining, New York, Don earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Ithaca College in 2016. Dedicated to advancing his expertise, he completed an Orthopedic Residency in 2017 and received his board certification in Orthopedics. In 2018, he relocated to Eugene, Oregon, where he worked in outpatient private practice before making a significant career move in 2020.

Don was commissioned into the United States Army as a Captain and Physical Therapist, where he served as the Chief of Physical Therapy at Fort Jackson, South Carolina—the largest basic training installation in the world. In this role, he worked extensively with initial military trainees, helping prepare the next generation of soldiers. After completing his military service, he continued supporting service members and their families as a federal civilian at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Tacoma, Washington.

Recently, Don made the move to Santa Cruz with his girlfriend, drawn by the area's natural beauty and outdoor opportunities. His specialization in orthopedics allows him to treat a wide variety of conditions, from sports injuries to post-surgical rehabilitation, with expertise in manual therapy and functional movement training.

When he's not in the clinic, you can find Don staying active through weight lifting, CrossFit, or frequenting all of the local coffee shops. He loves spending time with friends, family, and their 2 cats and new dog.

Donald hooley, DPT IS ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS