Back pain piques interest to become a physical therapist

Each month ``Transitions" profiles an individual who has made significant changes in his or her work life and highlights the techniques used to make the changes.

James Agostino first suffered excruciating back pain when he was a senior at Lexington High School and a captain of the lacrosse team. But little did he know that when he finally sought help for his discomfort in his 20s, from his younger brother Pat, it would eventually put him on a path to a new career.

Pat Agostino is a licensed physical therapist who, when he treated James for his back pain, made a prescient observation. `` `Maybe you ought to look into physical therapy,' " Agostino recalled his brother telling him. `` `You'd be perfect.' "

At the time, James Agostino had been working in systems engineering at Raytheon for five years and had been named manager of a key missile guidance systems testing laboratory. He went into the field on the advice of a guidance counselor -- he was good at math and science -- and because ``it was the hot major at the time." He'd been told by a Raytheon senior manager that he had a promising future, but would need a master's degree if he wanted to move up the corporate ladder. So Agostino enrolled in night courses in engineering but had misgivings about committing his working life to the company.

``I enjoyed my work, but ever since I was a kid I had wanted to do something where I could help out and interact with people on a personal level," Agostino recalled. ``I also knew I didn't want to do what I was doing for the next 30 years."

With his back feeling better, and his curiosity about a possible career alternative piqued, Agostino began to explore the possibility in a methodical fashion. He asked three area hospitals if he could observe their physical therapy operations to see if the field interested him. Agostino was so taken by what he saw that he dropped his engineering program and started taking anatomy and physiology classes at Massachusetts Bay Community College.

Agostino then volunteered as a physical therapist for a half-day a week at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. ``It was such a major shift," he said. ``I had to be sure it was the right move." Equally important was the unequivocal support from his fiancee, which he said made the ``crucial difference" in his decision.

When he quit Raytheon in 1997, most of his colleagues ``thought I was completely nuts." Shortly after, while sitting in his first lecture in the master's in physical therapy program at Boston University, Agostino thought the same thing. ``I broke into a complete sweat," he said. ``I've got no job, no income. I've drained all my savings, and I'm getting married in six months. What am I doing?"

Two and a half years later, a married Agostino had graduated and passed his state licensing exam. His first year out he worked at Beth Israel. He spent another year in Needham at an outpatient clinic, important experience if he wanted to eventually run his own business.

He also discovered patients' insurance limited the amount of treatment he could provide for them to truly get well. ``Many people had more than one issue needing attention, yet as soon as I treated the initial symptoms, I had to send them away," Agostino said. ``It was frustrating. I could not treat the whole person."

Even before starting his master's program, Agostino had floated the idea of going into business with his brother. Now, he saw the emerging outline of how that might happen. What Agostino envisioned was a fitness facility where the physical therapist was at the center of the individual's workout program -- and not just for the short-term. This ``medical partner" was the missing link, he felt, in most people's fitness regimen.

Agostino spent nine months working at a gym in Needham learning the ins and outs of running a fitness facility. He then prepared a business plan, working with his brother, their wives and a ``mentor" at a Small Business Administration office to research and write the plan.

It took a year to write the plan, and $500,000 to launch the new business. Agostino and his brother mortgaged their homes, emptied their savings, and borrowed heavily from family.

Peoplefit's doors opened in December 2004. The center markets itself as offering fitness services specifically for men over age 40, and women of all ages. Just 1 1/2 years into the operation, the membership had more than doubled their projections, with Agostino getting many referrals from doctors' offices and through word-of-mouth. He is also getting inquiries about franchising the concept.

Agostino's personal financial situation has also surpassed his expectations. He had initially assumed he would never equal his previous income at Raytheon. Instead, he's now making roughly double his old salary.

Still, Agostino credits his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering as ``the best thing I ever did." Even though he isn't in the field anymore, he said his training continues to pay off.

``The beauty of an engineering background is that it gives you the ability to analyze problems in an effective way. You can use the same thought process and apply it to anything else."

But there were tough parts along the transition as well. Not being the breadwinner in the early days conflicted with his ``traditional Italian family upbringing." And it was also very difficult for him to give up his image of himself as a white-collar professional.

Finally, Agostino is allowing himself to relax: After not taking a vacation for five years, he and his wife are ``very excited" about a week off on Cape Cod with their two children this summer.

If you have a career transition story you would be willing to share, please e-mail transitions@bostonworks.com. Include your name, phone number, and a brief description of your career change.