Sara Clayton-Pollard
PT, DPT, OCS, COMT, Chief Operating Officer & Senior Physical Therapist
Sara has had a lifelong passion for movement and dance that naturally led her to a career in Physical Therapy. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Movement Science with a minor in Biomedical Sciences from Missouri State University, where she was a four-year member and two-year Captain of the Missouri State Sugar Bears Dance Team. After college, she continued her leadership and performance as a Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader for four seasons, serving as Co-Captain in her final year.
Sara earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2019. Her clinical expertise lies in outpatient orthopedics, with an emphasis on differential diagnosis, manual therapy, dance performance, medical fitness, and neck and spine care. She became a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT) in 2022.
Dedicated to clinical excellence and professional development, Sara created the curriculum for Empower PT's in-house residency program and has mentored many of the clinic’s physical therapists. In 2023, she moved into the role of Chief Operating Officer at Empower PT, where she combines her clinical knowledge with strategic leadership to help grow and shape the practice.
Sara is passionate about longevity and helping clients increase their health span through personalized care, including medical fitness training. She continues to blend her clinical skills and leadership to make a lasting impact on her patients and her team.
Outside of the clinic, Sara teaches dance at Fearless Dance Center in Raymore, Missouri. She enjoys spending time with her husband Brett and daughter Elsie, as well as exercising, cooking, and playing with her dog, Bartholomew.
Achievements
- B.S., Exercise and Movement Science, Minor in Biomedical Sciences – Missouri State University, 2014
- D.P.T. – University of Kansas Medical Center, 2019
- Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), 2022
- Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT), 2022
