Tom Nicolla has spent more than four decades helping shape physical therapy and rehabilitation services throughout New York’s Capital Region. Born and raised in Albany, Tom’s commitment to his community—and to making high-quality rehabilitation care more accessible—has been the driving force behind his career.
A standout football and track athlete at Christian Brothers Academy (CBA), Tom earned a track and field scholarship to Manhattan College. During his freshman and sophomore years, he competed at the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Track & Field Championships at Randall’s Island in New York City, earning first place in the discus. Ultimately, however, his interest in healthcare and helping others led him to leave collegiate athletics and pursue a degree in Physical Therapy at Ithaca College.
After graduation, Tom returned to the Albany area and began his career as a physical therapist at University Heights Nursing Home, a 200-bed facility. While continuing to practice physical therapy, he earned his nursing home administrator’s license and went on to serve as Administrator of University Heights. It was there that Tom developed the leadership philosophy, clinical perspective, and patient-centered approach that would shape the rest of his career.
Tom’s entrepreneurial spirit soon led him to establish a healthcare consulting business, which ultimately evolved into his own private physical therapy practice. Recognizing that patients needed greater access to quality rehabilitation services outside of Albany’s traditional hospital-based healthcare system, Tom began establishing locations that brought care closer to the communities they served.
In 1985, he opened his first physical therapy clinic in the Albany suburbs. At a time when much of the region’s medical care was concentrated within hospitals or centralized locations, Tom saw an opportunity to bring personalized, high-quality rehabilitation directly into the community, establishing numerous offices throughout the Capital District.
That first clinic became the foundation for what has grown into a comprehensive rehabilitation organization serving the Capital Region. Under Tom’s leadership, the practice expanded to include multiple outpatient physical and occupational therapy locations, a dedicated pediatric therapy practice, Work Hardening services, Hand & Upper Extremity Centers, Aquatic Therapy, and numerous specialty rehabilitation programs—all while maintaining the personalized, patient-first approach that has defined the practice from the beginning.
Throughout his career, Tom’s reach has extended well beyond his own clinics. He has been involved in the development, staffing, operations, consulting, and treatment at more than 48 facilities throughout Northeastern New York, spanning pediatric, subacute, acute care, and outpatient settings.
Today, one of Tom’s greatest sources of pride is working alongside his daughters as they continue to build upon the vision he established more than 40 years ago: providing exceptional, compassionate rehabilitation services and making quality care accessible to patients of all ages throughout the Capital Region.
When he’s not working, Tom’s favorite role is that of grandfather. He enjoys spending time with his growing family and takes tremendous pride in watching both his family and the practice continue to grow and thrive.
