Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Mallow, PT, DPT.
Hi Victoria, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I had wanted to become a Physical Therapist since adolescence but I didn’t actually go that route right away. After college, I decided to try my hand at teaching and I earned a Master’s Degree in Science Education from Columbia University. I taught high school Biology and after two years of teaching, decided my true passion still lied in rehab.
At that point, I enrolled in the Doctorate program at Washington University in St. Louis. I was truly lucky to have received my training at this institution because they employ many of the leading researchers in the field of PT and provide much more exposure to the pelvic health specialty than most programs. I was even able to complete a focused study in pelvic health while enrolled. After graduating, I ultimately took my first job in the acute care setting, working with veterans at the Baltimore VA Hospital. It was about two years into practicing, in both inpatient and outpatient environments, when I began thinking more and more about pelvic health. I took many additional continuing education courses, participated in hands-on mentoring, and became a certified Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist as well. My family and I relocated to South Florida and about nine months later, the pandemic hit. This caused me to be furloughed and, during my time at home, I was able to really re-evaluate my long-term goals. I already knew my passion lied in the field of pelvic health and I truly felt that in order to provide the most quality care for my patients, I would need to create an environment that would be dedicated solely to pelvic floor dysfunction and provide a calm and supportive atmosphere. This is when Restore Pelvic Health & Rehab was born!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting my own practice came with a lot of challenges. First a foremost, I was attempting to start a practice from scratch, in an area that I was new to, in the middle of a pandemic. Being new to the region, I did not have an established support network and other providers in the area had no idea who I was. I’m also a mom to two young children who needed me and were suddenly home 24/7 when the country went into lockdown.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
In December of 2020, I opened my doors in a tiny space that I rented within a large office building. I started with one single patient on my schedule and built steadily ever since. In July of 2021, I moved into a large clinic space of my own and this current space is something I am really proud of. My clinic has a calming and safe feel to it. We have soft music playing, lots of natural light, and it includes a waiting area, large exercise space, and three private treatment rooms.
At Restore Pelvic Health & Rehab, I treat a wide variety of women with bowel and bladder symptoms, pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, and those who are pregnant and postpartum. A large portion of my patients come to me with complex pelvic pain conditions, such as those caused by Endometriosis, Interstitial Cystitis, and Vulvodynia. Each visit is one-on-one with me and a full hour in length. I individualize each patient’s care plan and take a comprehensive, hands-on approach to evaluating all aspects that could be contributing to their symptoms. I am also a trauma-informed provider and work with many women who are trauma survivors. It is very important to me that patients be educated in their bodies and treatment plans. As a patient, there is nothing worse than feeling rushed and leaving a provider’s office with unanswered questions!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success as building a life you are proud of and happy to wake up to every day. For some people, this means building a business or career. For others, this may look more like home and family life.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@restorepelvicrehab.com
- Website: www.restorepelvicrehab.com
- Instagram: @restorepelvicrehab_boca
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Restorepelvicrehab/
Image Credits
@cristinapelinophotography (for the one headshot photo of me)
