Devin Harms was in her twenties, shortly out of grad school, and found herself working as a physical therapy clinic director in San Francisco. "I didn't know a thing about management, but I ended up managing 10 people and learned a ton about marketing, finances, and running a business," she says. "But I got overwhelmed." She ended up seeing way too many patients a day and running herself ragged, so she started her own practice in 2007. When she met her now-husband and moved to Montana in 2014, she brought that entrepreneurial spirit with her, opening a solo practice in Whitefish. The journey since then has been one of growth, learning, and ultimately, simplification.
"I remember my dad telling me, 'Stick with what you know,'" Devin shares. After experimenting with wellness center concepts and independent contractors, she restructured Physio Whitefish in 2022 with the help of Nicole Macaluso, PT, DPT, CMPT, OCS, whom she now considers her COO. They built a full-time staff, let go of what wasn't working, and returned to what Devin does best: quality physical therapy in a space designed for healing.
Today, Physio Whitefish is Devin's dream business—a thriving practice with seven therapists, three support staff, and a culture built on balance and quality care. "I want to give people a space to work where they feel well cared for and appreciated," she shares. "I'm about patient care, quality care, and a healthy balance for my staff. I don't want them to burn out or myself to burn out."
What sets Physio apart is time and touch. Everyone gets a full hour with a physical therapist—all hands-on manual therapy, no rotating through aides or machines. The team specializes in everything from neurological issues (spinal cord injury, Parkinson's, vertigo) to sports injuries and ACL rehab. Four therapists offer dry needling with STEM. Nicole and Kirby Ahlstrom focus on pelvic health. Devin, PT, DPT, Cert. DN, Kate Brady, and Bryan Michel all specialize in manual therapy. Kim Givler is their neuro specialist, and Kenny Carpenter is the sports guy, doing amazing work with high-level athletes. It's the whole team that makes the dream.
"We cater to the individual," Devin explains. "What works for someone doesn't work for everyone. For me, it's nice to have someone come in and feel like it's a challenge—it's fun to figure out the mystery of the body."
But beyond the technical skills, there's something else happening at Physio. The space doesn't feel clinical. "I want people to feel comfortable and be able to let down their guard," she says. "It is imperative that our patients feel as though they are walking into a soothing climate where they feel safe enough to release tension, share their story, and trust their therapist." Physical therapy, after all, involves more than just treating the body. "As soon as you touch someone's body, they open up, and there is an opportunity to connect with them. It's almost impossible not to become friends with some of your clients. It's a healing thing to have someone carry you through the healing process—it's both physical and it can be mental and emotional."
Her advice in the depths of ski season? Don't wait. "It's easier to work on an acute injury than a chronic one. People generally wait way too long. Don't ignore little things—they often turn into big things."
We only have this one body, after all. Let's give it the attention it deserves.
"I want to give people a space to work where they feel well cared for and appreciated."