Kristina Osorio DPT ’25 beginning physical therapy career with Philadelphia Phillies organization

Professional athletes develop their talents by building their skills over the years and putting them into practice at all levels of competition. The same can be said for the support teams who make sure those athletes can perform when called upon. 

Kristina Osorio is on one of those teams. 

Like most professional athletes, Osorio is starting at the ground level with the rookie league, minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, who play in the Florida Complex League (FCL). On the baseball fields and training rooms of Clearwater, the 2025 graduate is combining her background as an athlete and athletic trainer with what she learned in the Physical Therapy program at the MGH Institute. 

A collegiate softball player herself, Osorio’s interest in sports medicine began after taking a first aid and safety class in high school. Knowing she wanted to stay in sports after her playing career, she earned her athletic training degree and worked as a high school athletic trainer for four years before exploring where else her interests and skills could take her.

“I wanted to advance my career and expand my knowledge on the best forms of practice in sports medicine and sports injury rehabilitation,” explained Osorio. 

When she decided to pursue her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, the location, facilities, faculty, and research focus influenced her choice of the MGH Institute. 

“There were a lot of factors in my decision. First, I had never lived outside of Florida, and I wanted to live in a new city,” explained Osorio, who also received a scholarship from the Institute. “The institute itself was a selling point on what it could offer me academically with the highly acclaimed faculty who are the best in their field. I also wanted to dive into the world of research and see if that was something that sparked my interest. When I learned about our integrated capstone experience during our second year, I knew that it would provide me the opportunity to grow in that area.”

Osorio found that even the non-sports-related knowledge she gained was valuable to her professional goals.

“It broadened my clinical horizons and helped me tackle new challenges,” noted Osorio. “Learning more about diagnoses outside of orthopedics, I have been able to utilize different rehabilitation techniques in a way where I can implement them with an athletic case. My education at the IHP also allowed me to feel comfortable utilizing available research for cases I may have trouble with as a new grad, orthopedic, or non-orthopedic based.”

Following her graduation in January, Osorio applied to several positions in Major League Baseball and the National Football League. After interviewing with several teams, Osorio began her current position in April.

“I work one-on-one with these athletes daily on short-term rehabilitations, treatments, first aid, and emergency care,” said Osorio. “I am in constant communication with our on-site physical therapists, strength and conditioning, dietitians, and our coaching staff.”

She brings a unique perspective as a former athlete who understands both the athletic training and physical therapy aspects of working with athletes. 

“This role has shown me how athletic training and physical therapy look at this level and gave me the opportunity to combine both of my skillsets as an athletic trainer and physical therapist into my role as a clinician,” said Osorio. “I understand more of what it takes to be one of our athletes and how to get them back onto the field quickly. Because of the intensity in professional sports, it’s important to stay composed under pressure and use the best practices and interventions to safely return these athletes back on the field.”

This role has also involved work outside of the training room, including assisting players on trips to medical visits in Philadelphia, acclimating incoming draft picks to the lifestyle, and explaining to athletes how they will be working with the staff. 

“It allows you to build a more personal relationship with the players and you gain an understanding of the athlete as a person,” said Osorio, who can communicate with the athletes in both English and Spanish. “A lot of our players on the Rookie-level affiliate team are from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, so we are always speaking Spanish in the training room while they are learning English. It has helped me gain a new perspective on how to help and treat different populations and cultural backgrounds.”

Since the FCL Phillies’ season ended, Osorio has been working with players, new draftees, the Single-A affiliate (the Clearwater Thrashers), and will be going to the Dominican Republic to work with the Phillies’ academy there. She has also been working with the physical therapy department and gaining insight into what working in that capacity and lifestyle are like. 

“I am finding my way within professional athletics and seeing what that looks like for me,” said reflected. “While I knew this role was based for an entry-level athletic trainer, I saw it as an opportunity to continue learning, and it has allowed me to perform and experience things I wouldn’t have been able to if I hadn’t accepted this role. Whether I stay in the MLB or not, this has provided me a great outlook on what being a clinician at this level looks like and confirmed that this is the career I truly aspire to have.” 

For those who will be graduating from the PT program soon, she suggests taking a similar approach. 

“Keep pursuing opportunities after graduation and always take on whatever challenges you may face head-on as it'll just shape you into a better clinician,” she advised. “You never know what doors will open, and even if it is not your ideal door, walk through it and see what’s on the other side. You never know what could come of it.”