Is PT Education Broken? A Candid Talk with Benz, Flynn & Childs

What happens when physical therapists decide the clinic isn’t the finish line — it’s the starting point? In this roundtable discussion, Lindsay, Kelly, and Todd dive into how PTs can lead from any position — whether you’re a student, a staff clinician, or in the C-suite.They get real about imposter syndrome, leadership guilt, CSM session picks, and why bringing your own chair to the table might be the most powerful move of your career.In This Episode:3 signs you’re ready for a leadership roleWhen guilt hits after leaving the clinic — and what to do with itHow the Army fast-tracks growth in PTsTips for picking the right CSM sessionsWhy you’re more ready than you think to leadSponsors:???? Pre-Roll: Brooks IHL – brooksihl.org⚙️ Mid-Roll: Empower EMR – empoweremr.com???? End-Roll: U.S. Physical Therapy – usph.com

Larry Benz, John Childs, and Tim Flynn join Jimmy to tackle some of the most urgent—and uncomfortable—questions in physical therapy. Are we educating students into a broken system? LINK TO THEIR LATEST ARTICLELINK TO LARRY'S SUBSTACKWhy do most PTs say they wouldn't want their kids to become PTs? And what would it take to fix this before the next generation gives up?From the burden of tuition to the unintended consequences of accreditation rigidity, this episode pulls no punches. It's a high-stakes conversation with voices that have shaped PT education, and who believe it's time to reshape it again.Topics Discussed:The unsustainable cost of DPT educationWhy hybrid programs faced institutional resistanceWhat accreditation bodies are getting wrongHow young entrepreneurs might save the professionThe question every PT should ask: "Would I want my kids to do this?"Featured Guests:Larry Benz — Confluent HealthDr. John Childs — South CollegeDr. Tim Flynn — Evidence in Motion

Physical therapists are short on time, long on complaints, and totally missing the point: we're in an attention economy. In this episode, Jimmy and the crew dive into:How RTM is "free money" and still ignoredWhat ESPN's ridiculous programming can teach PT clinicsCrossFit, Peloton, and OrangeTheory as models for gamifying outcomesWhy most CSM booths are $20,000 toiletsClinic competition, trivia-style leaderboards, and The Floor is Lava: Medicare EditionThis isn't about hype. It's about attention, strategy, and clinical creativity. Want to build the PT profession's Savannah Bananas? This episode's your blueprint.CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro: The Attention Economy in PT 04:22 RTM Is Free Money (But No One Uses It) 09:45 What We Can Steal From ESPN 8: The Ocho 14:36 Clinic Games & CrossFit Leaderboards 19:52 The Real ROI of CSM Booths 26:11 Medicare Edition: The Floor is Lava 31:22 Alternative Halftime Shows & Fake Game Testing 36:44 Clinic vs Clinic: Building a PT Leaderboard 43:00 Final Thoughts: Outrun the Bear, Not the PackLINKS & RESOURCES:Subscribe to the show: https://ptpintcast.com/subscribeFollow Jimmy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmymcpt/More episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@PTPintcast

This episode will challenge how you think about rehab, performance, and your role as a PT.Vikash Sharma — founder of Perfect Stride Physical Therapy and Running for Life — lays out a powerful argument: PTs are perfectly positioned to lead the health ecosystem, but most are playing way too small. He explains why strength training is non-negotiable for runners (and humans), how to treat beyond the injury, and the mindset shift new grads need.???? Hot topics:Rehab = PerformanceWhy runners must lift (and how PTs are failing them)How to build client trust through adaptabilityThe “hospitality” lens of patient careHis go-to book recs for mindset + communication???? Mentioned:Unreasonable Hospitality by Will GuidaraA New Earth by Eckhart Tolle???? SPONSORS???? PRE-ROLL: Brooks IHL – world-class residencies & fellowships → https://brooksihl.org????️ MID-ROLL: EMPOWER EMR – fast, flexible, PT-designed software → https://empoweremr.com????️ END-ROLL: U.S. Physical Therapy – build your PT career → https://usph.com

Most clinics say they need "more marketing."But what they actually need is a plan that works.Andrea Cheney is a healthcare strategist who’s spent 20 years leading in-house teams and advising growth-stage companies. In this episode, she teams up with Jimmy to break down what doesn’t work in healthcare marketing—and what actually moves the needle.???? Key Moments:The real job of marketing (hint: it's not social media)How to build a message that lands with patients AND hiresWhat C-suite leaders get wrong about digital strategyThe trap of thinking marketing = contentWhy most email campaigns fail before they even sendAndrea also shares:How to audit your clinic’s brand signals in under 5 minutesWhen to bring in creative help vs in-houseHow clinics should (and shouldn’t) think about AI in 2026???? Mic Drop Moment: "Don’t send an email just to send an email."

