Dr. Michelle Collie DPT, OCS

Dr. Michelle Collie joined Performance Physical Therapy in 2001 when the practice was just a single clinic in Pawtucket, RI. In 2003, when Michelle was eight months pregnant, she acquired Performance. Today, she continues to serve as its Chief Executive Officer.

Born and raised on a sheep farm in New Zealand, Michelle spent her childhood years training pet sheep, riding motorbikes, and eating enough lamb to last a lifetime. She attended college in New Zealand, earning a bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Otago. In 1995, she moved to the United States as part of an overseas program and worked at Memorial Hospital of RI while pursuing a Master of Science and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Massachusetts General Hospital’s Institute of Health Care Professionals. She is a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist.

Michelle is an American Physical Therapy Association member and a director on the Rhode Island APTA chapter’s board.  At a national level, she serves as the chair of the APTA’s PR and Marketing committee for private practice physical therapy. She often provides clinical instruction to physical therapists at a local and national level and has guest lectured to medical residents at Brown University. Though Performance Physical Therapy and Michelle have received several awards over the years for its business success and philanthropy, the highlight of Michelle's career was being the recipient of the American Physical Therapy Association’s 2014 National Private Practice of the Year award. This award is the most prestigious national award a practice can earn, and it’s given to a practice that celebrates innovation, community involvement and leading the way.

Michelle is active in many community organizations and non-profits in RI: She is the president of the Rhode Island Reach Out and Read Board of Trustees and is on the Board of Governors for the RI Hospital. She works with Crossroads, Girls on the Run, the Providence After School Alliance, the American Heart Foundation, and the Ronald McDonald House. Michelle has also served on the Brown/Guachipilincito, Shoulder to Shoulder board, on the Providence Children’s Museum board of trustees and the Multiple Sclerosis board of trustees. In 2012, in light of all the philanthropic work Performance does, Michelle and the team at Performance were awarded the Rhode Island Outstanding Philanthropic Business Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

When she’s not working, Michelle enjoys sharing good wine and laughter with her friends and family, and you can find her participating in just about any activity that involves water, snow or running. She lives in Providence with her husband and two kids, as well as their two dogs (Stella and Kai) and two cats (Milo and – don’t laugh - Slinky Malinky).

Michelle is a big believer in movement and exercising daily. “Daily exercise takes care of your body,” she says, “just like sleep, brushing your teeth, and good nutrition.”

Full list of awards  2004: MGH-IHP Ionta Award for Clinical Excellence

2006: Annual Distinguished Service Award and Private Practice Service Award from the Rhode Island APTA

2010: 40 under 40 honorees by Providence Business News

2012: Corporate Heroes Award from Reach Out and Read in Rhode Island

2012: Rhode Island Outstanding Philanthropic Business Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals

2014: Entrepreneurial Women to Watch Awardee by the Rhode Island Small Business Journal

2014: National Private Practice of the Year award by the American Physical Therapy Association.

2019: PASA Loyalty Award.

2019: APTA Board of Directors Service Award

Listen To Dr. Collie in the #BETTER #FASTER Podcast 

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