Monica Arrigo

Monica Arrigo serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the MGH Institute of Health Professions' School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. She is a core member of the Clinical Education Team and maintains active clinical practice on a per diem basis at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Cambridge, MA, specializing in oncology rehabilitation and complex medical patient populations.

Her educational background includes:

• BS in Health Science from Boston University
• MS in Physical Therapy from Boston University
• DPT from Simmons College

Dr. Arrigo's research focuses on transformative clinical education models, particularly in developing the affective domain for physical therapy students. Her work pioneers empathy training through Balint groups, cross-cultural mentoring frameworks for minoritized students, and holistic student support systems. Clinically, she is an expert in cancer rehabilitation outcomes and neurological recovery, complemented by her certification as a Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga Instructor where she developed Spaulding Cambridge's inpatient yoga program for medically complex patients.

Her 2021-2024 publications reveal a concentrated scholarly trajectory toward integrating emotional intelligence with clinical competence, addressing fatigue management in cancer rehabilitation, and creating inclusive educational structures that foster belonging for diverse student populations through culturally responsive mentorship.

Scientific awards: None documented in available sources.

As an educator, Dr. Arrigo mentors both DPT students and clinical instructors through innovative frameworks that build cross-cultural capital and address systemic barriers. Her clinical education models focus on longitudinal student support, affective domain development, and bridging classroom learning with real-world rehabilitation challenges across the continuum of care.

She directs Spaulding Cambridge's therapeutic chair yoga program, which serves as an evidence-based intervention for inpatients with mobility limitations, and collaborates with the Clinical Education Faculty to implement novel training models that enhance perspective-taking across rehabilitation settings.