Dr. Lisa Flexner — educator, leader, and founder of Flex Health Consulting. Catch her at CSM 2026 delivering three sessions on workplace culture, substance use in patients, and weight bias in PT.This episode covers:Why clinic culture is the #1 retention toolHow to stop blaming clinicians for system problemsWhat PTs must understand about patients using cannabis, opioids, and psilocybinHow weight stigma harms health outcomes — and how to have the conversation rightGuest Info:Website: FlexHealthConsulting.comLinkedIn: Lisa FlexnerCSM 2026 Sessions:OK Boomer, Meet Gen Z – Generational culture clash in PT teamsAll Your Patients Are on Drugs – TED-style session on patient substance useA Weighty Matter – How weight stigma affects outcomes and cliniciansSponsor Shoutouts:Pre-Roll: Brooks IHL — Turn good clinicians into great ones: brooksihl.orgMid-Roll: Empower EMR — AI-powered workflows to give you time back: empoweremr.comPre-Parting Shot: US Physical Therapy — Practice with purpose: usph.com

Scott Chesney’s life changed forever at 15 when a spinal stroke left him paralyzed. But that was only the beginning of his journey. In this inspiring episode, Scott joins Jimmy to share:How he navigated grief, anger, and acceptanceThe transformational power of physical therapyWhy permission to feel is a crucial healing stepWhat happened the day he walked across burning coals at a Tony Robbins seminar—on his handsHow Deepak Chopra helped him look inward, while Robbins pushed him outwardWhy he believes he’s not done walking—literallyScott’s story isn’t just about disability—it’s about rediscovering your purpose, trusting your heart, and refusing to be defined by limits.???? Listen now and be prepared to rethink resilience.Connect with Scott Here: https://scottchesney.com/

Former Top 10 Pro Athlete → Neuroscientist → Startup FounderDr. Jo Shattuck’s journey is wild: from cleaning carpets while living in a camper… to becoming a world-ranked athlete, then a neuroscience PhD, and now the founder of PantherTec. In this episode, Jo breaks down how we’ve been teaching movement wrong — and what proprioception, kinesthetic dissonance, and wearable tech have to do with fixing it.???? Learn how PantherTec’s CAT device is helping athletes, patients, and clinicians unlock real body awareness — not just motion but meaning.???? Topics Covered:What proprioception really is (and why most people don’t train it)Why your “internal body model” determines performance and safetyHow kinesthetic dissonance is changing rehab and movement coachingThe limits of verbal cues and video — and why “feel” matters moreHow PantherTec’s tech is creating ah-ha moments in just minutesThe true cost of wasted reps — and how to eliminate themPlus: chainsaw stories, social proprioception, black panthers, and one killer parting shot???? Clinicians, athletes, coaches — if you've ever said "they just don’t get it" during a session, this episode is your wake-up call.

Episode Title: Ryan Eder: Virtual PT With Real OutcomesGuest: Ryan Eder, Founder – Laina HealthWhat You’ll Learn:Why healthcare leaders care about completion rates and engagementHow virtual PT at Laina Health is outperforming traditional careWhat every PT student should know about the next decade of care deliveryHow to talk to systems, payers, and investors in their language???? Metrics That Matter:60% completion vs national avg of 30%68% pain reduction across thousands of cases$450 avg cost per episode = up to 70% savingsNear-zero wait time for evals???? Parting Shot:“Let’s stop protecting the past and start preparing for the future.”

This episode of PT Pintcast brings together the crew behind the PT Breakfast Club — Tony Maritato, Dave Kittle, and Jimmy McKay — for an unfiltered roundtable on the state of the profession.What starts as a conversation about PT burnout quickly unpacks into the deeper issues fueling the fire: unrealistic expectations, outdated business models, weak Medicare reimbursement, and a profession still stuck in legacy mindsets.Expect sarcasm, solutions, and some hard truths — plus some good-natured ribbing and a few rants on clipboards, compliance, and the alphabet soup of regulations.In this episode:Why burnout is worse than ever — and no, it’s not just about too many patientsThe real role of APTA (and what PTs think it should be)Why it might be time to stop chasing insurance moneyWhat happens when good therapists leave the system entirely???? Links & Resources:Tony Maritato’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MedicareBillingDave Kittle’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedavekittleshow/featured