Please provide your full name, current location, and current job title.
Dustin Lee Blackman NCBTMB, NCP, LMT. CEO and Therapeutic Massage Practitioner at Shoals Medical Massage Therapy in Muscle Shoals, AL.
Provide one fun fact about you.
I love my job helping people to live a less stressful life by using wide range of modalities. I enjoy keeping up with the massage industry by always continuing my education in field on my free time as well as teaching.
What are your hobbies?
I enjoy cruising around the world and visiting the many different cultures. During my free time I like hiking, working out, training, reading, and cooking.
How did you discover the massage therapy profession?
When I was at a young age, I was very interested in anatomy and physiology of the body. Everyone said I should go to massage school.
What motivated you to pursue massage therapy as a career?
It was definitely a calling. I wanted a career to pursue that I could be happy doing every day, working on a variety of people with specific muscle skeletal issues and ailments using my skills.
How did you develop your passion?
I developed my passion first starting school in Memphis, Tennessee and advanced my career through continued education with NCBTMB. My first job was with the Peabody hotel working with a clientele for general relaxation. Later on in my career, I worked in Memphis at Family Urgent Care, working with doctors in pre/post rehabilitation. This gave me many great experiences, seeing many different people seeking pain management.
How has your massage career evolved?
My career has evolved in owning my practice Shoals Medical Massage Therapy. I enjoy being a great leader in patients’ care by providing my knowledge and expertise in education and massage therapy.
When did you first become NCBTMB Certified?
2004
Why did you elect to become NCBTMB Certified?
It holds me to a higher standard in the massage industry.
Why have you maintained your NCBTMB Certification all these years?
It’s one of the highest achievements you can have in the massage therapy industry. Maintaining it helps me grow every day and reminds me how far I’ve come.
How has NCBTMB Certification elevated your career? What doors did it open for you?
I first started my practice in a small room with a small reception area. And now I’ve partnered with the Chief Medical Officer of Shoals Hospital out of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Because of NCBTMB, my practice is growing every year.
What would you say to a fellow massage therapist contemplating Board Certification?
If you want to be held to a higher standard in the massage industry, I would recommend NCBTMB certification to any fellow massage therapist.
How has your practice and/or employment been affected by COVID-19?
I’ve been taking extra precautions in the clinic by maintaining cleanliness and wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We allow more time in between clients to sanitize. Also, we are doing temperature checks before anyone comes into the facility followed by a COVID-19 intake form. We have placed more policy and procedures to protect our staff and clients.
If you are not working or unable to work during the pandemic, what are you doing during this time to prepare yourself for future work?
Our clinic is currently open.
What would you suggest a fellow massage therapist do during this time to prepare for future success?
If any massage therapist out there is going through any hard times during the pandemic, I would recommend to keep communicating with your clients. If you’re out of work, take the time to achieve continuing education. If you are preparing for the NCBTMB exam, I would suggest a study guide for preparation for certification. The sky is the limit when it comes to success. Become NCBTMB Board Certified.
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To apply for Board Certification, click here.