Her Story
About Lyanne
Lyanne M. Rivera Velez, PT, DPT is a bilingual pediatric physical therapist and healthcare leader with a passion for improving the lives of children and their families through compassionate, patient-centered care. Originally from Puerto Rico, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Sciences and later completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the Universidad de Puerto Rico. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she relocated to Florida, where she completed her professional training and launched her career in pediatric rehabilitation. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Dr. Rivera Velez is dedicated to providing individualized treatment plans that address the unique developmental and functional needs of each child.
Following graduation, Dr. Rivera Velez began her career in pediatric physical therapy in the Orlando area, gaining valuable experience in private practice with First Step Therapy. There, she specialized in pediatric rehabilitation techniques, including the Universal Exercise Unit, TheraSuit Method, and intensive pediatric therapy programs. Her commitment to clinical excellence led her to pursue advanced training in Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI), further strengthening her expertise in helping children improve mobility, strength, and functional independence. She also contributed to academic research through her publication examining the inclusion of children and youth with Down syndrome in sports programs in Puerto Rico.
Today, Dr. Rivera Velez serves as Pediatric Clinical Supervisor at AdventHealth Sports Medicine & Pediatric Rehabilitation East Orlando, where she leads and mentors pediatric therapists while advancing the organization's mission and vision. She is passionate about fostering professional growth among clinicians and ensuring families receive exceptional, evidence-based care. An active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, she is currently pursuing her Pediatric Clinical Specialist (PCS) certification to further expand her impact within the profession. Guided by values of empathy, integrity, authenticity, and service, Dr. Rivera Velez remains committed to helping children achieve their fullest potential while supporting the families who care for them.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lyanne
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say determination and always striving to be better. I use the phrase always, 'Today I'm gonna be 1% better than yesterday.' And it's not easy, right? Not every day is rainbows and colors, but I think determination and just being better is what really pushes me.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say that it doesn't matter at the end of the day which career you choose, or which job you decide to choose, as long as it fills your heart and it's a field that you feel a call to, that you feel proud of, and that you really like what you're gonna do. I know it sounds cheesy to say, but I don't think it's good to go into something that you really don't love. I also think it's important to give time to yourself to explore what things you like, and not necessarily just think, 'Oh, this is the only thing in the world.' Because there's so many things that we can do in careers, but it's important that it's something that you like and that fills your heart.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think one of the biggest opportunities in my field is providing more education for our parents, the parents of our kiddos that we see in our clinic. It's about guiding them through either a new diagnosis, or just having someone to talk to when they need it the most. That's also a big challenge as well, because as physical therapists working one-on-one with patients, Medicaid and sometimes our administration are trying to cut the time that we spend with the patient. I think that one-on-one connection is very important for the care that we provide for them, and that actually improves our outcomes and how fast the patient can be discharged. So I would say those are the two biggest challenges and opportunities.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think empathy and sympathy are definitely very important, especially at work, and having compassion for those families. Being authentic and just being who I am at any time is also important to me. I also think that integrity is really important. And spirituality, because at the end of the day, sometimes I find myself praying for those patients that I don't have an idea what I'm gonna do next, but I always say that I'm gonna figure it out.
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