Meet Oscar Perez | Physical Therapist

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

Hi Oscar, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Our primary mission at OPTherapy & Wellness has been to improve the overall health and wellbeing of our fellow Houstonians. We opened our private practice in the heart of the Greater East End of Houston where we also reside. It was our goal to offer our local community easily accessible, affordable, and reliable physical therapy services. Historically, the Greater East End and surrounding areas had been underserved with limited available options for physical rehabilitation. In the first two years since opening our doors, we have had the privilege of helping improve the quality of life for many members of our community who had suffered with various issues including chronic pain, musculoskeletal injuries, and functional impairments associated with an array of disease processes. We pride ourselves in striving to provide superior customer service in an honest and transparent manner to earn our patients’ and local communities’ trust. Our success to date is owed to our patients’ as they have been our best advocates and marketers.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career path started back in 2009 when I decided to pursue a Masters degree in Athletic Training. While completing my graduate studies, I was introduced to the physical therapy profession and fell in love. I applied to multiple Physical Therapy programs, but unfortunately I was not accepted that first year after grad school. I was given the opportunity to be the Head Athletic Trainer at Hidalgo ISD where I grew up going to school in South Texas. It was a proud moment to start my professional career where my educational journey began as an adolescent. It all felt as if it was coming full circle, but I wasn’t yet ready to give up on my dream of becoming a Physical Therapist. I applied once more to three Physical Therapy programs, and was accepted to the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Tx. After receiving my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2015, I moved back to Houston, Tx to begin my new career. My five year goal was to be able to start my own private practice, but I needed to get experience in the field first. With the support of my amazing wife, Aracely Perez, I started planning and preparing to be able to achieve the goal I set four years prior. I was able to open my private practice, OPTherapy & Wellness, in March 2020. Yes, this was at the beginning of the global pandemic. With the support of my family, friends, mentors, and some amazing local organizations which help new business, we were able to thrive aside the challenges we faced. My wife, Aracely, is the Operations Manager and the brains behind the business. We pride ourselves in being a family owned and operated business where our patients can come receive the one-on-one attention they deserve. This is what our brand is all about, and we are humbled to see this reflected in our patients’ testimonials. Our story is just beginning.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Houston, TX is a melting pot full of diversity, and some amazing cuisine. My taste buds do not discriminate, and my wife and I love to find “hole in the wall” places which are typically authentic family run restaurants. I would invite my best friend to boldly try breakfast tacos from Brother’s Tacos, some awesome Thai food from Street to Kitchen, burgers from M&M Burgers, smoked ribs and brisket from Truth BBQ, and of course some Vietnamese style crawfish from 88 Boiling Crawfish & Seafood Restaurant. The Houston Rodeo is around the corner, and going to the cookoff is a must. We would definitely visit some of the many breweries throughout the city. Who doesn’t like a fresh cold beer?

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Starting a new business during a global pandemic comes with many challenges, but we have been very fortunate to have had the ongoing support of local organizations such as Baker Ripley and the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce. Since before opening our doors on March 2020, we have taken advantage of utilizing the many valuable business development resources these organizations have to offer. We are indebted to them, our local community, and many others for all the positive reinforcement that helped us overcome the challenges that come with establishing a new business. Thank you!

Website: www.optherapywellness.com

Instagram: optherapy_wellness

Facebook: @OPTherapyWellness

Other: Google: https://g.page/r/CRgb8sikONaUEAE