Tom Naro
Doctor of Physical Therapy, Owner, My PT; Age 37; Education: Springfield College (MS), A.T. Still University (tDPT)
As a doctor of physical therapy frustrated by restrictions created by health-insurance companies that hindered the care and recovery of his patients, Naro created a new business model focused on patient-based care. He takes the time to holistically evaluate a client and teaches preventive measures to avoid the recurrence of the issue, all the while focused on the treatment of the discomfort, ailment, condition, or injury. My PT has evolved from house calls to a brick-and-mortar location in Southwick. Among his civic work, he’s been instrumental in the success of a bowling fundraiser in memory of a childhood friend to benefit the Westfield Baseball League and the Babe Ruth League of Westfield, and he has begun to connect to Friends of the Southwick Rail Trail.
Tom Naro
What did you want to be when you grew up? I always wanted to be a doctor, but in the fourth grade, I wanted to be a cardiologist.
What three words best describe you? Compassionate, understanding, visionary.
What’s been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career? Opening a custom physical-therapy clinic for My PT in 2019.
What are you passionate about? Helping others be better healers for themselves.
What do you do for fun? Being outdoors hiking, golfing, or going to rock concerts.
How do you relieve stress? Exercise by stretching, running, cycling, or practicing kicks.
What actor would play you in a movie about your life? Nicolas Cage.
Who inspires you, and why? My mom because, as a nurse, she cared for thousands of patients at Holyoke Medical Center. She worked throughout her parenting life because she wanted to provide for her family and her children’s future.
What person, past or present, would you like to have lunch with, and why? My grandmother, my mother’s mom, because we had lunches together when I was young. She passed away when I was 6 years old. I was too young to have an adult conversation with her. She would make tuna sandwiches with potato chips between the slices of bread, and for dessert, she made an angel-food cake that was perfectly sweet and airy. I’d like to hear her talk about her life and any pearls of wisdom she had to offer.
