Michael & Samantha on How Metro Physical Therapy Builds Leaders From New Grad to CEO

In this episode of the Will Power Podcast, recorded live at APTA CSM, Will Humphreys sits down with Michael Viscuso, CEO of Metro Physical Therapy, and Samantha DiRosa, Clinical Director at Metro, to talk about how intentional leadership development shapes culture, retention, and patient care in private practice.Michael and Samantha break down how Metro built a leadership pipeline that starts with new grads and continues through clinical directors and regional leaders. They cover Metro's NextGen and Ascend leadership programs, the books that shape their culture (including Start With Why and The Energy Bus), and how giving staff a real choice between clinical and leadership paths keeps people engaged instead of burned out.Key takeaways:Leadership is built through extra effort. Students and new grads who ask questions, attend outside events, and invest in relationships stand out early.Metro runs two named leadership programs, NextGen for emerging leaders and Ascend for staff moving toward clinical director roles, and both are led directly by the CEO and VP of Operations.Burnout often signals disconnection from purpose, not a lack of skill. Reconnecting to the reason someone got into the field restores motivation.Empowerment means setting clear expectations and trusting the process, not controlling the outcome.Metro has grown to 62 locations while keeping its CEO personally involved in leadership days and clinic visits.Practice owners who are overwhelmed should focus on finding the right people for the right seats, then genuinely empowering them to make decisions.If you're a PT student trying to figure out where to start, a clinician feeling burned out, or a practice owner who doesn't know how to build leadership into your business, this episode gives you a real roadmap. Connect with Metro Physical TherapyWebsite: https://www.metrophysicaltherapy.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroPhysicalandAquaticTherapy/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metro-physical-&-aquatic-therapy/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metroptnySend us Fan MailRockstars specialize in helping support or replace all non-clinical roles.Learn how a Rockstar can help scale your physical therapy practice.Subscribe here to our completely free Stress-Free PT Newsletter for your weekly dose of joy.