Who We Are

R.I.S.E. stands for Rehabilitation and Integrative Services for Everyone. We are a clinician-supervised, student-led clinic that provides rehabilitation services for community members in need and who are uninsured or underinsured. At the moment we provide physical therapy services, but we are planning to expand to provide other discipline-specific care. Our licensed preceptors are volunteers from the community, and our student volunteers are recruited from pre-licensure programs in physical therapy.

Our Story

Though the idea of a student-led Pro Bono clinic in Utica had been floated around by local clinicians for years it wasn’t until early 2018 that it started to come to life. Led by Molly Hickey, PT, DPT and Richard Panetta, PT, DPT, initial planning and research were launched. 

  • Developing a memorandum of understanding with the Inertia Occupational and Physical Therapy, PLLC Wellness Center to provide clinic space outside of thieir regular hours

  • Attending the 2018 Eastern Pro Bono Network Conference to learn more about student-run clinics

  • Surveying pre-licensure students and local clinicians to gage interest in participating

  • Gathering a student interest group to meet weekly to develop the original Mission and Vision Statements

  • Conducting a formal Needs Assessment 

Utica R.I.S.E.became a reality as we moved into 2019, and the planning stages transitioned to pilot phase implementation.

  • Presentations were delivered to local and regional stakeholders

  • The first few patients were seen in the piloting phase

  • A core group of student clinic organizers presented a peer-reviewed presentation at the Eastern Pro Bono Networking Conference

As the pilot phase progressed, it became clear that we needed more space. At this juncture, Richard, Molly, and Ray Alessendrini, OTR/L, approached the owner of a house next door to the Inertia clinic to see if it could be purchased. Other local clinicians became interested in also investing in this project, and the Utica PBCHouse, LLC corporation was formed. This group purchased 509 Roberts Street in early 2020, which shares a parking lot with Inertia. This group of clinicians is composed of:

  • Richard Panetta and Ray Alessendrini, owners of Inertia Occupational and Physical Therapy, PLLC

  • Molly Hickey

  • Michelle (Shelly) Nunno-Evans, PT, DPT

  • Gabrielle Moriello, PT, PhD

  • James Smith, PT, DPT

  • Dawn Evans, PT, DPT

  • Carol Lateer, OTR/L

  • Brittany Simpson, PT, DPT

  • Shauna Malta, PT, DPT

Over the next year, this group of individuals, along with many volunteers, gutted the upstairs of 509 and created a rentable apartment, intended to help cover the costs of the building so that the lower apartment could be renovated for use as clinic space. 

Throughout 2021-2022, the same volunteers gutted and renovated the lower apartment, ultimately (finally!) receiving a certificate of occupancy to use the space as our clinic! 

In early 2023, Richard and Molly developed a strategic plan and appointed a Board of Directors, and proposed bylaws to transition R.I.S.E. to a not-for-profit organization; This goal was realized in the fall of that year. At this point, the initial memorandum of understanding was terminated, and a new one between R.I.S.E. and Utica PBCHouse, LLC was created. This allows R.I.S.E. to rent the space at 509 for a modest monthly fee.

We have been operating at 509 since then, and we are now ready to refine and expand our services. In addition, we aspire to eventually raise enough funds to transfer ownership of the house to R.I.S.E., allowing UticaPBCHouse to dissolve and re-pay the investors. 


The Mission of the Utica R.I.S.E. Pro Bono Clinic is to provide skilled rehabilitative care to the disadvantaged population in the greater Mohawk Valley area. Simultaneously, the clinic aims to expand opportunities for direct patient contact, mentorship, and leadership opportunities to student volunteers. 

This clinic will benefit community members who are underserved or who may not otherwise be able to receive these services, while also educating a new generation of healthcare professionals, developing attributes of competency, character, citizenship, and social responsibility. 

Mission Statement

Our Vision is to:

  • Address the unmet rehabilitation needs of our community through evaluation and provision of current evidence-based practice

  • Create community partnerships for the advancement of access to care and expansion to other health services like Occupational Therapy, Social Work, and Primary Care

  • Enhance the development of clinical reasoning among pre-licensure rehabilitation students-in-training

  • Promote social awareness of key issues affecting our community among student and local clinician volunteers 

Vision Statement

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