RCC Students Visit RehabHero Don Mills: Learning the Business Behind Healthcare

One of the things we believe strongly at the Royal Canadian College of Massage Therapy is that great practitioners should also understand the business of healthcare.

Massage therapy programs traditionally focus on developing clinical skills - which is essential - but many graduates leave school without a clear understanding of how clinics actually operate, how teams function, or what it takes to build a successful healthcare practice.

That’s why RCC places an emphasis on entrepreneurship and real-world exposure throughout the program.

Recently, our Term 2 and Term 4 students had the opportunity to visit RehabHero Don Mills, where Physiotherapist and Co-Owner Tuan Huynh hosted the group and shared his journey into clinic ownership.

Tuan’s path was anything but typical. Originally studying Medical Health Physics and pursuing a passion for breakdancing, he eventually became a physiotherapist and entrepreneur, helping build RehabHero into a thriving multidisciplinary clinic.

Joining him was RCC alumnus Michael, who now works as an RMT at RehabHero - a proud moment for us, and a reminder that many RCC graduates are contributing to some of the region’s most collaborative clinics.

What stood out most during the visit was RehabHero’s philosophy.

At RehabHero, the focus isn’t just on understanding different healthcare professions — it’s about understanding the people behind those professions and building a strong team culture.

Their model emphasizes:

• Breaking down professional silos
• Collaboration between disciplines
• Mentorship within the clinic
• Cultural fit and team building
• A shared commitment to better patient outcomes

This kind of environment reflects the direction healthcare is moving - toward integrated, team-based care.

For RCC students, the visit also reinforced an important lesson: even if you never plan to open your own clinic, understanding how a business operates makes you a better healthcare professional.

Entrepreneurship is about more than ownership.

It’s about understanding how clinics grow, how teams function, how patients find care, and how practitioners contribute to the success of the entire organization.

Our Term 2 students, who are currently developing business plans as part of their coursework, were able to see how these ideas translate into the real world.

Our Term 4 students, who are starting to think about life after graduation, gained valuable insight into what a strong clinic culture looks like and what employers value in new practitioners.

Experiences like this help RCC students see the bigger picture of where massage therapy fits within the broader healthcare system.

We’re grateful to Tuan and the entire RehabHero team for opening their doors to our students, sharing their story, and demonstrating what collaboration in healthcare truly looks like.

And we’re especially proud to hear that many of RehabHero’s RMTs come from RCC.

Partnerships like this are an important part of our mission to prepare graduates not just to practice massage therapy - but to thrive in the real world of healthcare.