Man, I finally got the chance to sit down and talk shop with someone I have a ton of respect for, Toko Nguyen from the Institute of Athletic Regeneration (IAR) down in Houston. You might know IAR from their con ed, residencies, or fellowships. I know when we get an IAR fellow in our Mastermind wanting to start a practice, it's like shooting fish in a barrel because their clinical skills are just top notch.

In this episode, Toko shares his incredible journey, from his family escaping Vietnam as refugees to building multiple successful ventures: his education company IAR, his unique 30 minute cash practice model run out of a performance facility, and even working with the Houston Texans. We dive deep into his insane work ethic, how he manages his time across multiple demanding roles (hint: faculty development and an amazing wife!), the importance of building collaborative relationships (like with trainers in his facility), and overcoming the initial discomfort of charging what you're worth.

We also get into what makes an effective educator and clinician. Spoiler: it's not just about the hard skills. Toko emphasizes confidence, self awareness, and prioritizing patient education and communication above all else. We talk about mentorship, whether clinicians rush expertise, and how developing trust is fundamentally similar to sales. This is a packed conversation with a guy who truly walks the walk. Listen in!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Building strong faculty and resources is key to scaling educational programs and managing time effectively across multiple ventures.
• A unique cash practice model (like Toko's 30 min, manual focused sessions collaborating with trainers) can be highly efficient and successful.
• Overcoming imposter syndrome and discomfort with pricing is a common hurdle; value often grows with experience and demand, but you have to start somewhere.
• Effective education and clinical practice hinge heavily on confidence, self awareness, and exceptional patient communication and education skills, not just technical knowledge or research.
• Mentorship significantly accelerates the development of clinical expertise and crucial "soft skills" like communication and building trust.
• Building trust and educating patients on the value you provide is essentially "selling" them on a plan for a future outcome: a vital skill.
• Finding the right faculty/mentor fit is crucial when choosing post professional training. The experience and clinical pearls they offer make the difference.

🧠 Pro Tip:

Focus relentlessly on patient education and communication. As Toko says, knowing the psychological component and being able to verbalize things in a way the patient understands and builds trust is paramount. If you suck at that, you'll struggle as a clinician, no matter how good your hands on skills are. Patient values and connection come first.

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