Dr. Canning received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Prior to that she graduated from St. John’s University in Queens, NY with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She was also a member of the Division-1 Women’s Soccer Team that became the first team in the program’s history to reach the NCAA Tournament. In her senior season, she was awarded the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s All-American Award.
Dr. Canning has experience working with youth, collegiate, and professional athletes in the prevention and rehabilitation of sports injuries. She has also given national presentations on injury prevention, specifically on programs that help reduce the risk of ACL injuries. While still a Physical Therapy Student, she presented her own original research as a platform on ACL Injury Prevention at the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting, and was honored with the Emory University School of Medicine Susan J. Herdman Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice. Dr. Canning is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is certified in Applied Functional Science through the Gray Institute and in Functional Range Conditioning. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and its Sports, Orthopedics, and Research Sections.
In addition to reading research articles and staying active in the physical therapy and sports performance world through social media, Dr. Canning is a US Soccer Licensed Coach. She enjoys playing and coaching soccer, working out, hiking, and spending time with her husband, Dr. Marc Surdyka (also a Physical Therapist), and their dog, Rosie.
You can follow her on social media through her Instagram account @dr.nicolept or on Twitter @inthegamept or her FaceBook Page In The Game PT