PT Path
Authentic stories from physical therapists navigating challenges, making pivotal decisions, and discovering their purpose. Whether you're a student, recent graduate, or considering a career change, these conversations will inspire you to explore possibilities within our PT community. Join us as we explore the diverse paths of physical therapy – one story at a time.
PT Path
Jonathan Ide-Don: Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Exploration
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
When Jonathan Ide-Don was a student in the UCSF/SFSU Graduate Program in Physical Therapy, he had a singular goal: to become the best orthopedic and sports physical therapist he could be. After graduating, he completed the Kaiser Hayward mentorship and fellowship programs, gaining intensive clinical training and mentorship early in his career. He then practiced at CPMC while also becoming involved in the CrossFit community as a coach.
What began as a side interest evolved into a broader exploration of entrepreneurship, movement, and innovative models of care. Jonathan eventually co-owned a cash-based physical therapy practice before making a major career pivot into digital health. He first joined Hinge Health during its early growth years and now works at MedBridge, where he helps develop and implement technology solutions for rehabilitation professionals.
In this episode, Jonathan reflects on the value of exploring new opportunities and testing different paths, and the many possibilities available to physical therapists beyond traditional clinical practice. While he loves his current work in digital health, he also shares why he still misses aspects of coaching and the connections that come from helping people move and perform better. Jonathan discusses the growing role of physical therapists in the technology sector and shares his perspective on how AI may reshape physical therapy.