We had the good fortune of connecting with David Perez-Espinosa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have always wanted to position myself in such a way that I could make a significant, positive, impact in my community. As a physical therapist, I directly influence the lives of those around me every day. My patients trust me with their care, and more often than not, the quality of their livelihoods depend on my ability to perform each and every day. I enjoy rising to this daily challenge, and I have been fortunate enough to have great mentors and colleagues who feel the same way. Unfortunately, we have a surplus of high volume PT clinics here in Miami which often times offer suboptimal care. My mission is to help my community find optimal care, whether it is with me or a colleague who does great work I think everyone deserves the best care available. We are fortunate enough to live in a time and place where this is possible, and we should not settle for less. This is why Bodyforge was born. It is a place where patients can learn, and safely hone their bodies with patience and guidance, where their needs come before anything else. It is also a place where students can find mentorship and forge their skills so that they too can go out into the world and deliver amazing care.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Body Forge Physical Therapy offers one-on-one patient care which I am happy to say is slowly becoming more common in Miami as more likeminded individuals are pushing our profession into modernity. I have over a decade of experience as a personal trainer before even starting as a physical therapist, and have worked with all sorts of people, from grandpa who’s goal was to just get through a couple flights of stairs without fainting, to Olympic athletes who want to push their jump height or explosive power to the “freak of nature” category, I have seen it all. We offer one on one reformer and mat Pilates instruction led by a PT who is also a nationally certified Pilates instructor. Our newest premium services coming next year will be dry needling and hand orthotic fabrication on-site. We are also excited to announce that we are partnering with former Red Socks dietitian Gabriela Alfonso to bring monthly activities and workshops to the community starting January 2026. Lots of growth is on the horizon, it is very exciting but it was not easy to get here. I am only where I am because of the amazing people around me. My biggest challenge was realizing that just being a good, well meaning clinician does not make me a good businessman. This is a huge learning curve and I am still learning new things on the job every day.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am not the most exciting guy these days, I spend most of my free time developing the work shops we are running next year, developing board games with my friend Paul and writing a fantasy novel. I love getting coffee and a sandwich over at Tinta Y Cafe which is a wonderful little hole in the wall close to the clinic. I’m hardcore into sushi and I really had an amazing experience over at Paperfish Sushi, definitely going to go again soon. Twice a month we grill at my place and we make some amazing burgers, this was a tradition that started when I began PT school and realized that I never had time for my friends anymore. We carved out Friday nights for “Burger Night” and have kept up the tradition ever since, now complete with our own homemade mead! If I had to select a great place to get a couple drinks, I’d say Perry’s Steak house has a pretty great happy hour, their little pork bites are next level! My favorite brunch dates include the Pinecrest farmer’s market and if I want to be a bit fancier, I’d hit Bachour; Their pastries are like nothing else I have ever tasted in Miami.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am fortunate enough to have many positive influences in my life. My mentors at University of St. Augustine for health sciences, especially Dr. Arvie Vitente, Dr. Carmina Rafael, Dr. Loren Szmiga, and Dr. Miguel Garcia have heavily influenced my compassionate clinical approach to patient care. The books of Brandon Sanderson, specifically the Stormlight Archive have influenced my soft-skills with complex patients and have motivated me to always keep one foot in front of the other. My wonderful girlfriend Katherine Velez has taught me patience and has almost single-handedly kept me sane during the embryonic stages of Body Forge’s development. Linda Scialo, my amazing biller without whom, I would be absolutely lost in the sea of vagueness that is the world of health insurance. My brother Marc Perez-Espinosa who always manages to give the best advice at the most appropriate times. Most importantly, I would not be where I was without my amazing parents Dr. Juan-Carlos Perez-Espinosa and Vivian Perez-Espinosa who have tirelessly worked with me to not only build Body Forge brick by brick, but mentored me on the back end of business development and talked me off the ledge more times than I could count. It truly does take a village, and I thank God every day that he has surrounded me with all of these wonderful people who have in one way or another molded me into who I am today.

Website: https://bodyforgept.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodyforge_physical_therapy/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BodyforgePhysicalTherapy

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