Twenty-five years ago, I opened the doors to a small practice in Boskruin.
I didn’t have a grand master plan. I just knew one thing for certain: I wanted to help people feel better, not just physically but in a way that made them feel seen, heard, and supported.
What I didn’t realise then… was how much this journey would shape me too.
Where it all began
In 2001, it was just me, a treatment bed, and a deep belief that physiotherapy could be more than a quick fix.
I had trained at WITS University, I had the clinical knowledge, but what mattered most to me was connection. Listening. Understanding. Taking the time.
In those early days, every patient mattered deeply because every patient was the practice.
There’s something humbling about starting small. You do everything. You learn fast. You show up, even on the days you’re not sure you can.
Growth didn’t happen overnight
If I look back now, the growth from one practice to five across Johannesburg didn’t come from chasing expansion.
It came from staying consistent.
From caring about the details. From building trust. From surrounding myself with people who share the same values.
Over time, I realised I wasn’t just building a practice. I was building a team. A culture. A space where people could grow.
A place where: People feel supported. Learning never stops. And coming to work feels meaningful.
That matters to me more than anything.
The work beyond the treatment room
One of the biggest surprises in my journey has been how far this work can reach.
Through lecturing, board roles, and working with organisations locally and internationally, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to something bigger than my own practice.
Being part of PhysioFocus, South African Society of Physiotherapy Private Practitioners Forum, and International Private Physical Therapy Association has allowed me to support and advocate for the profession in ways I never imagined when I started.
But at the heart of it, it always comes back to the same thing: Helping people move better, live better, and feel better.
What has stayed the same
Over 25 years, a lot has changed. Technology. Treatments. The way we run businesses.
But some things haven’t changed at all.
I still believe healing is not just physical. Patients are people, not cases. And the best outcomes come from a combination of science and care.
Whether it’s working with chronic pain, post-surgery recovery, or simply helping someone get back to their life, the approach has always been the same: treat the person, not just the problem.
The parts people don’t always see
There have been long days. Tough decisions. Moments of doubt.
Building something over 25 years requires more than passion. It takes resilience. It takes showing up when things feel uncertain. It takes backing yourself, even when it would be easier not to.
And yes, it takes hustle.
But it also takes support.
My family has been my anchor through all of this. Steven, Jorja, and Kenzie have walked this journey with me in ways that are hard to put into words.
Looking back… and forward
If I could speak to the version of myself who started in 2001, I would say this:
Keep going. Trust your instincts. And don’t lose the heart behind why you started.
Twenty-five years later, I’m incredibly proud of what Samantha Dunbar Inc. has become.
But I’m even more excited about what’s still to come.
Because this was never just about building a business.
It was always about building something that makes a difference.
Thank you
To every patient who trusted us. To every team member who gave their best. To every person who has been part of this journey.
Thank you.
You are the reason this story exists.
