Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Rose Siazon.
Denise, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a first-generation Filipino-American, and I grew up in Sun Valley, CA, later moving to Santa Clarita Valley. My dad immigrated to the US in 1984 with little to no money, and my mom followed in 1989. I barely saw my parents growing up since they were always working to support my brother and me. I learned early on the meaning of sacrifice, unconditional love, and community. In middle school, I begged my parents to allow me to join the basketball and volleyball teams instead of staying in after-school childcare programs. That’s where my interest in an active lifestyle really began. I loved pushing myself mentally and physically to overcome tough situations and being part of a team with people who shared similar mindsets.
Throughout middle and high school, I saw several teammates tear their ACLs. Some returned to playing after a year of rehab, while others never got the chance to play again. This sparked my curiosity about the rehabilitation world—how to prevent injuries and successfully bounce back from them. During my time at UCSD, I interned and volunteered at orthopedic and neuro-based physical therapy clinics, where I fully grasped the impact of helping someone return to what they love. After undergrad, I pursued my Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of St. Augustine in San Marcos. Graduate school was tough—seven classes each term, three terms a year, and only two-week breaks in between. I graduated amidst the chaos of COVID in December 2020.
My first job was at a traditional outpatient physical therapy clinic, where I juggled multiple patients per hour. It didn’t take long to realize that this environment wasn’t where I would thrive. Experiencing burnout so early in my career, I chose to pivot. Six months later, I transitioned to a cash-based clinic, which allowed me to provide quality care to weekend warriors and semi-pro/pro athletes. I also provided physical therapy services to family and friends outside of work, falling in love with serving my direct community. In 2023, I took a three-month mentorship from Dr. Andy Chen, who sparked my curiosity about the opportunities and possibilities of starting my own practice. I dedicated the past year to making a name for myself and stepping into communities that fostered my growth. Shortly after, I launched my practice, Kaya Physical Therapy & Performance, and reached out to the people of Movement Society in Arts District, Los Angeles, to use their space. It was the best decision I ever made.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s definitely been a bumpy road. I like to think of myself as an underdog. It’s been a whole lot of proving to myself and others that I deserve to take up space. During undergrad, I switched my major twice within the first two years. There was a period where I considered transferring out of UCSD to improve my grades. After undergrad, I took a gap year and retook all my core classes to increase my chances of getting into PT school. I remember my clinical director telling me to forget about grad school because of my grades. I almost believed her. I applied to about ten schools, got waitlisted at two, and rejected by the rest. I emailed the two waitlisted schools, advocated for myself, gave them reasons why I should be accepted, and requested to be part of a different cohort. Luckily, one waitlist turned into an acceptance.
The physical therapy world is very white-male-dominated. I wholeheartedly believed that I constantly had to fight for my place and wage as a Filipino-American woman. My first job quickly shut down my ideas for community outreach and sports programs but gave a male coworker with a similar background the opportunity. My second job didn’t value individuality and made it clear that I was the minority. This is when I learned the importance of advocating for myself. As minorities, we’re taught to keep our heads down and grind hard, believing we’ll be rewarded. But that rarely holds true. Over the past two years, I’ve gotten better at understanding my worth, speaking my mind about what really matters to me, and standing by my values—even if people disagree.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Kaya originates from the Tagalog expression ‘Kaya mo yan,’ which translates to ‘you can do it, and you’re capable despite the obstacle.’ With KAYA Physical Therapy and Performance, I aim to empower clients during their rehab journey. I understand the mental and physical obstacles my clients face. Working through fear and pain daily for months is hard. It’s important for me to understand my clients’ why and what motivates them to keep showing up for themselves. I pride myself on making a true connection with my clients and helping them become their greatest athlete. I strongly believe that everyone has the potential to be an athlete—to push their mental and physical capacities to continue doing what they love for a long time.
My practice is based out of Movement Society in Arts District, Los Angeles. I’m a performance-based physical therapist specializing in rehabbing clients from post-surgery and significant injuries back to peak performance at all competitive levels. My clinical experience ranges from treating weekend warriors to seasoned pro/semi-pro athletes, dancers, adolescents, and geriatrics. I’ve taken numerous continuing education courses to keep up with new information and understand the body’s capabilities and demands of various lifestyles. Rehab is often too easy, and training is too hard for those dealing with injuries. I’m here to bridge the gap. I offer one hour of one-on-one care, including manual therapy, exercise, and neuromuscular re-education, along with an individualized home program. If you’re looking to improve your quality of life, get out of pain, and feel like yourself again, I want to help!
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Community and connection. I strongly believe I am who I’ve become because of the people I have surrounded myself with. Being able to connect through upbringings, values, hardships, and wins—big or small—makes us human.”
Community has always played a huge role in my life—from being raised by a village as a kid to having numerous support systems as an adult. I’ve always thrived off the energy of my community. I’m constantly reminded that we’re meant to go further together than as individuals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Kayaptp.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.dsiazon_dpt/
- Other: https://g.co/kgs/4BBhW6k
Image Credits
Eristheo Raif
Jojo Gonzalez
