Meet Dr. Sam and Dr. Amanda Bell | Physical Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Sam and Dr. Amanda Bell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Sam and Dr. Amanda, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We have been working in the industry for over ten years, always working under someone else’s business model. Sam worked in pro sports for 8 years, and while he loved every minute of his work, the time and emotional commitment weighed heavy. Sam was more or less married to both his team and his wife. After having a baby and living through the tumultuous world of Covid, Sam decided to leave pro sports. Sam then worked in a physical therapy clinic in search of that work-life balance, but still felt emotionally and physically drained after each work day, seeing 3-4 patients at a time, having to follow the rules of somebody else’s business model and his treatment choices often dictated by what the insurance companies would reimburse. He needed a change. Amanda started out her practice working in pediatrics both for the New York City school system and doing early intervention through private agencies. In supporting Sam from city to city, Amanda worked in hospital jobs, outpatient clinics, homecare, and for private agencies as well in search of work that would provide both a sense of gratification and a challenge in furthering her career. When we moved to Southern California in 2020, we knew this was our chance to make positive change. We had a then 15-month old, a new house, and the chance to build from scratch a business that we could grow and be proud of, and each be able to do the work that we actually WANT to do, in the WAY that we want to do it. We started our own business to again enjoy the work we do, to help and support those in our community, be proud of it, and set an example for our son that sometimes the biggest risks are worth taking.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Sam and Amanda met at Physical Therapy School at Columbia University in New York, graduating in 2012 with their doctorate degrees. In school, Amanda completed rotations in pediatric sports medicine, preschool, and hospital work. Amanda won a scholarship for pediatric therapies, then working for the New York City school system for 2 years with kids with autism and developmental disabilities. After school hours, Amanda worked with babies and their families, teaching kids how to reach milestones such as crawling, sitting, and walking. Amanda also coached and trained youth soccer for several years, enjoying both the peewee age and the U8-U9 girls club level. Through their moves to Baltimore, Newport Beach, to Houston, and back to Southern California, Amanda worked in a variety of settings, learning about movement patterns and the psychology of movement throughout the stages of life. Amanda has now come full circle back to her roots, working with kiddos of all ages and physical levels, feeling passionate back in her niche.

Sam’s professional career began in Athletic Training at Purdue University (bachelor’s degree) and West Virginia University (master’s degree) where he was able to obtain internships with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins. While at Columbia University, Sam earned a highly sought after clinical rotation working with Kevin Wilk at his esteemed practice in Birmingham, followed by an internship with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Following graduation, Sam was immediately hired by the Baltimore Ravens as team Physical Therapist and Assistant Athletic trainer. During Sam’s first year with the Ravens, they won the Super Bowl in what is remembered as “the Blackout Super Bowl.” It was months and years of grueling work and dedication, culminating in the most rewarding night of his professional career. Following 6 incredible seasons as part of the Ravens, Sam decided to pursue his next adventure with Amanda, for the first time in his life taking time to explore his hobbies and the world around. We packed up our car and moved to Newport Coast for a brief 8 months before the World of Professional Sports called once again. This time with the Houston Astros. Following 2 years, a visit to the World Series, and the strain of living in the new world of COVID, we once again moved, deciding that California would be the best place to set our roots raise our family. This time making Huntington Beach our home.

What sets us apart: We focus on customer experience with the bottom line of helping our clients reach their physical potential and movement goals. We make physical therapy convenient by offering to travel to our client’s homes and by being able to get our clients on the schedule within 1-2 days of a request. For those interested in more sports-oriented training, we also have an office at Work Ethic Training gym, a premier baseball training facility located in Huntington Beach. All clients are seen for the entirety of their sessions by either Dr. Sam or Dr. Amanda, depending on who is a better fit for that person. We don’t use aides or assistants, and we do not modify our treatment sessions or plans of action based on what insurance will reimburse. Each client is treated like we would a family member, with full attention to detail, with the hope that each client walks away with a full understanding of their diagnosis, prognosis, and exercise program. We take a holistic approach, taking a closer look at stress management, diet, sleep habits, and daily routines. Because of the way in which we treat our clients, they tend to get better in fewer sessions, get back to doing what they love sooner, and know how to take care of their bodies for the long haul. We are available for questions or concerns outside of our treatment sessions, and often become friends with our clients as a result of the intimacy with which we practice.

We are excited to have the opportunity to help the people that we want to help and to not have to sacrifice our family time to do so. Our goal is to create a work-life balance that allows us to focus on the things that we cherish the most in life, such as being the loving parents and spouses that we want to be. All of the hard work and late nights on the front end are rewarding to us because at the end of the day we have created a business we can be proud of.

Was it easy? How did you overcome the challenges: Nothing about starting your own business is easy, especially when you have kids to take care of. It is scary to take the leap and quit your 9-5 job, but the actual decision to do so was a no-brainer for us. We rely on each other and our mentors to help us stay focused on the task at hand.

Lessons we’ve learned along the way: This journey is full of peaks and valleys. We cannot allow ourselves to get too low and discouraged or become too satisfied and content with where we are. The transformation of our business is a journey and not a destination.

What do we want the world to know about our brand: We get you. We are you and we want to help you. We understand the investment it takes to keep your body healthy long term and we want help you. You will not get this kind of care in a clinic and unfortunately many of our clients come from having bad experiences in them.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Grab a coffee at Philz at Pacific City, and visit the shops. Walk on the Beach to Huntington Pier and grab a bite at Sandy’s
Visit Bommer Ridge for a nice hike in Newport Coast
Bike along the Seal Beach Bike trail and walk down Main Street stopping for Lunch at Walt’s Wharf
Visit the art galleries in Laguna Beach
Go surfing at Doheny
Take out sushi from Sushi on Fire in HB and picnic during sunset on the beach
Walk around Alamitos Bay and stop for a happy hour drink at Ballast Point
Take the Paddle Boards out in Newport’s Back Bay or Huntington Harbor
Go to an outdoor concert at one of the many beautiful parks
Go for Brunch at Babette’s in Newport or Rose Bakery Cafe in CDM

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to our friends, family, and clients in Orange County, who believe in what we do and place their trust in us every day. Thank you to the local gym owners who have welcomed us into their communities to perform workshops, treat their clients, and help keep their members happy, healthy, and in the gym. Thank you to Work Ethic Training for sharing your gym space with us and being our biggest supporters from the start.

Website: http://www.bellphysicaltherapy.com/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/bellphysicaltherapy/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BellPhysicalTherapy/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8IZWXrLiEHC7iRyyxcx_g/