Glenna Tolbert,
MD, QME, FAAPMR

  • Founder/Medical Director

    Tolbert Center for
    Rehabilitation and Wellness

  • Locations

    17609 Ventura Blvd., Suite 114, Encino  |  240 S. La Cienega Blvd., Suite 250, Beverly Hills

  • Phones

    818-784-7197  |  424-355-0344

  • Website

    DrGlennaTolbert.com

  • Special Section

    Women Who Lead

The Tolbert Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness is a state-of-the-art medical facility specializing in nonsurgical and minimally invasive procedures to give people long-term pain relief. The mission of founder Glenna Tolbert, MD, and her team is to help patients identify the root cause of chronic pain, restore quality of life and enhance their ability to function. 

What does your company stand for? 

We incorporate our love for medicine into everything we do. Our philosophy is to help people be all that God intended them to be, which is fabulous. We remove barriers and provide tools to help patients be their best. 

Do you face challenges as a woman in business? 

One challenge is remaining an independent physician business owner. Independent means I exclusively own my practice. Historically physicians chose to be in private practice and were proud to be independent so they could know, advocate and customize care for patients. Nowadays, most private practices are owned by large corporations (hospitals, health plans). I overcome this challenge daily by remembering my “why”: my patients.

Share an accomplishment in your career.

Shortly after the death of recording artist Prince, CNN invited me to speak about the role of opioids in pain management. I was supposed to do two segments, yet I was dismissed when I would not label Prince as a drug addict. I attempted to explain the experience of pain and introduce the concepts of opioid dependence, tolerance and addiction, and that it’s important to not judge people. I learned it’s more important to stand in my truth versus gaining a superficial, short-lived spotlight.

How do you drive change in your field? 

By empowering patients to reclaim control over their health journey—introducing them to a realm of wellness and healing possibilities often overlooked or undermined by insurance companies and health care plans. Our repertoire includes cutting-edge nutritional testing and supplementation, precise hormone optimization, meticulously supervised exercise regimens, and revolutionary regenerative injections tailored to rejuvenate joints and potentially preclude future worries. We encourage patients to embrace these transformative services and embark on a path to fortify their well-being and vitality.

Photographed by Jeffrey Fiterman