Dr. Erika Blanck is passionate about dance medicine, Pilates-based rehabilitation, and education on the human body and physical activity. She impacts her patients, students, and people in the community to lead better, healthier lives.
Erika first began her collegiate experience at Central Michigan University (CMU), where she majored in sports medicine, was a dancer for the Orchesis Dance Theatre Company, and graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor’s of Science. Soon after graduating from CMU, Erika became a certified athletic trainer and has worked with various high school and collegiate athletes and dancers. Then in 2001, she moved to Columbia, SC to pursue her Doctorate degree in physical therapy at the University of South Carolina. At USC, she focused on orthopedics, human anatomy, pedagogy, dance medicine and Pilates-based rehabilitation. After receiving her Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in 2005, she became a licensed physical therapist and an Assistant Professor for the School of Medicine at USC.
Erika’s main responsibility at USC is to develop tomorrow’s doctors, physical therapists, and other health care professionals. She is one of the core instructors for the Human Medical Embryology & Gross Anatomy course taught to first-year medical and doctor of physical therapy students. She also instructs in other various medical education and graduate courses with emphasis on anatomy, physical functioning, aging, and the impact of exercise. Her research interests include human anatomy, pedagogy, physical functioning & activity, balance & proprioception, vitamin D, and dance medicine.
Erika is one of our most sought after instructors. Her knowledge, experience, and dynamic personality make learning fun.