Dr Tami Peavy - Twine Together

Meet Dr. Tami Peavy: Pioneering Pulmonary Rehab with Purpose and Power

By Teresa Howes | Twine Featured Founder Interview

With over 25 years of experience as an business owner, Dr. Tami Peavy is a lifelong entrepreneur whose work is revolutionizing how we think about rehab—especially for people with chronic lung conditions. As the founder and CEO of La Mesa Rehab, the only comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility (CORF) of its kind in San Diego, Dr. Tami is on a mission to raise awareness for a life-changing, but often overlooked, treatment: pulmonary rehabilitation.

From Pediatrics to Pulmonary: A Career Rooted in Impact

Dr. Tami launched her first clinic right out of grad school—a multiservice pediatric therapy clinic that quickly scaled to 15 therapists. But after nearly a decade, she felt called to shift her focus. She moved to California, opened two new practices in Los Angeles, and later acquired La Mesa Rehab. Her goal? To create a specialized clinic providing respiratory therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician services and social work to severely underserved population—people with COPD, long COVID, and other chronic respiratory conditions.

“Less than 5% of people in the US with lung disease ever get referred to Pulmonary Rehab and it can literally extend your life and improve your lungs.”

A One-of-a-Kind Clinic

What makes La Mesa Rehab unique? It’s not just the evidence-based physical therapy or the supportive team culture—it’s the pioneering treatments like salt therapy (halo therapy), diaphragmatic training, and a commitment to serve those who often fall through the cracks of traditional healthcare. Located in East County, La Mesa Rehab provides vital services that many patients can’t access in other parts of San Diego due to cost, distance, or lack of referral.

An Intentional Founder

“I’ve always owned my own businesses,” says Dr. Tami Peavy, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and lifelong entrepreneur. From multi-disciplinary pediatric clinics to physical therapy practices in Los Angeles and now to her specialized pulmonary rehabilitation center in San Diego, Dr. Peavy has spent three decades helping people heal. But it’s her deeply personal connection to lung disease that fuels her current mission at La Mesa Rehab.

“My father died of emphysema. He was never referred to a clinic like this. I know I could’ve added five to seven years to his life if he had access to this kind of care.”

Pioneering Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Dr. Peavy’s work is cutting-edge—and surprisingly rare.

“There are only about 300 specialty clinics like this in the entire country,”

She explains, referencing her facility’s designation as a Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF). With a heavy focus on underserved communities in East County San Diego, her clinic offers an alternative to hospital-attached programs and provides vital services to patients with COPD, interstitial lung disease, long COVID, and other pulmonary conditions.

“We’re not just providing therapy—we’re giving people back their quality of life.”

A Businesswoman with a Heart for Innovation

Before opening La Mesa Rehab in 2017, Dr. Peavy had already founded multiple successful clinics. Her entrepreneurial drive was backed by an MBA and shaped by a decade-long career in advertising on Madison Avenue.

“I went into business knowing I wanted to build something lasting. I also knew I needed real-world experience first,”

That led her to orthopedics, burn centers, and hospital care—before going all-in on her first clinic. Her marketing instincts remain strong:

“When you’re having a rough time, don’t pull your marketing budget. You’re building a brand.”

The People Make the Practice

What sets La Mesa Rehab apart isn’t just its services—it’s the people. Dr. Peavy attributes her clinic’s culture to intentional leadership.

“Our patients always comment on how our team communicates and cares for one another. That starts at the top.”

She leads with respect, mentorship, and genuine gratitude, saying hello and goodbye to each staff member daily.

“I wasn’t always like that. I used to be all business, but I’ve learned that the culture you build is everything.”

Big Vision, Real Growth

La Mesa Rehab has seen 20-30% growth year-over-year since Dr. Peavy took over in 2017. And she’s not slowing down. She’s currently expanding services, seeking a research partner for her halo (salt) therapy work, and stepping into more public speaking opportunities. She’s also aiming to build out a new vertical focused on pickleball injury prevention—a nod to her ever-evolving interests and community focus.