By Katarina Fiorentino Klatzkow
Alex Hill, DPT, P.T., didn’t always know she would be an entrepreneur. An alumna of the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions’ Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Hill trained to be a practicing clinician.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, she decided to leverage her clinical experiences and expertise to found OncoPelvic PT, an inclusive educational platform to empower patients with pelvic health, lymphedema, and cancer-related conditions and the therapists who treat them.
Hill discovered a passion for pelvic health and oncology during her time with the PHHP department of physical therapy. Eager to learn, Hill dived into this specialization during her clinical rotations and academic studies.
“I was blown away by how much of an impact you can have in someone’s life in just one visit,” she said. “I knew I wanted to specialize in pelvic health and oncology for my physical therapy career.”
After graduation, Hill did just that. She secured a prestigious women’s health residency at Duke University, continuing her career in pelvic health and oncology with Houston Methodist, Luminis Health, and now, back in Florida at UF Health Jacksonville.
Hill shares what inspired her to launch OncoPelvic PT, how her work as a clinical practitioner informed her path to entrepreneurship, and tips for current students or therapists thinking about starting a business.
Question: What inspired you to start OncoPelvic PT? Can you describe what that process was like?
Answer: It’s kind of funny because I never wanted to own a business. I remember some of my classmates in physical therapy school would say: ‘I want to open my own clinic, have my own office, start a business.’ And I was the opposite. I just wanted to treat patients, do volunteer work, and write research articles; I didn’t want to deal with the business side.
OncoPelvic PT started as a side business in 2020, and there were a couple catalysts to it. The first was, in 2020, there was so much misinformation and disinformation circling around, especially around health topics. There was so much hate and negativity going on in the world, and I wanted to do something good.
I love social media, and so I said, ‘Let’s start an Instagram page. Let’s just start to put out some good positive information and exercises, and daily tips for better physical and mental health.’ And that’s really where OncoPelvic PT started.
There was so much hate and negativity going on in the world, and I wanted to do something good.
Besides that, there’s not a lot of great information out there about pelvic health and oncology. It’s taboo to talk about. People don’t like to talk about these topics, or they feel uncomfortable. And on top of that, they are getting not great information, or they’re getting information from influencers or places that are not fact checked. The third reason was, in 2020, health care workers were getting laid off and worked less hours. We (healthcare professionals) were losing income because of the shutdown. And I thought, ‘Well, I need another stream of income. Maybe this can turn into making money.’
Q: How has OncoPelvic PT grown since then?
A: Since 2020, OncoPelvic PT has really grown and developed into a true business. Before, it was more social media, and now I’ve created things like clinician continuing education courses. There’s a lot of gaps in the education that’s given to providers. If you look at, say, orthopedics, you’ve got 50 different options to take a shoulder course. If you look at courses for breast cancer, you have maybe five. There’s not a lot of options out there.
And on top of that, I’m a woman of color and I work with a very diverse group of patients. In many courses, they have all white or lighter skin images, and the examples were not reflective of who I was actually seeing in the clinic. When you look at scar tissue or skin conditions or changes to the tissues after radiation, for example, they’re going to look different on somebody who has darker skin.
Even if you look in our textbooks, most of the models are not people of color. We are not given case examples of different diversity of races, ethnicities, or genders. And so, I wanted to really address those gaps in my courses, as well as make them affordable and accessible. Because we don’t have a lot of options for pelvic health and oncology courses, I wanted to make sure that this space was inclusive and reflective of the patients that we are seeing.
Additionally, OncoPelvic PT offers webinars for patients, such as managing sexual dysfunction after breast cancer. I also do consulting work with companies; for example, I help run the a social media channel for a medical device company and offer coaching for new clinicians who want guidance in their journey to becoming a specialized pelvic health or oncology therapist or for starting a social media page.
And so, I wanted to really address those gaps in my courses, as well as make them affordable and accessible. Because we don’t have a lot of options for pelvic health and oncology courses, I wanted to make sure that this space was inclusive and reflective of the patients that we are seeing.
I also started a mentorship program with the American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy because we need more exposure to these specialty areas for students, especially in oncology.
Q: What advice do you have for other students or therapy practitioners who are thinking about starting a business?
A: When I was first thinking about starting my business, I signed up for so many newsletters, just to learn. I got curious, and I started to listen to podcasts and read articles about what other people are doing and where to start. My view of what a business was and what it could be completely shifted.
The biggest piece of advice I can give is to be open to what your passions are. And when you find your passions, follow them. Be open to what a business can become, even if it starts small. I tiptoed my toes into the water, so to speak.
I found out that I like making Instagram posts, networking, getting affiliate agreements and writing blog posts. Then I said, ‘OK, let’s go a little deeper into the water. I still like these things.’ Then it turned into, ‘OK, let’s go ahead, let’s jump in.’ So, I was not somebody who just jumped right into my business, I definitely tiptoed in, and that’s OK!
There’s no timeline when you start a business. If you can use your passion, and put kindness and goodness out to someone else, I think that’s what ultimately drives us. Ask yourself, ‘Am I putting good into what I’m doing?’ And if so, there’s something there. Don’t be afraid to pursue it.
Also, there’s no timeline when you start a business. You can take it slow. As providers, it’s common to encounter patients who are afraid to take their first step after surgery. We might help them stand up at the edge of their bed and just gently shift their weight; even if it’s small, it’s progress. It’s still moving forward without taking a big, huge step right as soon as they get out of bed. That’s what starting a business can be.
Maybe it’s as simple as a clinic daydream, thinking about what kind of clinic you would open, or what your social media handle would be. Taking even a little step and exploring what that means is a good place to start.
The last thing I can say is a quote from Maya Angelou, which is my favorite motto: ‘Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.’ If you can use your passion, and put kindness and goodness out to someone else, I think that’s what ultimately drives us. That’s what connects us, those small acts of kindness. The mission behind what we do. Ask yourself, ‘Am I putting good into what I’m doing?’ And if so, there’s something there. Don’t be afraid to pursue it.