Emmy-Nominated Journalist Transitions from the Newsroom to the PT Treatment Room
School of Health Sciences Student and Entrepreneur Lisa Gleason Integrates an Understanding of Human Connection, Movement, and the Nervous System to Advance Her Career in Physical Therapy
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After nearly two decades working as a journalist and television producer on major networks such as CNN and Disney, Touro University School of Health Sciences Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) ’28 student Lisa Gleason is redefining what it means to tell a story through the lens of physical therapy. What began as a career rooted in uncovering truth and building trust with people she was interviewing has grown into a deep passion for understanding the connection between the human body, movement, and healing. As this Touro student prepares to advance her physical therapy (PT) career, she is blending her expertise in storytelling with clinical training to better understand how people move and why, bridging the gap between science, human experience and a high level of patient care.
You spent 19 years as an Emmy-nominated journalist and TV producer working for CNN, Disney, and others. Can you share some of the high points?
When you put it that way, it does sound like a long time—but it truly flew by. The high points weren’t the accolades, awards, or titles, but what stands out most are the moments spent in complex, high-pressure situations, and learning how to filter out the noise and get to the truth of a story without ever losing its human core.
One memorable moment is when I was interviewing a high-profile NFL player for a documentary. The crew and I set up in his home and then waited for him to arrive. He came home from practice, walked right by us, and went to sleep. Two hours later, he woke up and ran out the front door, so I signaled to the crew to grab the equipment to follow him. We ended up at a local park where he played soccer with some kids and taught a middle schooler how to throw a football. I couldn't have scripted anything better!
What inspired you to transition from a successful media career and begin a new career in PT?
The transition wasn’t a single decision; it was gradual. A series of experiences prompted the shift, and when it did happen, it felt less like a choice and more like clarity.
The truth is, I had been connecting to the PT field for a long time; I just didn't know it yet. I opened a dance studio in 2016, where I developed my own barre technique, which made me more curious about the body.
A couple of years ago, I was hired as a wellness director for a large hospital, which opened the door to continuing education, and pursuing a Doctorate in PT became part of the new plan. Touro’s DPT program is providing me with that missing piece: the ability to understand not just how the body moves, but why it moves that way and how it affects the whole person. It’s where science and art intersect, and the pursuit of the full story is what ultimately led me to Touro.
What is Neurofy Wellness, and what was your motivation to create this business?
Neurofy Wellness is a company I created during COVID, when maintaining a brick-and-mortar movement studio was quickly becoming unsustainable. It was a moment that forced me to make a vital decision: pivot or close. I transitioned online and began teaching classes virtually, which unexpectedly sharpened my ability to observe movement patterns in a new way.
Around that time, I was introduced to Z Health Performance Solutions, a continuing education platform where I completed my R-Phase professional certification. This is a training method using functional neurology to improve the performance of athletes, dancers and regular people by putting the brain and nervous system in the driver’s seat. This approach fundamentally shifted how I understood movement.
As a journalist, I’ve always been trained to look for what’s missing, including the subtle patterns, the overlooked pieces of the story, the details others might miss. This journalistic lens carried over. I began integrating these principles into my work, and the changes were immediate and lasting for my clients. Neurofy Wellness reflects that evolution as it’s an approach that meets people where they are and can be applied across varied age groups, abilities, and goals. By adjusting the sensory input we give the brain, we help the body to better interpret and respond to movement outputs in real time. So, rather than using a one-size-fits-all treatment plan on patients, the goal is not just to improve movement, but to understand why the body was compensating in the first place and change that pattern where it begins at the nervous system.
How are you integrating your background in storytelling and content creation with physical therapy?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to see people for who they are, not for who you are. That ability to observe without projecting one's own assumptions and biases is essential in the role of a PT.
As a journalist, I was trained to recognize the final product and to understand how a story comes together in a way that feels authentic. In many ways, patients present the same way. What you see in front of you is the “final cut,” shaped by a series of events, adaptations, and experiences. My job is to look beyond that and understand what led them there.
Every patient has a story, and pain is often just the entry point. From there, it becomes a process of asking better questions, identifying patterns, and connecting the pieces that explain why they are in front of you. I still have a great deal to learn, and in many ways my journey is just beginning. But the ability to build trust, listen deeply, and step into someone else’s experience are transferable skills from my decades long career that now directly inform how I will show up as a future practitioner.
Looking ahead, what is your dream career, and how do you see all your diverse experiences coming together in the future?
I’m learning from clinicians who are both brilliant and genuinely compassionate, and the foundation they’re helping me build will shape everything that comes next. My goal is to open a practice based in New York where strong clinical care and thoughtful communication go hand in hand. I understand how to shape messages so they connect and know how to translate complex ideas into situations people can see themselves in. That’s something I want to bring more intentionally into PT, not just in how I treat, but in how the work is understood by the people it’s meant to serve.
