Meet Your Local Business: Pete Dills of Therapeutic Associates East Portland Physical Therapy

1. What does your business do?
   We’re a physical therapy clinic that specializes in movement rehabilitation. At our clinic, we believe that physical therapy can benefit anyone who is dealing with a movement related problem, not just those that are injured. In addition to our rehabilitative services, we also offer wellness, fitness, and general movement related classes and services to better serve our community through our Movement Arts Project Studio.
2. How long have you been doing business in Montavilla?
   We just moved into our new location on Glisan Street on October 1st 2017 after spending 5 years at our old location on 102nd. I’ve been a clinic director since 2013, but Therapeutic Associates East Portland has been around for 34 years serving Gateway, Hazelwood, and Montavilla neighborhoods.
3. Did you always want to do physical therapy?
   When I was growing up, I wanted to be an architect. I always liked design work, especially through the very structured and defined lens of architecture. I had a great biology professor in high school that piqued my interest in exercise physiology. Although I started college thinking I’d like to go to medical school, but ultimately felt that physical therapy better fit my interests and personality. I fell in love with the idea of understanding the human body, movement, and ultimately, helping others understand and improve their own movement related difficulties.
4. What might readers be surprised to know about your business?
   Physical Therapy doesn’t have to be painfull! Generally, patients report feeling better when they leave. We are in the business of empowering and working as a team with our patients. We believe in setting up individual treatment plans for each and every one of our patients/clients.
5. What do you like to do outside of your business?
   I’m a runner – I just did my first marathon last May! In the winters, I love to ski. Generally, I try to stay active, and my family certainly keeps me active outside of work. I have 2 wonderful children, ages 3 and 1 and I love spending time with them and my wife in our back yard in the summer and early Fall.
6. If Montavilla had a theme song, what would it be?
   We’re All in This Together by Ben Lee. The whole community in Montavilla, between business and neighbors, is tight-knit. We can all benefit from each other’s success.
7. What does a perfect day in Montavilla look like to you?
   There’s nothing better than spending a sunny day running on Mt. Tabor. We love the Observatory. It was one of the first places I went to in Montavilla, so we’d have to stop there as well. Also, with our new clinic build-out, I have honed my woodworking skills, and you can’t beat cruising around Mr. Plywood looking at their stock, dreaming about the next project. I’d end the day at Montavilla Brew Works, drinking any of their Pales or IPAs.

Pictured Above, Left to Right: Elizabeth Bilotta, Jaelin Cola, Pete Dills, Kai Berkedal, Kimberly Morrison, Jessica McConahay

Therapeutic Associates East Portland Physical Therapy is located at 8028 NE Glisan St, #B and is open from 6am-6pm Monday-Friday.