Peter Modera is a physical therapist and board-certified orthopedic specialist who brings his experiences in athletics and neuroscience research to help patients with their movement goals. He has particular expertise in treating concussions, vestibular issues, vertigo, and Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders, and he focuses on using manual therapy to help get people moving well over time.
Modera began his academic career studying biology at Wesleyan University, where he also played football and lacrosse. His experience caring for his own body as a college athlete led to his interest in the physical side of health care. “I wanted to heal people and help them live better,” Modera says.
After graduating, Modera initially pursued neuroscience research to understand better where pain came from. He worked for a neuropathologist at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, completed a research fellowship with medical students in Turkey, and then worked for several years at the Brain Trauma Foundation. Modera and his colleagues at the Brain Trauma Foundation worked to develop an objective measure for concussions using eye tracking and other technology so that clinicians could intervene earlier when someone experienced a brain injury.
Modera decided he wanted to complement his neuroscience background with a hands-on approach. “I love the science of the brain, but when it came to the day-to-day work of helping people, I realized I love the orthopedic components,” he says. “Everyone has a nervous system and the better you understand it, the better you can treat an orthopedic condition.”
Modera earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy from University of Miami, where he also completed a year-long orthopedic residency program.
Modera then worked at and led multiple physical therapy practices in Florida, where he got to help patients reach their goals and learn about the mechanisms that were allowing them to get there. Educating people on the strategies they’re using to improve their performance is crucial, Modera says.
“If you understand why you’re doing something, you are going to be much more motivated and that’s going to help you in the long run,” he says. “I always tell people, ‘I’m going to show your body how to heal itself. I’ll show you the path, but you have to walk it.’ That gives them a locus of control and helps them to heal themselves.”
Modera has seen patients who come from a diverse array of ages and backgrounds. He enjoys listening to each person to find the difficulties they are dealing with and then recommending a personalized course of action appropriate to their situation. Often, it’s the seemingly small milestones that can make the biggest difference. “For me, the most rewarding part is when someone comes in excited about something you taught them to do. It could be something as simple as someone with a rotator cuff problem being able to brush their hair with their injured arm that morning,” he says.
Atria’s preventive focus allows Modera to combine his personalized attention with proactive guidance. Modera enjoys using cutting-edge technology to examine each patient’s movement and establish a baseline from which they can work together.
“Being able to use some of the most up-to-date technology with AI motion capture, force plates, dynamometers, and more lets us see how you move and then ask how we can improve on that,” Modera says. “We’re proactive, not reactive.”
In addition to his physical therapy training, Modera is certified in dry needling, a treatment used to address muscle issues and chronic pain. He and his wife maintain a very active lifestyle, regularly competing in beach volleyball tournaments and going on hikes with their two children and their Border Collie, Dunia.
Credentials
- Board-Certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist
- Former Clinical DirectorAthlete Restoration Company
- Former Lead Physical TherapistAthlete Restoration Company
- Former Clinical DirectorAries Physical Therapy
- Former Physical TherapistAries Physical Therapy
- Former Physical Therapy ResidentUniversity of Miami Orthopedic Residency
- Former Graduate AssistantUniversity of Miami Neuroscience Department
- Former Senior Research AssociateBrain Trauma Foundation
- Former Neurotrama FellowshipBrain Trauma Foundation
- Former Neuropathology Research AssistantUCSF Medical Center
