Her Calling to Care
Dr. Kristina Marie Quirolgico has always been passionate about movement through dance, which has shaped both her personal life and her medical career. Dr. Quirolgico was born in New York City and raised in New Jersey, where she grew up inspired by her parents’ careers in health care. Hearing their stories about caring for patients and the rewards of their work sparked her interest in medicine.
After earning her medical degree from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, she completed her physical medicine and rehabilitation residency at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, followed by a sports medicine fellowship through Rutgers and Princeton University.
Her experience as a ballet dancer, including several ankle injuries, helped shape her professional interests. She recognized that dancers sometimes hesitate to seek medical care for fear of professional repercussions if an injury sidelines them. Having experienced the demands of dance herself, she wanted to help bridge that gap.
Inside the Practice
Dr. Quirolgico practices sports medicine at Campbell Clinic, where she helps patients improve their function and quality of life through treatments tailored to their needs. Her work includes optimizing physical therapy programs, performing ultrasound-guided injections, and using extracorporeal shockwave therapy to treat conditions such as tendinitis.
She also serves as company physician for Ballet Memphis, continuing her commitment to supporting dancers’ health. Previously, she worked at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery, where she founded and served as co-medical director of the Performing Arts Medicine Collaborative. She now serves as secretary on the executive board of the Dance/USA Task Force for Dancer Health.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Quirolgico conducts research and received the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Foundation’s Young Investigator’s Research Grant for her research on extracorporeal shockwave therapy.
Her Fitness Prescription
These days, Dr. Quirolgico’s favorite way to stay active is ballroom dancing. After wanting to pursue it for years, she finally had the opportunity after moving to Memphis. She began at Fred Astaire in Germantown and now dances at Ultimate Ballroom Dance Studio in Cordova.
Her dedication has taken her to competitions nationwide, where she has earned gold in International Latin, bronze in American Smooth, and regularly reaches the finals in American Rhythm. She also performs locally, including a cha-cha routine with her instructor, Denys Koloda, at the Philippine Fiesta in Memphis this past June.
Dr. Quirolgico dances two to three times a week and occasionally adds Zumba or Pilates to her routine. Her medical background also informs her own training, particularly the importance of core strength for athletic activities.
She sees ballroom dancing as a well-rounded form of exercise. “Ballroom dancing is excellent for all ages, especially older patients. It helps you work on balance (necessary for fall prevention), coordination, and memory (remembering steps). It also is a great aerobic exercise for cardiovascular endurance. Finally, it has that social aspect which has been proven to improve longevity.”
Beyond the White Coat
Outside the clinic and dance studio, Dr. Quirolgico is a mother of two boys, ages five and three. Between lifting her little ones and chasing after them, she jokes that motherhood provides its own strength training and cardio.
She credits her husband and parents with helping with childcare so she can keep pursuing dance. Family time and travel are also priorities, while her creative side comes out through playing piano and composing music. To unwind, she enjoys reading murder mysteries.
Whether she’s helping a dancer return to the stage, competing in ballroom events, or keeping up with her boys, Dr. Quirolgico embodies the idea that staying active can take many forms. Movement is just as much her profession as it is a lifelong source of joy, connection, and discovery.
Learn more about Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics at Campbellclinic.com.
By Zoe Harrison
Photo by Tindall Stephens
