Meet Bria Savage of Savage Physical Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bria Savage.

Hi Bria, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up on the southside of Monroe, Louisiana. My parents were married for several years before they divorced due to my father’s drug addiction and alcoholism. Growing up, I was very timid and embarrassed. I hated being another stereotype – the little black girl raised by a single mother because her dad was on drugs. This caused me to put all of my energy into school and being the best student possible to ensure I made it out of Monroe and lived a better life. While we didn’t have much, my mother and family made sure I never went without. I was raised in the church – my great grandmother, who had a 6th grade education, taught me how to pray and read. One of my inspirations growing up was my great aunt, Evelyn Levine, who was one of the few black people I knew driving a Lexus on the southside – she was a pharmacist. I thought I would walk in her footsteps to become a pharmacist as well. I held true to that until my senior year of high school; I was sitting in my mentor’s classroom reading a magazine about the top jobs of the 2000’s. Physical therapist was in the top 10 and it felt like a lightbulb went off.

I played sports throughout high school and experienced the inadequacy of care for athletes. There was no athletic trainer, strength and conditioning coach, or physical therapist – only our sport coaches doing the best they could with the knowledge they had. Once I received that epiphany to become a physical therapist, I made it my mission to bridge that gap. I went on to graduate with my bachelor’s in Kinesiology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. I thought transitioning into PT school would be easy – NO! I received 11 rejection letters that first year. I leaned heavily on my faith and support system – “you only need one yes”. I continued to work as a PT tech and volunteered at local high schools on the sidelines to support in whatever capacity I legally could. I attempted to get in to PT school one more time and finally succeeded. I graduated with my doctorate of physical therapy from the University of St. Augustine in Austin, Texas. Shortly after graduation, I became a travel physical therapist.

Growing up in Louisiana and going to school in Texas, the south was really the only places I knew. When I learned that companies would pay you to travel and work, I jumped on it! As a travel physical therapist, I’ve been blessed to work all across the country from Los Angeles, CA to Washington, D.C. During my travel adventures, I still held on to my dream of working in sports. I remember before I graduated from PT school, I was home visiting and saw a NFL player from my hometown at a local juice bar. I’m not sure where I got the courage from, but I walked up to him and gave him an elevator pitch. Fast forward, once I become a physical therapist, he messaged me and asked if I would treat him during the off season. I called a few friends and got my PLLC filed. That was the official start of Savage Physical Therapy.

Due to covid, Savage Physical Therapy came to a quick halt and I found myself back in Louisiana working on covid units in various skilled nursing facilities. During this time, my father passed unexpectedly. Here I am – navigating covid and grief. I have to say that I am grateful to God that when my dad passed, we were on good terms. We didn’t have the perfect relationship, but I can testify that God is a redeemer. After covid, I went back into the travel industry and would return to Monroe, LA between contracts to volunteer my services to my alma mater, Wossman High School.

After experiencing all these different cities and meeting so many people, I felt the desire to pursue professional sports. I received numerous certifications including dry needling, blood flow restriction, certified strength and conditioning specialist, etc. I applied for so many jobs and teams, made it several rounds of interviews, was featured on podcasts – and nothing came of it. I finally was hired by a sports performance company near Atlanta and thought this was my big break. I worked as a rehab specialist for the 2026 NFL Pre-draft and off season. Unfortunately, the company shutdown unexpectedly after a few months of being there. 120+ rejection letters later from collegiate and professional teams – my confidence was shot. After grieving that dream, I heard that still, small voice say “try again”. But this time, it wasn’t about applying to another professional team. It was for Savage Physical Therapy.

I tried again. Instead of leaving Atlanta after the close the sports performance center, I began working for a Emory Outpatient Clinics and Body GOALS Atlanta while rebuilding my brand. I marketed myself to various AAU teams, recreational leagues, run clubs – you name it! Jah with AEBL gave me an opportunity to assist with medical services for his athletes and this was the catalyst that started my clientele in Atlanta. I began with after-hour and weekend concierge visits, working sometimes 50-60 hours/wk. All of the networking paid off and I was able to forge a beautiful collaboration with WePT.

Now, I have a hybrid model where I continue concierge visits and treat clients out of WePT/Buckhead Fight Club. I am entering my 8th year as a physical therapist and am beyond excited for what the future holds.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has been far from smooth. I had to deal with the trauma of my father’s drug addiction and alcoholism. I struggled with figuring out who I was all through high school and college. I battled having no confidence, low-self esteem, feeling inadequate, and feeling like I had to perform and be perfect to receive love from anyone. I received 11 rejection letters before finally getting into my doctoral program. Right after I started Savage Physical Therapy as a concierge practice, covid hit and stopped any forward progression. I lost my father unexpectedly during covid. I have received 120+ rejection letters from collegiate and professional sports teams. The dream job I thought would give me my big break shutdown only after a few months. It felt like I couldn’t catch a break at times.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Savage Physical Therapy?
Savage Physical Therapy is your premiere physical therapy and performance service where we “train like a beast and recover like a savage”. Our goal is to empower athletes and active individuals to move better, perform optimally, and recover smarter. We specialize in orthopedic and sports injuries including ACL reconstruction/repairs, meniscus repairs, ankle sprains, low back pain, running injuries, overuse injuries, etc. At Savage Physical Therapy, we treat the athlete as a human first – using a holistic approach. Each client receives a full experience – a listening ear, movement analysis, objective measurements, education they can understand, evidenced-based treatment, and occasional singing and dancing during the session.

I am most proud of the Savage name becoming a brand. I used to be embarrassed about my last name – especially after the movie Pocahontas came out. However, I’ve been able to take this last name and run with it. It always feels like an oxymoron when someone comes to see “Dr. Savage” and I walk in standing 5 ft tall. It’s beautiful to feel trusted to be a part every client’s team – assisting them in making the best decisions for their bodies. For a lot of athletes, their body is their brand and I am charged with helping to keep it working as optimally and efficiently as possible for longevity of career.

At Savage Physical Therapy, we offer rehabilitation for injuries, wellness and recovery services for maintenance and injury prevention, and performance training. We are cash-based meaning no insurance is taken at this time – it is an out-of-network, self-pay service. This allows us to focus on your goals with 1-on-1 care without restrictions from insurance limitations. FSA/HSA is accepted.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I honestly believe I would not have made it this far without my relationship with Christ. Life has not always felt kind or smooth, but I’m grateful for God’s peace that has kept me anchored through every storm.

Aside from being a physical therapist I recently started a nonprofit organization called TransformHER where our mission is to nurture the passion, potential, and perseverance of girls and young women in STEM, ensuring their sustained impact and advancement in the field. We pair each girl with a mentor within the STEM field, provide a devotional curriculum for them to follow, and meet monthly to discuss the curriculum, cultivate life skills, and build community. Our vision for TransformHER is to build a future where every barrier to success in STEM is dismantled – empowering girls and young women to lead the next generation of scientific and technological breakthroughs with strength, resilience, and wholeness. We are in the business of helping young women find and maintain their identity while they pursue their respective careers.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.savagephysicaltherapy.com and www.transformherfoundation.com
• Instagram: @drbriasavage and @thesavagept
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbriasavagept