Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah McNurlin.
Hi Sarah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I always knew I wanted to be in the medical field. Like a lot of people who end up in physical therapy, I was a high school athlete with a bunch of injuries, so I became pretty familiar with the profession early on. What really drew me in was the opportunity to build deeper relationships with people. Physical therapy felt like a natural fit. One of my strengths is really understanding the whole person—who they are, what they’re going through, and how that plays a role in their pain, their recovery, and their injuries. Pain is almost always multifactorial, so getting to know someone on that deeper level allows me to provide the best care possible for them.
I started my career working for a few larger companies, but those settings never really felt like home. In 2019, I joined a smaller practice, which gave me the chance to grow into the kind of practitioner I wanted to be. But then, out of the blue, I lost my job in December of 2020. It was right in the thick of the pandemic. Clinics were on hiring freezes, and things felt really uncertain. At the time, starting my own practice seemed like my only viable option.
I had 30 days left in my contract with my previous job, and I used that time to work full-time as a PT while building a business from scratch. I had never started a business before. My only business knowledge came from a single college class, but I knew I had to go for it. So I built a website, picked a name, set up my EMR system, hired a photographer, created branding, and got everything rolling. By January 2021, Pinyon Physical Therapy was born. I named it after the pinyon pine tree, native to both Utah and Colorado—my home and where I was born. The pinyon pine is known for its resilience. It thrives in tough, dry conditions, growing slowly but steadily, with deep roots and remarkable strength. It’s not flashy or fast-growing, but it endures.
That felt like the perfect metaphor, not only for my journey as a business owner, but also for how I approach care in the clinic. I believe in sustainable healing, in meeting people where they are, and in helping them grow stronger over time—even in less-than-ideal conditions. That spirit is at the heart of everything I do at Pinyon.
I started in a small treatment room that I quickly outgrew. When I began looking for a new space, I realized that in order to give Pinyon PT the home I wanted, I’d have to think bigger. So I started searching for larger spaces and eventually decided to open a collaborative workspace. Signing a multi-year lease on a large space by myself was terrifying. I knew I’d need other professionals in the space to help make it financially viable, but I deeply believed in the vision.
That space eventually became Trolley Healing Hub—a collaborative home for physical therapists, mental health providers, massage therapists, and other wellness professionals. We share a waiting room and gym space, and the hub has become a container for many small businesses to grow, connect, and thrive.
Since 2021, I’ve launched two businesses on my own, both of which have brought me immense joy, community, and personal growth.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a business during the height of the pandemic was no small thing. In-person interactions were still limited, and COVID was still a big concern. I couldn’t rely on traditional marketing methods like hosting events or in-person gatherings, so I leaned into social media, word of mouth, and building genuine connections.
When I opened the Trolley Healing Hub, the build-out process was intense. One of the great things about the space was that I got to design it exactly how I wanted. I prioritized light-filled treatment rooms, carved out thoughtful spaces, and focused on details that would make the space feel like home. But we ran into big delays. The city permitting process took much longer than expected, but luckily I was connected with someone from the city who was able to help us. We also had the incredibly sad and unexpected loss of our contractor, who passed away during construction. That brought everything to a halt and pushed our move-in date from March to August. During that time, I had multiple businesses lined up to move in. They had to find temporary spaces, and so did I. It was a stressful time. I felt a deep responsibility to the other business owners and to my own clients. I’m so grateful to those clients who were willing to work with me in far-from-ideal spaces and continued to show patience and trust.
Another challenge I often get asked about is why I allow other PTs to work in the same space as my own practice. People assume it would feel like competition. But to me, it’s never been about that. I believe there’s an abundance of people who need care, and we all bring unique skills to the table. Collaboration has always been more valuable to me than competition.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Pinyon Physical Therapy and Trolley Healing Hub?
Pinyon Physical Therapy is an outpatient orthopedic clinic based in Salt Lake City. We work with a wide range of people—from professional mountain athletes and CrossFitters to weekend warriors and individuals living with chronic pain. No matter who walks through the door, our goal is the same: to provide highly skilled, individualized care that helps people not just heal, but thrive and deepen their relationship with their bodies along the way.
We offer a variety of services including orthopedic physical therapy, dry needling, wellness coaching, running evaluations, and strength training. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing persistent pain, or looking to improve performance, we tailor each plan specifically to your needs, goals, and lifestyle.
We’re known for blending evidence-based practice with a compassionate, whole-person approach. That’s earned us recognition in multiple Best of Utah categories, including Best Physical Therapist, Best Physical Therapy Clinic, Best Dry Needling, Best Sports Medicine, and Best Spine Center.
What really sets us apart, though, is our philosophy. We don’t sell fear, instead we offer hope. In a world where healthcare marketing often leans into scare tactics, we believe in empowering people. We help our clients reconnect to the strength and potential within them, no matter where they’re starting. Progress might be slow or subtle at times, but we believe there is always room to grow.
At Pinyon, we’re not just treating pain—we’re helping people rediscover what their bodies are capable of.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Luck is a funny thing. I have had both “good” and “bad” luck along the way. But I have come to believe that even bad luck sometimes ends up being a gift.
Losing my job in 2020 was incredibly hard. I didn’t plan on being a business owner at that point in my life. But if that hadn’t happened, I don’t think I ever would’ve taken the leap to build something of my own. That loss was the push I needed to step into something I never imagined I’d be doing—and now, I can’t imagine my life without it.
The whole build out process of Trolley Healing Hub was full of mishap after mishap, but the people around me showed up in surprising and generous ways. A friend-of-a-friend connected me with someone in the city who got our permits moving again. Tenants stuck with me even as timelines shifted. Clients kept showing up. That kind of support doesn’t always get talked about when we talk about luck, but to me, that’s what good luck looks like.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pinyonpt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.sarahmcnurlin.dpt/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.SarahMcNurlinDPT
- Other: @pinyonpt (instagram), @trolleyhealinghub (instagram)
