Dr. Massery received her BS in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University in 1977, her DPT from the University of the Pacific in 2004, and her DSc from Rocky Mountain University in 2011. Her publications and interest focuses on linking motor behaviors to breathing and/or postural mechanics in both pediatric and adult patient populations.  Dr. Massery has been invited to give over 700 professional presentations in 48 US states, 9 Canadian provinces, and 10 countries worldwide. 

Mary’s DSc research was conducted under the guidance of world renowned PT researcher, Dr. Paul Hodges, Director of the NHMRC Centre for Clinical Research at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, as well as Dr. Victoria Moerchen (University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee) and Dr. Marshall Hagins (Long Island University, NY, NY).  The aim of Mary’s research was to establish a link between the glottis (upper airway) and postural stability (balance).  Clinically, Mary is known for her multi-system approach to analyzing motor dysfunction; recognizing the interactions between the cardiovascular-pulmonary, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, integumentary and internal organ systems, and determining which system is the primary deterrent to optimal motor function and which system is likely a consequence of those interactions.

Professional Highlights:  In 2002, Dr. Massery received the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) highest clinical award: The Florence Kendall Practice Award, honoring one’s "outstanding and enduring contributions to the practice of physical therapy."   In 2004, Mary was the invited international speaker on cystic fibrosis at the Royal Society of Medicine in London, England.  In 2005, she was a keynote speaker for the annual Australian & New Zealand Spinal Cord Injury Conference in Brisbane, Australia. Dr. Massery presented the sole pre-conference program in 2006 at the 29th Annual European Cystic Fibrosis Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, and in 2007, she was a keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists in Galway, Ireland.  Mary was awarded and presented the APTA’s honorary 2009 Linda Crane Memorial Lecture at the annual Combined Sections Meeting in Las Vegas, and in 2010 she presented a pre-conference course and keynote address at The 26th Annual International Seating Symposium in Vancouver, Canada. 

Back in Chicago, Mary has conducted year-long multi-disciplined pulmonary mentorship programs at 3 large Chicago hospitals. She continues to teach in the PT curriculum at several universities, to conduct clinical research, to consult at numerous Chicago area hospitals, schools and clinics, as well as to maintain a private practice, specializing in ventilation and postural dysfunction.

Read a one-page overview of Mary’s breakout session “Posture and Pain: Can’t We Deal With This Later?”, at the Cystic Fibrosis Research, Inc’s 2010 National CF Family Education Conference; written by Shelby Cass, in the CFRI news (Fall 2010 issue, page 5). Click here for the article.

Dr. Massery's private practice was featured on the cover of the American Physical Therapy Association's national magazine in July 2006as part of a larger story on cardiovascular & pulmonary PT practices. Click here for the whole article.

Read a full page commentary of Mary’s “If You Can’t Breathe, You Can’t Function” continuing education course by Jackie Comeault, PT, in the Canadian Physiotherapy Association Manitoba Branch Newsletter of June 2005 (volume 15, issue 4, page 4).

DVD AVAILABLE: Respiratory Management of the Patient With Quadriplegia,

an educational DVD written by Mary Massery, PT and Frederick Schneider, MEd, PT at
the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Released in 1999 and reformatted for DVD in
2005 (Click here for full description). Download order form to purchase DVD by check
or credit card.