Meet the #AbsaSmallBizFriday Featured Business of the week – Samantha Dunbar Inc.
Founded in 2001, Samantha Dunbar Inc. brings over 23 years of expertise to physiotherapy and biokinetics. Their network spans Bromhof, Boskruin, Fourways, Northriding, Hillfox, and Rosebank, ensuring accessibility for all. Comprising a dedicated team of full-time registered physiotherapists and biokineticists, they are driven by a shared commitment to fostering health and wellness within their vibrant community.
Being a physiotherapist and business owner has been one of passion, persistence, and continuous growth. It began in 2001 when Samantha Dunbar opened her first private practice in Boskruin, Johannesburg, after earning her BSc in Physiotherapy from WITS and her MSc from Stellenbosch University.
Driven by a deep interest in rehabilitation and helping people regain their physical strength, Samantha focused on outpatient care, pre/post-surgery rehabilitation, and sports injuries, with a special focus on back and neck conditions, including craniosacral therapy. What started as a single practice has now grown into Samantha Dunbar Inc., a network of five physiotherapy clinics. This expansion is the result of her dedication to providing high-quality patient care and staying at the cutting edge of physiotherapy.
Alongside clinical work, Samantha Dunbar has taken pride in lecturing on sports physiotherapy and orthopaedic manipulative therapy courses, helping to educate aspiring physiotherapists and sharing her passion for the field.
As a business leader, she has focused on sustainable growth and positive community impact. Samantha has implemented eco-friendly practices, such as using electronic notes and statements to reduce their environmental footprint. Additionally, her commitment to giving back to the community remains a key focus, with plans to expand their services to underserved areas through mobile clinics.
Samantha Dunbar has been honoured with the South African Business Woman of the Year Award (2011) and the South African Woman of the Year Award (2018), which recognise her efforts to balance business success with professional and community contributions.
Leadership roles in PhysioFocus and the South African Private Practitioners Forum have further allowed her to advocate for the advancement of physiotherapy in South Africa. At its core, her business journey reflects a commitment to healthcare excellence, mentorship, and making a difference. Samantha Dunbar’s mission is to elevate patient care and contribute meaningfully to both the profession and the community by growing future physios.
Samantha Dunbar names her family as one of her greatest successes. Her next success was being able to survive COVID. Even though Samantha Dunbar Inc. is an essential service, she had to temporarily close four branches and work on skeleton staff during COVID due to the restrictions on travel that had been placed on communities. All staff members received full salaries throughout the period, and they survived.
Finally, another success she highlights is her commitment to community and social responsibility. Every day, Samantha has the challenge and opportunity to impact people’s lives by returning them to their daily activities, pain-free and fully functioning. She is exposed to all walks of life, with pain impacting each patient differently, from loss of income to inability to participate in hobbies and sports, and caring for their family.
Samantha Dunbar’s journey as a physiotherapist and business owner has profoundly shaped her values and approach. Starting in 2001 with a single practice, she has learned the importance of resilience, adaptability, and patient-centred care. This journey has instilled a commitment to continuous learning, leading her to share her expertise through lecturing and mentoring future physiotherapists.
Looking ahead, she envisions Samantha Dunbar Inc. expanding to include more clinics, focusing on underserved communities through mobile healthcare initiatives. Sustainability will remain a priority as we adopt eco-friendly practices and enhance patient care. Ultimately, she aims to elevate the physiotherapy profession while positively impacting the community by fostering a culture of excellence and compassion.
In 2024, Samantha Dunbar Inc. was one of the Top 20 award winners at the South African Small Business Awards – this prestigious awards programme celebrates the most outstanding businesses and the exceptional business people behind these successful and growing businesses.
We look forward to seeing Samantha and her team at Samantha Dunbar Inc. continue to grow and build a more inclusive, healthy future for all.
The Small Business Friday Movement, sponsored by Absa, encourages all South Africans to go out there and support local small businesses. It’s a 365 day drive that peaks on the first Friday of Spring every year. Find out more about #AbsaSmallBizFriday here and read about more of our featured small business heroes here.