Artist Healthcare Support
Professional care for our artists and employees
Ballet Austin works to solicit and secure healthcare support in a variety of areas for maintaining the physical and mental well-being of its artists and employees. These efforts are led by a chief of medical services, a physical therapist who supervises the overall care of our artists, a dance medicine consultant, and a medical advisor.
Jeffrey Padalecki, MD
Chief of Medical Services and Physician
Dr. Jeffrey Padalecki is a native Texan who is thrilled to be practicing in the Austin area. Throughout his career, he has participated in the care of athletes of all levels, including many professional sports teams. Dr. Padalecki is a former collegiate athlete who continues to commit himself to staying active. He recently completed a Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy fellowship at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado.
Linda Su, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Dr. Linda Su is a physical therapist specializing in orthopedics manual therapy. She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in Austin and her B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Linda danced pre-professionally with the City Ballet of Houston Company and San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet Company. She attended a summer intensive at Joffrey Ballet School in New York and has danced in pieces choreographed by Allen Hineline, Margo Sappington and John Magnus when participated in Regional Dance America Festivals. In 2018 she completed the Evidence in Motion Orthopaedic Residency Program. She manages and treats patients at Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation at the South Lamar location.
Jarrod N. Watson, PT, DPT, OCS
Physical Therapist
Jarrod N. Watson has been a practicing clinician for 10yrs, 6 in the Austin community. He specializes in Orthopedic treatments and has worked for Ballet intensives and traveling Show tours.
Vanessa Muncrief, PT, DPT, CPT
Dance Medicine Consultant
Dr. Vanessa Muncrief is a physical therapist specializing in orthopedic manual therapy, dance medicine, and yoga and Pilates based rehabilitation. She received her Doctorate and Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Columbia University in New York City and her Bachelor of Liberal Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Muncrief worked at Harkness Center for Dance Injuries in New York City for 10 years and is a former professional dancer. She has been the treating clinician for Dance Theater of Harlem, Martha Graham Dance Company, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, and many others, as well as multiple Broadway shows.
Ann Messer, MD
Medical Advisor
Ann Messer, MD, is a board-certified family physician who has been practicing family medicine and urgent care for 30 years. She has previously served on the board of directors for Ballet Austin and as a medical advisor for its staff and artists for almost 20 years. With over a decade of experience in global health, Dr. Messer founded One Good Turn to give health workers around the world the tools and knowledge to build self-sustaining health communities. A graduate of Rush Medical School in Chicago, Dr. Messer did her residency work at Harvard in a triad of internal medicine, psychiatry, and family practice. Dr. Messer was named a Fulbright Specialist by the U.S. Department of State for her work developing a clinical competency curriculum in Cambodia. She was recently awarded the Inspire Humanitarian Award by the United Nations Association Austin Chapter.