- Former Visiting Research FellowDokuz Eylul University Hospital in Turkey
Affiliations
- MemberAmerican Physical Therapy Association
- MemberAcademy of Neurologic Physical Therapy
Meet Our Doctors
Dr. David W. Dodick
Chief Science & Medical Officer, Atria; Co-Director, Atria Academy of Science & Medicine
Dr. Paul G. Lee
Co-Chair of International Executive Health; Internal Medicine
Dr. Richard S. Isaacson
Director of the Atria Precision Prevention Program
Dr. Lawrence C. Newman
Director of the Atria Brain Health Program
Dr. Jennifer Buczyner
Neurology
Dr. Caleb Moore
Medical Director of Atria Palm Beach; Internal Medicine
Dr. Laura Balda
Site Director of Atria Palm Beach; Family Medicine
Dr. Jaime Burkle
Chair of Cardiology
Dr. Benjamin H. Lewis
Director of Research & Atria Registry; Cardiology
Dr. Rony Shimony
Director of Cardiology, Atria New York; Co-Chair of International Executive Health
Dr. Gabrielle Page-Wilson
Director of Endocrinology & Metabolic Health; Internal Medicine
Dr. Jahangir Rahman
Internal Medicine
Dr. Jennifer McGugins Hill
Internal Medicine
Dr. Edward J. Greaney
Internal Medicine
Dr. Yadiera M. Brown
Family Medicine
Dr. Paul Fenyves
Internal Medicine
Dr. Daniel Yadegar
Internal Medicine; Cardiology
Dr. Bernard M. Kruger
Internal Medicine
Dr. Daniel Angerbauer
Preventive Medicine
Robert Kachko
Director of Integrative Health | ND, LAc
Dr. Nicholas D. Caputo
Director of Urgent & Home Care, Atria New York
Dr. Alex Heromin
Director of Urgent & Home Care, Atria Palm Beach; Emergency Medicine
Dr. Evelyn C. Granieri
Director of Geriatrics
Dr. Elizabeth Poynor
Chair of Women’s Health & Gynecology
Dr. Roberta Reilly
Gynecology
Dr. Panta Rouhani Schaffer
Dermatology
Kyle O’Flaherty
Director of Movement | DPT
Jonathan Filipe
Movement | DPT
Will Sands
Movement | MSc
Peter Modera
Movement | PT, DPT
Adam Ross
Nutrition | RD
Sunny Bozymski
Nutrition | MS, RD
Christina Schreckengaust
Nutrition | MPH, RD, CMDR (USN)
Dr. Kelly Fradin
Chair of Pediatrics; Chair of Home Services
Dr. Hina J. Talib
Director of Adolescent Medicine; Co-Director of Pediatrics, Atria New York
Dr. Cory Kercher
Director of Pediatrics, Atria New York
Dr. Amish Nishawala
Pediatrics
Dr. Robyn Rosenblum
Pediatrics
Dr. Kersha S. Pennicott
Pediatrics & Urgent Care
Dr. Samira Brown
Director of Pediatrics, Atria South Florida
Dr. Petra McEwan
Pediatrics
Dr. David W. Dodick
Chief Science & Medical Officer, Atria; Co-Director, Atria Academy of Science & Medicine
Dr. Paul G. Lee
Co-Chair of International Executive Health; Internal Medicine
Dr. Richard S. Isaacson
Director of the Atria Precision Prevention Program
Dr. Lawrence C. Newman
Director of the Atria Brain Health Program
Dr. Jennifer Buczyner
Neurology
Dr. Caleb Moore
Medical Director of Atria Palm Beach; Internal Medicine
Dr. Laura Balda
Site Director of Atria Palm Beach; Family Medicine
Dr. Jaime Burkle
Chair of Cardiology
Dr. Benjamin H. Lewis
Director of Research & Atria Registry; Cardiology
Dr. Rony Shimony
Director of Cardiology, Atria New York; Co-Chair of International Executive Health
Dr. Gabrielle Page-Wilson
Director of Endocrinology & Metabolic Health; Internal Medicine
Dr. Jahangir Rahman
Internal Medicine
Dr. Jennifer McGugins Hill
Internal Medicine
Dr. Edward J. Greaney
Internal Medicine
Dr. Yadiera M. Brown
Family Medicine
Dr. Paul Fenyves
Internal Medicine
Dr. Daniel Yadegar
Internal Medicine; Cardiology
Dr. Bernard M. Kruger
Internal Medicine
Dr. Daniel Angerbauer
Preventive Medicine
Robert Kachko
Director of Integrative Health | ND, LAc
Dr. Nicholas D. Caputo
Director of Urgent & Home Care, Atria New York
Dr. Alex Heromin
Director of Urgent & Home Care, Atria Palm Beach; Emergency Medicine
Dr. Evelyn C. Granieri
Director of Geriatrics
Dr. Elizabeth Poynor
Chair of Women’s Health & Gynecology
Dr. Roberta Reilly
Gynecology
Dr. Panta Rouhani Schaffer
Dermatology
Kyle O’Flaherty
Director of Movement | DPT
Jonathan Filipe
Movement | DPT
Will Sands
Movement | MSc
Peter Modera
Movement | PT, DPT
Adam Ross
Nutrition | RD
Sunny Bozymski
Nutrition | MS, RD
Christina Schreckengaust
Nutrition | MPH, RD, CMDR (USN)
Dr. Kelly Fradin
Chair of Pediatrics; Chair of Home Services
Dr. Hina J. Talib
Director of Adolescent Medicine; Co-Director of Pediatrics, Atria New York
Dr. Cory Kercher
Director of Pediatrics, Atria New York
Dr. Amish Nishawala
Pediatrics
Dr. Robyn Rosenblum
Pediatrics
Dr. Kersha S. Pennicott
Pediatrics & Urgent Care
