Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Elizabeth Rudd.
Dr. Rudd, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I graduated from physical therapy school at Columbia University in 2016 and moved home to Atlanta to begin my career as a physical therapist. I started working in a clinic treating 15+ patients a day and quickly moved up in management to become the director. This came with managerial responsibilities in addition to working longer hours with more patients each day. The patient population I saw was primarily people with chronic pain who assumed pain was normal for many years, so never sought help. I was also seeing so many patients each day that I couldn’t spend as much time educating patients on their condition and my plan for them to get back to their hobbies pain-free. Through networking, social media, listening to podcasts, and talking to several established physical therapists, I realized there is another way to provide physical therapy services in which I could spend quality time treating and educating each patient — thus born Well Equipt. I quit my job, took a part-time physical therapy job, and started Well Equipt on the side. I found a boutique fitness gym that valued physical therapy and started renting space to treat gym members, trainers, and friends and family in the community. After about one year of practicing, I started seeing enough patients to allow me to quit my part-time job and pour my heart and soul into Well Equipt. Today, I help active adults discover that pain is not normal, and I equip them with the tools they need to participate in the hobbies they love.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting a business is never a smooth road! While I am a great clinician, I struggle with marketing strategies, business finances, social media presence, and the nuances of actually starting and running a business.
I have also struggled with defying the medical model of accepting insurance for medical services. I value whole-hearted commitment to each patient. This includes getting to the root cause of each patient’s pain and coming up with a solution that allows them to return to hobbies they love without pain. The best way to provide superior and comprehensive care is to give undivided attention to each patient. Insurance constricts us as physical therapists in so many ways, making it impossible to provide thorough and well-rounded care. Thus, I do not contract with insurance companies.
Please tell us about Well Equipt.
Well Equipt combines wellness and physical therapy into one practice by equipping adults who feel compromised by pain and think it is a normal part of aging with the tools they need to live an active, pain-free, and healthy life. Our mission is to be the community’s resource for achieving wellness at the highest potential.
I am a movement expert and specialize in all things aches and pains! I believe by developing proper movement patterns and noteworthy strength. I can keep adults active in their hobbies without pain.
I work with a lot of golfers, tennis players, and runners to optimize their performance. I break down their movements, find where the body needs attention, and provide exercise, hands-on care, and education to enhance movement patterns.
Well Equipt is accessible and convenient for the community. We provide individualized, one on one care. We don’t have to jump through hurdles with insurance, and we can commit to helping patients achieve their goals.
Pain is not normal, and we offer solutions to a pain-free and active lifestyle!
Contact Info:
- Address: Elizabeth Rudd, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
3867 Roswell Rd NE Suite 300, Atlanta, GA, 30318 - Website: https://www.wellequiptpt.com/
- Phone: 678-631-7925
- Email: elizabeth@wellequiptpt.com
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.
