Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Davis.
Hi Josh, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My first job after graduating from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree was running an outpatient clinic for a hospital about an hour south of Atlanta. I was the only PT treating patients in the clinic and worked with a wide variety of cases—from the hospital’s CEO recovering from a double knee replacement, to athletes returning to the field, to a newborn with torticollis, to a high school student with a brain injury.
In 2009, I accepted a position at First Step Physical Therapy in Fayetteville, GA. First Step specializes in the treatment and recovery of patients with neurologic disorders, including spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, vestibular dysfunction, cerebral palsy, and many other neurological conditions. In 2014, I became a partner and Clinic Director of the Fayetteville office. That same year, my partner and I opened a second clinic in Roswell, GA, also specializing in neurologic physical therapy.
As part of First Step’s community outreach program, I have presented complimentary health and wellness seminars to a wide range of organizations throughout the Greater Atlanta area. Through these events, we identified a need for neurologic physical therapy in Marietta and subsequently opened a third clinic in 2016.
In February 2020, I became the sole owner of First Step Physical Therapy and developed the First Step Recovery Model, a structured framework to train staff and other physical therapists on how to properly evaluate, treat, and follow up with patients who have neurological disorders.
Over ten years ago, we partnered with the Make Lemon Aide Foundation for Cerebral Palsy, a nonprofit organization in Buffalo, NY, that financially supports children and adults with cerebral palsy by providing access to the cutting-edge First Step Recovery Model at our Atlanta-area clinics. Families would travel from New York to Georgia for intensive one-week physical therapy programs, consisting of five hours of therapy per day. After many conversations with these families, I decided to open a First Step Physical Therapy location in Buffalo, NY, to better serve these patients and provide them with access to much-needed neurologic physical therapy closer to home.
I remain active in the professional and local community, serving as Vice President of the American Physical Therapy Association of Georgia from 2020 to 2022 and currently as Treasurer-Elect. I have also served as Director of Public Relations on the Board of the Rotary Club of Peachtree City.
Most importantly, I am blessed with a wonderful family who continually supports and encourages me—my amazing wife, Laura, and our two incredible sons, Weston and Chapel.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Shortly after I became the sole owner of First Step Physical Therapy in 2020, COVID-19 began spreading across the United States. For a time, we didn’t know if we would have to suspend patient care. Fortunately, physical therapy was deemed an essential service, but many patients were still hesitant to leave their homes. To ensure they continued receiving the neurologic physical therapy they needed through the First Step Recovery Model, we decided to bring therapy to them. Through hard work and determination, we were able to maintain meaningful progress in our patients’ functional abilities by providing care both in the clinic and, when necessary, in their homes.
As you know, we’re big fans of First Step Physical Therapy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am the Owner and President of First Step Physical Therapy. First Step specializes in the treatment and recovery of patients with neurologic disorders, including spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, neuropathy, vestibular disorders, cerebral palsy, and many other neurological conditions. We have clinic locations in Fayetteville, Roswell, and Marietta, Georgia, as well as in Buffalo, New York. We are one of the few outpatient physical therapy practices in both Georgia and New York that focus exclusively on neurologic rehabilitation—and the only one where 100% of our PTs and PTAs are trained in the cutting-edge First Step Recovery Model.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I see the landscape of physical therapy changing significantly. As insurance reimbursements continue to decline while salaries rise, the profession will be forced to adapt. Many outpatient physical therapists are already required to treat multiple patients at the same time just to make ends meet. At First Step, we are committed to maintaining our one-to-one model—one patient, one therapist, for one full hour. I believe the future of physical therapy will shift away from quantity, as dictated by insurance companies, and toward quality of care. As patients become more informed, they will also become more discerning and demand greater value from their healthcare providers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.FirstStepPT.com
- Instagram: first_step_pt
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FirstStepPhysTherapy
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-step-p-t
- Twitter: @First_StepPT
- Youtube: @FirstStepPT
Image Credits
Daniel Draper
Matt Kilgore
Meghan Morales
Sherry Walier
