Getting a Blackbelt in Listening with Dr Jason Han

·25 min·2 clips

How did a mentor spot Dr. Han's old ankle injury just by watching him move?

The episode begins with host Dr. Reeve introducing guest Dr. Jason Han, a physical therapist and author. Han shares his background as a former U.S. national Taekwondo team member, which led him to pursue physical therapy. He attended Washington University, where he learned the MSI approach under Shirley Sarman, a manual therapy skeptic. During a clinical rotation at Athletes Performance, mentor Omi Iwasaki identified Han's past ankle injury through movement analysis, prompting an epiphany about integrating manual therapy for faster results. After graduating, Han completed a sports residency at the University of Pittsburgh, working with the Steelers. He later treated performers at Cirque du Soleil in Hollywood, noting the varied injuries and longevity in different acts. Han then opened a cash-based practice, influenced by figures like Jared Carter and Paul Goff, scaling it to 16 staff members. He also served as a physical therapist for LAFC for six years before leaving in early 2024. The core of the episode focuses on Han's book, which marries his martial arts experience to physical therapy. He details five principles of listening: with ears for subjective history, eyes for movement analysis, hands for tactile feedback, brain for synthesis, and heart for empathy. Han discusses the importance of humility and checking ego, contrasting his early career approach with his current patient-centered style. He highlights challenges in insurance-based settings versus cash-based practices, where more time allows for deeper listening. The conversation touches on soft skills often overlooked in clinical training, such as being present and calming oneself during patient interactions. Han emphasizes that listening extends beyond therapy to all life aspects, improving outcomes through genuine connection. The episode concludes with information on where to find Han's book and practice.

As heard by us

A physical therapist's move from pro sports to practice-building turns listening into a practical leadership discipline.

Listening comes through here as a practical discipline for clinical work and business leadership. The conversation tracks Dr. Jason Han from physical therapy and pro sports into the practice he built with his wife, a chiropractor, and their staff of about 16.

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Want Jason Han's route into listening, leadership, and practice-building in one PT conversation?

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