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Chiropractor Career Interview
Christine Rosenkrantz owns her own chiropractic care practice in Chicago. She attended the National School of Chiropractic before learning the ropes of the business from other chiropractors and running a satellite chiropractic office.
Chiropractor Career Path
Christine started down a completely different path before finding her calling. “When I was going to school for my sports medicine degree, I volunteered in a lot of different physical therapy offices,” says Christine. “One fall, my father told me that I should meet his chiropractor, and at that time, I didn’t know what that was. The chiropractor told me that chiropractic doctors can treat people without the use of medicine, and that really interested me. I met him in the fall, and by the following January, I was enrolled in chiropractic school.”
Chiropractor Experiences
Christine continued to volunteer at a lot of physical therapy and athletic training settings throughout college, where she followed professionals around to make sure that’s what she wanted to be. She did this for six years until she graduated from chiropractic school and she found a job at a chiropractic office under the employ of someone else.
“Some people start their own business right away,” says Christine, “but I worked under a chiropractor that showed me the ropes for three years.” Following that, Christine ran a satellite chiropractic office for seven years before running her own practice, which she does currently.
Christine earned her Master’s degree in sports medicine from Vanderbilt University and went to the NSC (National School of Chiropractic) to become a chiropractor.
Chiropractor Degree Programs
Since it is a healthcare-related profession, the schooling is similar to medical school. “It’s just under four years of education in addition to an undergrad degree,” says Christine.
Chiropractor Job Description
Christine is a chiropractor with her own private practice. “I work for myself, so I have flexible hours,” she says. “Chiropractors usually treat people really early in the morning and late at night, which helps with my schedule because I am also a full-time mom.”
According to Christine, chiropractors do a lot more than just bend bones all day. “Chiropractors teach patients about the body and its problems,” she says. “I end up talking all day. I give my patients the best treatment plan, and sometimes I use X-rays to help identify the problem.”
Chiropractor Daily Routine
“Different practices see different numbers of patients,” says Christine. “My office sees about 100 patients. On a typical day, the patients start off with getting some type of therapy, and then they see me.” Since a patient’s care can be so much different from the next, sometimes a chiropractor’s day needs new aligning. “A chiropractor’s schedule involves a lot of juggling because we usually have to see several patients at the same time,” she says. “While one person is going through therapy in one room, I’m seeing a different patient in another.”
Christine also works with the patients to figure out how they can help themselves to feel better. “I put patients on a plan on how care for themselves in their daily routine. There are different types of care for patients; we just try to get to the root of the problem in order to help the patient best.”
Chiropractor Career: Steps to Success
“It’s a skill to be able to adjust someone,” says Christine. “The more you do it, the better you are.” Christine suggests learning from a professional first because you have to eventually teach your patients what you’ve learned. “You should work under someone to learn how to run a practice. You have to want to be a teacher because you have to teach patients how to treat themselves.”
A chiropractor should also have a lot of patience in order to have more patients. “You need an excellent staff as well,” Christine adds.
Chiropractor Job Opportunities
Christine says that the chiropractic career is getting much more competitive. “Getting a good job that you’re happy with is tough,” she says. “It doesn’t just fall in your lap. Even if you don’t have your dream job, though, you have to learn where you can.”
Chiropractor’s Future Ambitions
Christine wouldn’t have her job any other way. “I work for myself, the people working for me and working with me want to be here, and I have the flexibility that I need.”
Advice for Prospective Chiropractors
“Get as much experience beforehand as you can,” says Christine, “and take as many seminars as you can when you’re learning because they are much more affordable at this point. Learn as much as you can about the body regarding muscles and joints because this will help you find your chiropractic focus later in your career.”
Christine also suggests that people find out as much as they can about chiropractic if for no other reason than to help themselves. “Chiropractic is a wonderful way of helping your body. It’s a great way of treating your body without medicine and before your body falls apart. Get a good referral and go see one.”