Dr. Samira Brown
Director of Pediatrics, Atria South Florida
Dr. Petra McEwan
Pediatrics
001 /
Dr. David W. Dodick
Chief Science & Medical Officer, Atria; Co-Director, Atria Academy of Science & Medicine
Dr. Paul G. Lee
Co-Chair of International Executive Health; Internal Medicine
Dr. Richard S. Isaacson
Director of the Atria Precision Prevention Program
Dr. Lawrence C. Newman
Director of the Atria Brain Health Program
Dr. Jennifer Buczyner
Neurology
Dr. Caleb Moore
Medical Director of Atria Palm Beach; Internal Medicine
Dr. Laura Balda
Site Director of Atria Palm Beach; Family Medicine
Dr. Jaime Burkle
Chair of Cardiology
Dr. Benjamin H. Lewis
Director of Research & Atria Registry; Cardiology
Dr. Rony Shimony
Director of Cardiology, Atria New York; Co-Chair of International Executive Health
Dr. Gabrielle Page-Wilson
Director of Endocrinology & Metabolic Health; Internal Medicine
Dr. Jahangir Rahman
Internal Medicine
Dr. Jennifer McGugins Hill
Internal Medicine
Dr. Edward J. Greaney
Internal Medicine
Dr. Yadiera M. Brown
Family Medicine
Dr. Paul Fenyves
Internal Medicine
Dr. Daniel Yadegar
Internal Medicine; Cardiology
Dr. Bernard M. Kruger
Internal Medicine
Dr. Daniel Angerbauer
Preventive Medicine
Robert Kachko
Director of Integrative Health | ND, LAc
Dr. Nicholas D. Caputo
Director of Urgent & Home Care, Atria New York
Dr. Alex Heromin
Director of Urgent & Home Care, Atria Palm Beach; Emergency Medicine
Dr. Evelyn C. Granieri
Director of Geriatrics
Dr. Elizabeth Poynor
Chair of Women’s Health & Gynecology
Dr. Roberta Reilly
Gynecology
Dr. Panta Rouhani Schaffer
Dermatology
Kyle O’Flaherty
Director of Movement | DPT
Jonathan Filipe
Movement | DPT
Will Sands
Movement | MSc
Peter Modera
Movement | PT, DPT
Adam Ross
Nutrition | RD
Sunny Bozymski
Nutrition | MS, RD
Christina Schreckengaust
Nutrition | MPH, RD, CMDR (USN)
Dr. Kelly Fradin
Chair of Pediatrics; Chair of Home Services
Dr. Hina J. Talib
Director of Adolescent Medicine; Co-Director of Pediatrics, Atria New York
Dr. Cory Kercher
Director of Pediatrics, Atria New York
Dr. Amish Nishawala
Pediatrics
Dr. Robyn Rosenblum
Pediatrics
Dr. Kersha S. Pennicott
Pediatrics & Urgent Care
Dr. Samira Brown
Director of Pediatrics, Atria South Florida
Dr. Petra McEwan
Pediatrics
Dr. David W. Dodick
Chief Science & Medical Officer, Atria; Co-Director, Atria Academy of Science & Medicine
Dr. Paul G. Lee
Co-Chair of International Executive Health; Internal Medicine
Dr. Richard S. Isaacson
Director of the Atria Precision Prevention Program
Dr. Lawrence C. Newman
Director of the Atria Brain Health Program
Dr. Jennifer Buczyner
Neurology
Dr. Caleb Moore
Medical Director of Atria Palm Beach; Internal Medicine
Dr. Laura Balda
Site Director of Atria Palm Beach; Family Medicine
Dr. Jaime Burkle
Chair of Cardiology
Dr. Benjamin H. Lewis
Director of Research & Atria Registry; Cardiology
Dr. Rony Shimony
Director of Cardiology, Atria New York; Co-Chair of International Executive Health
Dr. Gabrielle Page-Wilson
Director of Endocrinology & Metabolic Health; Internal Medicine
Dr. Jahangir Rahman
Internal Medicine
Dr. Jennifer McGugins Hill
Internal Medicine
Dr. Edward J. Greaney
Internal Medicine
Dr. Yadiera M. Brown
Family Medicine
Dr. Paul Fenyves
Internal Medicine
Dr. Daniel Yadegar
Internal Medicine; Cardiology
Dr. Bernard M. Kruger
Internal Medicine
Dr. Daniel Angerbauer
Preventive Medicine
Robert Kachko
Director of Integrative Health | ND, LAc
Dr. Nicholas D. Caputo
Director of Urgent & Home Care, Atria New York
Dr. Alex Heromin
Director of Urgent & Home Care, Atria Palm Beach; Emergency Medicine
Dr. Evelyn C. Granieri
Director of Geriatrics
Dr. Elizabeth Poynor
Chair of Women’s Health & Gynecology
Dr. Roberta Reilly
Gynecology
Dr. Panta Rouhani Schaffer
Dermatology
Kyle O’Flaherty
Director of Movement | DPT
Jonathan Filipe
Movement | DPT
Will Sands
Movement | MSc
Peter Modera
Movement | PT, DPT
Adam Ross
Nutrition | RD
Sunny Bozymski
Nutrition | MS, RD
Christina Schreckengaust
Nutrition | MPH, RD, CMDR (USN)
Dr. Kelly Fradin
Chair of Pediatrics; Chair of Home Services
Dr. Hina J. Talib
Director of Adolescent Medicine; Co-Director of Pediatrics, Atria New York
Dr. Cory Kercher
Director of Pediatrics, Atria New York
Dr. Amish Nishawala
Pediatrics
Dr. Robyn Rosenblum
Pediatrics
Dr. Kersha S. Pennicott
Pediatrics & Urgent Care
Dr. Samira Brown
Director of Pediatrics, Atria South Florida
Dr. Petra McEwan
Pediatrics
