Exploring Life & Business with Luba Khakham of Sage Physical Therapy and Wellness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Luba Khakham

Hi Luba, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started out in a different career entirely. I went to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor for undergrad and finished with a BA in Communications, after which I went into the field of advertising. I worked for two big agencies, Leo Burnett in Detroit and Ogilvy and Mather in Chicago. During the 2008 recession, I was laid off and decided to pursue a very different direction as I realized that advertising was not a good fit for me. I had a feeling that medicine was the next direction for me but I had no idea how or where I wanted to practice so I began to shadow various medical professionals, including MDs, DOs, genetic counselors, etc. But one day, I woke up from a dream about physical therapy and decided to do more research on the field. As soon as I did, I knew that this sounded like something I could get very excited about. I then went on to shadow and volunteer at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now called the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab) and work as a physical therapy tech at Athletico while taking my pre-requisits for PT school, feeling more and more sure that this is what I wanted to do. In 2014, I graduate with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Illinois, Chicago and returned home to Michigan to be closer to family and start my career. Throughout my education and work experience, I gain an interest in the subspecialty of women’s health and pelvic floor physical therapy and completed many continuing education courses to become a specialist in that field.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It was not a smooth road at all. Switching careers and going back to school in my late 20s was difficult. I had to learn the disciplines of anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, kinesiology, etc from scratch with no previous background in the sciences from my undergraduate studies.

We’ve been impressed with Sage Physical Therapy and Wellness, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sage Physical Therapy and Wellness is a physical therapy practice that specializes in orthopedic and pelvic floor physical therapy, as well as pregnancy and postpartum care. We offer comprehensive evaluations and assessments for each patient, customized exercise programs and blend of manual therapy with modern modalities including dry needling and cupping. All sessions are one-on-one with the same therapist and are tailored to the individual’s needs. We also offer a free 15 minute phone consultation.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
For those just starting out, I think that the biggest piece of advice that I have is to just start. Even if it’s a tiny step or talking to someone who is a few steps ahead of you. I think that many of us tend to overthink and delay starting by thinking that there is a perfect way of doing something but everyone’s path is different and there are no wrong turns, just learning opportunities. I would also say, start building your network as soon as possible. Join networking groups, go see other practitioners, attend professional events. There is so much value in building strong relationships with other professionals in your field and even outside your field. The journey is one of never-ending learning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sageptwellness.com
• Instagram: @sageptwellness
• Facebook: @sageptwellness