Some of the most impactful businesses are born not just from expertise, but from recognizing unmet needs in an industry. Payam Rabiei, President & CEO of Empire O & P Labs, Inc., is a prime example of an entrepreneur who turned a keen observation into a thriving enterprise—reshaping the landscape of orthotic and prosthetic manufacturing.
Initially set on a career in medicine, Payam was aligned to go to medical school but decided to take a year off, during which he discovered an unexpected passion for neurological and vascular testing. The overwhelming demand for his mobile diagnostic services led him to establish his first company, which continues to provide mobile medical diagnostic solutions to physician offices today.
As he worked closely with healthcare providers, he identified a major gap in the orthotics and prosthetics industry—from inconsistent quality and turnaround times to a lack of innovation and customer service. This realization sparked the creation of Empire O & P Labs, Inc., a company dedicated to delivering high-quality, custom orthotic, prosthetic, and brace solutions with cutting-edge technology and patient-centered service.
Driven by a mission to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and optimal patient care, Payam continues to push the boundaries of the industry, ensuring that Empire O & P Labs, Inc. sets the standard for excellence, efficiency, and innovation in the world of medical device manufacturing.
From Immigrant Struggles to Leadership and Service
Payam describes himself as an ambitious, driven, and motivated individual who takes great pleasure in helping others, including through various charitable activities. His strong belief in religion and God is, in his view, the number one source of his success.
As an immigrant who moved to the U.S. at the age of eight with his parents and only $200, Payam experienced firsthand the struggles of starting over with limited resources. His family worked tirelessly, taking on any jobs they could to provide food and shelter, while community support and charity organizations played a vital role in helping them survive. Determined to succeed, Payam quickly excelled in school, becoming the top student in his class in subjects like English, math, and science within just a year. He began tutoring other students and later graduated high school with honors, earning the Presidential Award for Excellence from President George Bush.
In college, he maintained a 3.8 GPA in Pre-Med sciences while balancing various jobs, including working in a flower shop, as a delivery driver, and driving a taxi. During high school, he became an EMT and volunteered for a local ambulance company, a passion he continued by becoming a paramedic and eventually serving as a flight medic for air ambulance services—something he still does today.
Another major milestone in his journey was obtaining his private pilot’s license, fulfilling a lifelong passion for aviation. Despite his busy schedule, Payam remains deeply committed to his family, having married during college and raising children while continuing his professional and volunteer work. His story is a testament to resilience, hard work, and the power of faith and community in overcoming adversity.
Customer-First Approach
Payam believes that to continue growing and developing as an influential leader in healthcare, it is crucial to recognize that the world is constantly evolving. As societal needs and business landscapes shift, leaders must adapt to stay relevant and impactful.
His core philosophy centers on prioritizing the ever-changing needs and desires of customers before structuring a business model. He strongly believes that leaders should first focus on understanding and addressing customer needs—whether in healthcare or any industry—before developing a profitable business around them. In his view, this customer-first approach naturally leads to strong revenue and long-term success.
Payam critiques the traditional mindset where businesses are built primarily for profit, with customer needs considered as an afterthought. He believes this approach is flawed and that true leadership involves aligning business strategies with the evolving demands of the people they serve. By maintaining this perspective, he ensures that his leadership remains dynamic, forward-thinking, and genuinely impactful in improving lives.
Leading with Purpose
As President & CEO, Payam’s primary goal is to foster a workplace where his employees—whom he prefers to call his co-workers and family members—feel valued, supported, and proud to be part of his companies. He believes that a positive and fulfilling work environment is the foundation for success, as happy and engaged employees naturally provide the best service to clients.
Beyond internal culture, Payam is deeply committed to delivering exceptional service to his clients, especially the physicians who trust his companies with their patients’ well-being. The most fulfilling part of his day is receiving positive feedback from physicians who share that their patients are satisfied and benefiting from the devices and services his company provides.
For Payam, leadership is about creating a strong, supportive community within his organization while ensuring that clients receive top-tier service. By prioritizing employee happiness and client satisfaction, he continues to drive his companies forward with a people-first approach.
Mission to Improve Lives
Payam is deeply passionate about improving lives through healthcare, technology, and proactive wellness solutions. His vision for a better world revolves around three key areas:
- Expanding Access to Quality Healthcare and Medical Devices
Payam is committed to ensuring that people in need around the globe have access to the best healthcare, medical devices, and services. He believes that no one should have to suffer due to a lack of resources or medical support. - Reducing Pain and Enhancing Quality of Life
He sees it as a moral responsibility to help alleviate physical pain and improve daily life for as many people as possible. For Payam, true fulfillment comes from knowing that his work directly contributes to making others’ lives healthier, happier, and more productive. - Transforming Healthcare to Focus on Prevention
One of Payam’s greatest ambitions is to shift the healthcare industry toward a preventative model, rather than a reactive one. He envisions a world where diet, exercise, and preventative medical technologies are available to all, helping to prevent diseases before they occur rather than only treating them after they arise.
To bring this vision to life, Payam has already begun reaching out to local and federal officials, as well as international governments, to explore new strategies for making healthcare more proactive and accessible. His ultimate goal is to create a world where people can live successful, pain-free, and productive lives, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Vision for the Future
Payam’s journey has been defined by calculated risks, visionary thinking, and relentless determination. From a young age, he embraced challenges head-on, always looking ahead to anticipate future needs and develop solutions before they were widely recognized. As a professional, his focus remains on innovation and long-term impact. He dedicates significant time to researching societal needs and forecasting the future of healthcare, ensuring that his companies remain at the forefront of medical advancements. Currently, his businesses serve patients across nearly every state in the U.S., but his next goal is global expansion within the next five to ten years, bringing quality healthcare solutions to people worldwide.
Advice for the Next Generation of Innovators
For those beginning their careers, Payam strongly believes that success comes from bold action and resilience. He encourages young professionals to take risks and embrace failure, emphasizing that failure is a normal part of success and that the greatest regret is never trying due to fear. He also advises people to dream big—so big that others might think they’re crazy—because ambition fuels innovation and progress. Additionally, he stresses the importance of being proactive rather than reactive, urging individuals to anticipate the world’s future needs and start working on those solutions today. Through his leadership, Payam continues to push boundaries, inspiring others to take risks, innovate, and create meaningful change in the world.
