Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Gabby Giordano, D.C..
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always been deeply passionate about health and wellness. Growing up, I was an athlete and captain of my high school’s fitness team, which eventually led me to compete in bodybuilding and work as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. For a long time, I thought I’d become a medical doctor. But after shadowing in clinical settings and learning more about the healthcare system, I felt disillusioned by the focus on pharmaceuticals and the reactive, high-volume model of care. At the time, I was a sophomore in college, feeling a bit lost, and decided to pivot—changing my major from biology to business, thinking it would be a versatile degree that could open many doors. I went on to earn my Master’s in International Business and spent several years working in corporate tech. That career brought me to the Bay Area, where I moved up the ladder quickly—but just as quickly realized that corporate America wasn’t where I was meant to be.
I kept coming back to what truly drives me: helping people feel their best through movement, lifestyle, and holistic care. That’s what ultimately led me back to school to become a chiropractor—so I could integrate my passions for proactive wellness, rehab-focused movement, and nutrition. I graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic West and moved to San Diego, where I had the opportunity to work with the San Diego City Ballet and alongside a mentor in a family practice. During that time, I also completed a 500-hour Comprehensive Pilates training, which deeply influenced my rehab approach. I saw firsthand how low-impact, intentional movement could be both healing and transformative.
From there, Pacific Performance was born. I opened my first location in Bird Rock in July 2024, combining chiropractic care with Pilates-based rehab to help people heal through movement and meaningful lifestyle change. I quickly outgrew that space and recently expanded to my new office in my neighborhood, Pacific Beach, with the hope of continuing to bring whole-body, personalized care to my community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was absolutely not a smooth road! One of my biggest sturggles early on was feeling very lost in my tech career. I was “successful” by most external standards, but I was deeply unfulfilled. It took a lot of sleepless nights, soul-searching, and more than a few tears before I had the courage to make a change and pursue something that felt meaningful.
Going back to school after being out for several years was a massive adjustment. I had to completely shift my lifestyle, relearn how to study, and dedicate myself fully to becoming the best doctor I could be. I didn’t come from a strong science background like many of my classmates, so that first year was all about playing catch-up—and working twice as hard just to stay afloat.
When I graduated, I naively thought everything would just fall into place. But I quickly found myself in a job that mirrored the same high-volume, impersonal care model that originally pushed me away from healthcare. That was a tough realization. Then, taking the leap to start my own practice was absolutely terrifying. I left the comfort of a steady paycheck without knowing if I’d have a single patient on day one. It was the scariest—and ultimately the most rewarding—thing I’ve ever done.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Pacific Performance, we specialize in chiropractic care that goes beyond just the adjustment. Our approach blends hands-on therapy with personalized, movement-based rehab to help people not only get out of pain—but stay out of it. We believe that movement is medicine, and that healing should be proactive, not reactive.
What sets us apart is our integration of chiropractic care with Pilates-based rehabilitation. Every patient gets one-on-one, individualized care inclusive of adjustments, soft-tissue therapy, Shockwave (piezowave) therapy, ergonomic and lifestyle counseling, and in-office/at home rehabilitation. No rushed appointments, no cookie-cutter plans – just thoughtful, evidence-informed treatment that addresses the root cause of pain and empowers our patients to take an active role in their recovery.
We work with a wide range of people—from athletes and active individuals to people recovering from injury or just trying to feel better in their day-to-day lives. Whether it’s chronic low back pain, postpartum recovery, postural issues from desk work, or reaching goals like running a marathon or improving sports performance, our goal is to support people in moving better, feeling stronger, and living pain-free.
I’m most proud of the brand we’ve built—one that feels welcoming, empowering, and grounded in community. From the calming, non-clinical feel of our space to the intentional way we educate and support our patients, everything we do is designed to make people feel cared for and understood. If there’s one thing I want people to know about Pacific Performance, it’s that we don’t believe in quick fixes. We believe in real, sustainable change—and we’re here to help people feel their best, long-term.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think risk is essential to finding success—staying comfortable is often the quickest path to staying stuck. I’d say I’m a calculated risk-taker, but I also really trust my intuition. It hasn’t led me wrong yet.
A great example of that was when I decided to expand my business. It happened a few months earlier than I had planned (and honestly, was ready for). I went from renting a single room in a shared office suite to taking on a seven-room medical office. The timing wasn’t perfect, but the space was. I knew it would stretch me—but I also knew it would challenge me to grow. Even though it was a big leap, I saw it as an opportunity to grow into the next version of my business and myself.
I have the mindset that you can always go back to what’s safe and comfortable, but you might not always have the opportunity to take that next step forward. When the right opportunity presents itself, I really believe in betting on yourself and taking the risk.
Pricing:
- New Patient Appointment (1 hour) – $170 ($150 with mention of SD Voyager)
- Follow-Up Visits (30 mins) – $80
- Private Pilates (45 minutes) $80
- Shockwave Therapy – $125
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pacific-performance.com
- Instagram: @drgabbygiordano
Image Credits
Charlie McClaflin
Sydney Leanne Hickey
Haley Bank
