Dr. Ellie Somers writes, “I AM AN ATHLETE, LICENSED PHYSICAL THERAPIST AND A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR BETTER CARE, PARTICULARLY FOR WOMEN. I am tired of the status quo and am actively seeking to defy gender limitations and biases in healthcare and fitness. My hope is to empower, foster autonomy and fearlessness, and to help people discover resilience in the healing process.” Ellie owns a business in Seattle, WA called Sisu Sports Performance & PT, where she focuses on work with female runners and athletes. Questions we ask Ellie include: How did your own athletic background and experience with injury lead to your choice to pursue a career in physical therapy? What are the main differences between an athletic trainer and physical therapist? You wrote a post titled “3 Common Pitfalls of Runners.” Can you share with us more about what these are and how to prevent / address them? What do you see as the most vital components to recovering from and preventing injury, particularly for female runners? (strength training, core work, recovery, nutrition, etc). General advice and words of wisdom for someone recovering from injury? What are some tips you would give someone interested in pursuing physical therapy? Connect with Ellie: Website: https://sisuperformancept.com Instagram: @drelliesomers