The Apple Pie Lesson for PT Clinics

Is physical therapy school still worth it?In this episode of PT Breakfast Club, Jimmy McKay joins from the APTA Connecticut golf fundraiser at Lyman Orchards, where every round comes with a free apple pie. That becomes the first business lesson of the morning: people remember what is worth remarking on.Tony Maritato, Dave Kittle, and Jimmy use that idea to talk about what makes a clinic memorable, why healthcare defaults to being bland, and how practices can show their value instead of just saying they are different.Then the crew tackles the bigger question: is becoming a physical therapist still worth it?Jimmy says it depends. Dave says yes, if you choose the right school, manage debt, and understand the opportunities available. Tony says the degree is an asset, but only if you use it in today’s world instead of trying to practice like it is 2002.The conversation also covers Dave’s new video strategy in New York City, recording patient care with consent, using anonymized patient stories, AI in PT education, and how future DPT students should be using AI as a study partner.Then Dave shares a $652 refrigerator repair story that turns into a surprisingly useful PT business lesson about urgency, diagnostic fees, same-day service, customer education, and selling access to expertise.The takeaway: physical therapy is still worth it, but the old story is dead. The opportunity is still there for people willing to be modern, visible, creative, and clear about the value they provide.