Meet The Clinic Owner
Kelli Gallagher
Who Is Kelli Gallagher, Founder of Sisu Physical Therapy?
Sisu Physical Therapy was founded by Dr. Kelli Gallagher, a South Jersey native whose connection to movement, sport, and the local community goes back long before she became a physical therapist.
Kelli grew up just around the corner from our Washington Township clinic in Sicklerville, New Jersey. Sports were a big part of her life from an early age, whether she was playing basketball and softball or street hockey with friends.
That love of being active continued into adulthood and eventually became a major influence on her career.
For Kelli, physical therapy has always been about much more than treating an injury.
She sees herself as a human movement consultant, someone who helps people understand their bodies, improve the way they move, and continue doing the things that give their lives purpose.
That perspective was shaped by her own experiences as an athlete, but also by what she saw while working in healthcare.
Kelli spent time in both high-volume physical therapy clinics and acute hospital settings. She saw how difficult it could be to give people the attention they needed when clinicians were moving between multiple patients. In the hospital, she also encountered people in their 50s and 60s whose health and mobility had deteriorated to the point where everyday movement had become extremely difficult.
Those experiences strengthened her belief in being proactive about movement, strength, and staying active throughout life.
Why Kelli Created Sisu Physical Therapy
In 2020, Kelli decided to create the kind of physical therapy experience she wanted people in her community to have.
Starting a business during a pandemic shutdown might not have been the conventional choice, but Sisu Physical Therapy began with a simple setup in the lobby of a local CrossFit gym.
Kelli focused on providing one-on-one care and noticed how much could be accomplished when she had the time to listen, understand someone’s goals, and focus completely on the person in front of her.
That small beginning eventually grew into the standalone Washington Township clinic we have today.
Our goal remains rooted in the same philosophy: help people move, feel, live, and play better.
Kelli’s connection to the community extends well beyond the clinic.
She is a lifelong Philadelphia sports fan, supporting the Phillies, Sixers, Eagles, and Flyers, and is already excited for Philadelphia’s WNBA team arriving in 2030.
She is also part of the Philadelphia Mummers and serves as captain of the Hegeman String Band, participating in events throughout the year and, of course, the famous New Year’s Day Mummers Parade.
Then there’s roller derby.
Kelli previously competed as “Penny Fastlane” with South Jersey Roller Derby. That experience has given her a particular appreciation for working with derby athletes and understanding just how important staying on skates can be when a sport is also a community.
Helping People Keep Playing Life
Today, that idea of community is at the heart of what we’re building at Sisu.
We work with people who want to keep moving, whether that means CrossFit, HYROX, running a 5K, playing pickleball or golf, skating with their roller derby team, or keeping up with their kids and grandkids.
For Kelli, the bigger picture is helping people stay connected to whatever makes them feel most like themselves.
Because when someone becomes stronger, more active, and more confident in what their body can do, the impact can extend far beyond our clinic.
That’s what Kelli set out to create in 2020, and it continues to shape Sisu Physical Therapy today.