From the time Joe Anello ’16 was 14 years old he knew he wanted to become a physical therapist. After he tore his meniscus in high school wrestling and got back in shape thanks to the good care of a physical therapist, he knew it was the career he wanted to pursue. 

Today, the Caldwell biology alumnus has his own one-on-one physical therapy practice in Belleville, New Jersey with a specialty of doing home visits. After working for several years in an office with other physical therapists, Anello decided it was time to go out on his own, and he did so this past March.  

“The service that makes it different is that you really are hands-on the entire time,” said Anello of his practice. In other PT offices, he said, a therapist could be dealing with up to five patients at a time. “It’s not the best way to treat, so that is why I only do private sessions.” The patients, he believes, get better value with more manual treatment and hands-on therapy. “They don’t need to come three days a week,” which saves time and money, said Anello. 

From the time Anello began college at Caldwell, professors and advisors were helpful with his trajectory, telling him where he needed to be freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years to prepare for PT school. He especially liked knowing his Caldwell professors and peers. “I felt like I thrived because of that small, close setting.” 

After graduating from Caldwell he went directly to the doctoral program in physical therapy at Kean University where he also appreciated being in a small cohort. “It was just 25 of us and we were together the entire time,” said Anello. 

After receiving his doctorate he joined an outpatient orthopedic clinic and then started his own practice, working in the same office as a chiropractor. “Low back,” he said, is one area he likes helping people manage and heal.  “It is probably the thing that you see the most commonly, especially working with the chiropractor … I have the most experience with sciatica.” 

Anello and his wife recently welcomed their first baby, and now he is concentrating on having just one job.   

The days are long but it is good to help people rehab, regain their function and “get back to their life,” said Anello. It can be “something as simple” as helping people get up and walk to the bathroom or climb the stairs on their own, he explained. “It is rewarding to be able to be a part of getting them back … I couldn’t have picked a better career for myself. I’m happy.”