John Ficucello, PT, MPT
Program Director, Spinal Cord Injury, Skilled Nursing Facility, & Therapeutic Recreation Services
Chapter Director, ThinkFirst Helen Hayes Hospital
Board Member, United Spinal Hudson Valley Chapter
As Program Director of Helen Hayes Hospital’s Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Skilled Nursing Facility, and Therapeutic Recreation Services, John leads a seasoned multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering exceptional inpatient therapy services. With nearly two decades of clinical and leadership experience, he has specialized in treating patients with spinal cord injuries and now oversees the development and implementation of physical, occupational, speech, and recreational therapy care plans for a diverse inpatient population recovering from a wide range of disabling injuries and illnesses. He has also played a key role in establishing community-based injury prevention programming for youth and school-aged children.
John began his career at Helen Hayes Hospital in 2007 as a member of the inpatient physical therapy staff and was promoted to Lead Therapist of the Spinal Cord Injury Unit in 2010. In 2016, he was appointed Program Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Skilled Nursing Facility, and Therapeutic Recreation Services. He also serves as the hospital’s Safe Patient Handling Coordinator and as Director of the hospital’s chapter of the ThinkFirst Injury Prevention Program.
John earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Physical Therapy from the University of Scranton. He is the recipient of several honors, including the New York State Health Commissioner’s Excellence Award (2015) and the Rockland Economic Development Corporation’s Forty Under 40 Award (2013).
Specialty:
Spinal Cord Injury, Physical Therapy
Publications:
- Ficucello J, Lichtman S, Whalen J, Campo M. Evaluating the Perceived Competency of a Physical Therapist with a New Disability. Physical Therapy Journal of Policy, Administration and Leadership. November 2019. 19(4). 17-25.
