Emad Yassa on Building a Career That Spans Healthcare and Global Impact

Emad Yassa is a healthcare entrepreneur and nonprofit founder with more than three decades of professional experience across clinical practice and international philanthropy.

Yassa is the Founder and Chairman of Touch of Love International (TOLI), a nonprofit organisation focused on economic empowerment through micro-loans in underserved communities.

Born and raised in Egypt, Emad studied physical therapy at Cairo University, graduating in 1985. During his university years, he was also a competitive athlete and earned a silver award in single rowing. In 1989, he relocated to the United States, where he began building his career in outpatient physical therapy.

In 1995, Emad founded Physical Therapy and Rehab in West Hills, California. The clinic grew steadily and reflected his hands-on approach to leadership and patient care. After moving to Colorado Springs in 2005, he worked with Cheyenne Mountain Rehab before launching Dynamic Physical Therapy in 2007. He led the practice for over fifteen years, guiding it through growth, operational challenges, and long-term stability. In August 2023, he sold the business to focus full time on his nonprofit work.

Emad founded Touch of Love International in 2006, alongside his clinical career. The organisation provides small micro-loans to individuals and families in Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Nicaragua. His work centres on dignity, accountability, and long-term self-reliance rather than short-term aid.

Today, Emad is recognised for his disciplined leadership style, cross-sector experience, and commitment to building systems that create lasting impact.

A Conversation with Emad Yassa on Building Businesses, Purpose, and Long-Term Impact

Q: You began your career in Egypt. What shaped your early direction?

I grew up in Egypt and studied physical therapy at Cairo University. I was focused on discipline early on. Sports played a big role for me. I rowed competitively and won a silver award while at university. That experience taught me structure and endurance. Those lessons stayed with me long after graduation.

Q: What prompted your move to the United States in 1989?

I wanted broader professional opportunities and exposure to a different healthcare system. Moving countries was challenging, but it pushed me to adapt quickly. I learned how to work within new regulations, new cultures, and higher expectations.

Q: Your first business came in 1995. How did that start?

I founded Physical Therapy and Rehab in West Hills, California. At the time, I was very hands-on. I treated patients, managed operations, and learned the business side through experience. It taught me how important systems and consistency are.

Q: Why did you relocate to Colorado Springs?

In 2005, I moved to Colorado Springs and worked with Cheyenne Mountain Rehab. It gave me a different perspective on practice management and team dynamics. That experience helped prepare me to launch my next clinic.

Q: Dynamic Physical Therapy became a long-term chapter. What made it different?

I founded Dynamic Physical Therapy in 2007. By then, I understood how to build a practice that could last. We focused on steady growth and patient trust. I led the clinic for over fifteen years, which required constant adjustment as healthcare evolved.

Q: You sold the business in 2023. Why then?

It was a deliberate decision. I had already started Touch of Love International years earlier, but I wanted to give it my full attention. Selling the practice allowed me to shift my focus completely.

Q: Tell us about the origin of Touch of Love International.

I founded TOLI in 2006. The idea was simple. Small loans can change lives if they are given responsibly. We work in Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Nicaragua. The focus is self-reliance, not dependency.

Q: How does your business background influence your nonprofit work?

Very directly. Structure, accountability, and follow-through matter in any organisation. I approach the nonprofit with the same discipline I used in healthcare.

Q: How do you define leadership today?

Leadership is about consistency and responsibility. It is showing up, making hard decisions, and building something that lasts beyond you.