Nancy is a pediatric physical therapist and outdoor enthusiast living and working in Colorado. She has run nearly 40 marathons and ultra-marathons and appreciates the fact that trail running is a sport where it’s cool to bring your own assistive device (aka her trusty hiking poles…or sometimes even her crutches!) Even though she is not as fast as she used to be and has to spend WAY more time strengthening and cross-training than she’d prefer to keep her hips spry, she is always on the quest to challenge herself physically and mentally. When she is not working, doing physical therapy, or spending time on the trails, Nancy enjoys traveling to spend time with family and friends (especially her adorable nieces), snuggling with her kitties and pup, planning life adventures, and finding the best coffee and pastry shops wherever her travels take her.
Nancy was diagnosed with hip dysplasia in 2014. She has undergone more than a dozen surgical procedures to improve her hip pain and function in addition to embracing non-operative management strategies as well.
Nancy founded Miles4Hips in 2018 when she prepared to run her first 100-mile ultra marathon and used her experience to raise awareness about hip dysplasia and the Internation Hip Dysplasia Institute. Miles4Hips was never meant to be more than a one-time event, but Nancy is beyond thrilled that it has turned into an entire patient-driven movement, fueled by passionate patients, families, friends, advocates, and healthcare providers who collectively strive to improve the experience and outcomes for individuals with hip dysplasia through advocacy and awareness.
Nancy earned her Doctor of Health Science from Drexel University in 2023 where her dissertation research project explored patient decision-making around periacetabular osteotomy surgery. Nancy has had the opportunity to present on the role of the active patient on the hip preservation team at the Hip Preservation Society annual meeting and has been proud to represent Miles4Hips at several other international meetings highlighting the work of hip dysplasia researchers and advocates from around the world.
To hear more about Nancy’s experiences running with hip dysplasia, her research related to hip dysplasia, or the Miles4Hips journey, read her Bear 100/Original Miles4Hips event blog or listen to some of her podcast interviews:
