Tori Marchese, PT, PhD is the chair of the Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science.

She has over 25 years of clinical experience in pediatric physical therapy. Dr. Marchese, joined the UMSOM faculty in 2014. She is an award-winning scholar and clinical expert with a focus on the rehabilitation of children diagnosed with cancer.

As an active investigator, Dr. Marchese has been funded by the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Foundation for Physical Therapy, the Dr. Gladys E. Wadsworth Physical Therapy Research Fund and many others.  Dr. Marchese’s work investigates pediatric physical therapy interventions and physiologic mechanisms that contribute to functional outcomes and quality of life in children with leukemia, sarcoma, and sickle cell disease.

She has authored numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed articles in the area of assessment and physical therapy intervention for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lower-extremity sarcoma. She has received many awards for both her research and clinical work in pediatric cancer care and physical therapy and has presented nationally and internationally.